Interbike 2010 Report - Surly Bikes

Hey, look, Surly Bikes is now going to be making a version of the Long Haul Trucker frameset pre-built with S&S Machine Works couplers! It's going to be called the Trucker DeLuxe, and will come in Navy Blue. The first runs will be the 26-inch wheeled models only; 700C versions may (or may not) come later:

If you look closely enough, you'll notice that the S&S couplers look a little different. They're using a new version of the couplers, which have lugs that are internal to the frame tube, rather than external, which provide a cleaner, more streamlined look, and require less paint touch-up on frame retrofit jobs.

With this coupled version of the Long Haul Trucker, Surly is discontinuing the Traveler's Check, the coupled version of the Cross-Check. We always thought it would make more sense to sell a coupled version of the Long Haul Trucker. Surly's thought was that they could cater to both the long-distance tourer and the traveling racer by using the Cross-Check. But if you think about it, if you're serious enough about cyclocross racing to be in the habit of carting your bike on a plane to go to races on a regular basis, you're probably not the typical target Surly customer.

However, keeping with the theme of the Cross-Check-as-touring-bike, Surly is now going to make all Cross-Checks going forward have mid-fork eyelets, for front cargo rack-friendliness. You can see them here on the new Robin's Egg Blue Cross-Check:

Here's the new version of the Big Dummy; notice the redesigned top tube with strut near the seatpost that Surly will be using on all of their mountain bike frames:

Also notice the new version of the XtraCycle FreeLoader side bags and the new versatile FlightDeck top. As we mentioned before, The Big Dummy gets down-spec'ed to make the price more attractive to the average Joe (or Jane, or Brian, or Fatty McBastard). Some of the differences that I recall (subject to change, and I'm probably leaving some out) are:

• Handlebar: Salsa instead of Surly 1x1
• Crankset: Truvativ instead of Surly Mr. Whirly
• Tires: Continental Town & Country instead of Schwalbe Big Apple
• Shifters: Shimano Deore instead of Deore LX
• Derailleurs: Shimano Deore instead of Deore LX
• Hubs: Shimano Deore instead of Deore XT rear/Surly front
• Brake levers: Avid FR-5 instead of Speed Dial 7

The brakes are still Avid BB-7, the best mechanical disc brakes money can buy! Don't be afraid of the term "down-spec;" it's all still solid stuff.

Here's a shot of the new bike in the Surly lineup, the Troll, a 26-inch mountain/adventure-touring, singlespeed-or-geared, ready for anything piece of orange juicyness:

I talked to Eric Sovern, one of the Surly Supreme Overlords, and asked,"What's the story behind the new Troll?" According to Sov, it's got the same frame geometry of the Surly 1x1. People have been asking for a geared-compatible version of the 1x1 for years, and they could have just done that, but that would've been kinda too easy and, well, un-Surly-like. It seemed this frame needed its own reason for being. When they came up with the idea of making the Surly Cargo Trailer, they thought it needed a frame to go with it. The Troll has a dedicated pair of eyelets for attaching the Cargo Trailer, so they're a match made it heaven. That being said, the Cargo Trailer works on just about any other bike, and the Troll is a great bike on its own, even if you're not interested in the Cargo Trailer. Speaking of which, here's another shot of the Cargo Trailer:

(And check out the calves on those high heels!)

Here's the new Battleship Gray Karate Monkey:

Notice the new top tube design again. The Monkey also gets rear rack eyelets for the off-road adventure-touring crowd.

This over-exposure highlights the new Snowblind White color of the Pugsley:

The Pugsley will now be available as a complete bike, making it much more accessible for your average snowy season commuter; just don't leave it laying in a snow drift, or you might lose it!

Stay tuned for more fun stuff from last week's visit to Interbike!