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+--- Thread: Bike Build: Surly 1x1 Commuter (/showthread.php?tid=8089)
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Bike Build: Surly 1x1 Commuter - Mike - 03-21-2009
I've been eying up commuter/urban bikes for probably a year now. I've been rocking my mountain bike with slicks on it, but being lazy that has kept me from actually mountain biking (yes, swapping wheels is enough of a hurdle). Soooo....
I've been looking at a ton of stuff. Prebuilt, I was looking at something in the 650-900 range. Unfortunately, everything I tried was missing something, and in that range, they're really not all that well put-together; some part is cheaped on.
After tossing around various models for months now, I pretty much settled on getting something from Surly... They're sort of leaders in the singlespeed market and make some really versatile and high quality stuff. Combine the timing of everyone else building bikes, mountain bike season coming soon, and some guy listing a used frame for sale and I was all in.
Within a day, I had already spec'd out the entire build. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pKVJZpKuJTHSbChcuCRkIXQ">http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key= ... ChcuCRkIXQ</a><!-- m -->
I'm looking at $750, but every single part on this thing is how I want it and of good quality; I can thank eBay and some stellar sales for that. The wheelset was $100! That's ridiculous.
The Surly 1x1 is a steel mountain bike frame, which is perfect for how I commute. Steel is soft so it'll be comfy, and the frame is beefy so it can handle everything I throw at it. The only downside is it's 26". Typically, a larger wheel is preferred for road riding, which is why road bikes are 700c (29"). I'm going to take a stab at throwing some 29" wheels on it, but the geometry might be thrown off completely. If that happens, I'll resell the frame and throw another $125 in to upgrade to the 29" equivalent called the Karate Monkey.
I'd love to embed pics, but the MM forum hates the format my web gallery uses... It doesn't recognize them as images. So here's a link: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.iammike.org/gallery/?dir=my_rides%2Fbicycles%2Fsurly_1x1">http://www.iammike.org/gallery/?dir=my_ ... Fsurly_1x1</a><!-- m -->
Waiting on the wheels, a small order from JensonUSA, and the brake discs from the previous owner (he couldn't find the bit to remove them). Should have it all by mid-week and it'll be assembled in a matter of minutes.
As a bonus for reading this far, have some cheap condoms: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://tiny.cc/iI6VU">http://tiny.cc/iI6VU</a><!-- m -->
- Mike - 03-24-2009
Geometry didn't work at all. project on hold until I can sell this frame and pick up a Karate Monkey.
- Ginger - 03-25-2009
Bummer. Oh well, I got a whole bike built before I decided I wanted to do it different
- Apoc - 03-25-2009
Ginger Wrote:Oh well, I got a whole bike built before I decided I wanted to do it different
We're talking about bicycles, right? Sometimes I get confused when we talk about you doing something and then realizing it's all wrong. :lol:
- .RJ - 03-25-2009
Mike Wrote:Geometry didn't work at all.
Just curious, what didnt work?
I've never ridden a bike and thought "hey this just doesnt work" :lol:
- Mike - 03-25-2009
.RJ Wrote:Mike Wrote:Geometry didn't work at all.
Just curious, what didnt work?
Bottom bracket height was FAR too high. It's a large frame, which should work for me, but for the seat to be at the appropriate standover level, it had to be all the way down. That left far too little space between the saddle and the pedals. It wasn't even close to working. Would have been a really weird and bad riding position. I either couldn't touch the ground from the saddle or my knees would be bent about 60 degrees at the bottom of the pedal stroke.
I'm going to list both the frame and wheelset for sale. If the frame sells, I'll pick up a Karate Monkey. If the wheels sell, I'll convert my old wheels to SS and be on the lookout for a better/nonconverted (I prefer using BMX freewheels and a non-offset wheel than using spacers and a single ring) set on ebay.
- mrbaggio - 03-25-2009
Why are you touching the ground while ON the saddle?
Sell that free wheel and go fixed!!! I will change your life.
- Mike - 03-25-2009
Maybe "touching the ground while on the saddle" wasn't the right choice of words. I broke the bike down last night so I cannot give a more accurate description... In order for me to have a proper leg extension, the saddle would have been like 15 feet in the air.
- mrbaggio - 03-25-2009
so really the frame is too small for you. that is independent of the wheel size.
- Mike - 03-25-2009
no, it isn't. standover is fine. the bottom bracket is too high due to the wheel size. in order to get proper leg extension, the saddle would have to be like 15 feet in the air (not 15 feet extended). i would have a heck of a time getting up to it without a ladder.
additionally, the seat tube was cocked back at such an angle that i couldn't even get the saddle parallel to the ground.
if you're still not convinced, the bike is a "large" or 20". i'm 6'2. my mountain bike is a 19" and fits great.
- Ginger - 03-25-2009
mrbaggio Wrote:Sell that free wheel and go fixed!!! I will change your life.
![[Image: mban1032l.jpg]](http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/mba/lowres/mban1032l.jpg)
- Mike - 03-25-2009
Weird, the original seller is INSISTING that I bring the frame back to him. Apparently there are some good people in the world (going back to the sway bar brace debacle I just had). That's really beyond above and beyond... it's borderline crazy nice.
- Mike - 03-25-2009
so i just put it back together and it actually does kind of work... in fact, i'm not disappointed at all. i think my reaction last night was just kneejerk based on one sitdown i did and seeing the bb height (it's 13").
it's a monster, but i think it's gonna work.
now... need to wait on the brake discs to get here, need to find my chain tool (or buy another), need to locate a bit for installing the crank arm bolts and it's done.
- Mike - 03-25-2009
more pics (the last 4 or 5): <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.iammike.org/gallery/?dir=my_rides%2Fbicycles%2Fsurly_1x1">http://www.iammike.org/gallery/?dir=my_ ... Fsurly_1x1</a><!-- m -->
stem and handlebar are not final... i have a few of each sitting around here. will mess with that as i ride it.
- Mike - 03-28-2009
IT WORKS! Still waiting on the brake discs, but I'm pretty freakin' happy with it.
My bike wears a gold chain.
- Mike - 03-29-2009
And it's done. Definitely needs a longer crank, but the ergo is all pretty good. I can tell a singlespeed with a rear disc might be a headache.
RJ, I actually saw on RRAX that you were looking at the Bulletproof crank a while ago. If I can't return it, want a 165 for cheap? I'm gonna go 175 I think...
- .RJ - 03-29-2009
No, dont need a crank anymore
![[Image: IMG_9214.jpg]](http://boostrot.net/gallery/d/8929-1/IMG_9214.jpg)
- Mike - 03-29-2009
word. looks short. 165?
- .RJ - 03-29-2009
170
- Mike - 03-29-2009
solid gold?
