Surly Bikes

Surly Bikes sells complete bikes, frames and parts for all types of riding. Surly bikes are functional, affordable and well built. They are carried in local bike shops all over the US and worldwide.

• address: 6400 W. 105th StreetBloomington, MN 55438
• telephone: (952) 941-9391
• fax: (952) 941-9799
• website: http://www.surlybikes.com
• e-mail: [email protected]

Description

“Our stuff isn’t flashy,” Surly says, “but it’s beautiful the way all useful things are beautiful.” That no-nonsense approach begins with the metal. The company is at the heart of the “steel is real” movement, preaching that steel is strong and durable, giving a comfortable, responsive ride—all at the right price. Every Surly frame and fork is 100% 4130 CroMoly steel, never titanium, carbon fiber, or aluminum. You also won’t find a rainbow of colors available from Surly. Many are some shade of brown, green or black. What you will find is a company devoted to building tough bikes that are fun to ride and practical, providing a real alternative to those wanting to leave the car in the driveway.

Surly sells more varieties of frames than finished bikes. That lets you decide how to build up the finished product. The versatile Cross Check often becomes a touring bike, but can as easily be outfitted with mountain bike hubs and fat tires for trails, or used to get to work. Surly also offers a bike specific for touring, the Long Haul Trucker. There’s a Long Haul Trucker and Cross Check Owners Group website, where owners wax eloquently about their trusted mounts and thank Surly for making them. The Karate Monkey, with its 29” wheels that roll smoothly over the worst terrain, is another popular model. Owners love it for standing up to any kind of abuse. Newer to the Surly line is the Big Dummy, able to cart 400 lbs. It used to be sold only as a frameset. Within one week of being available as a complete bike in February 2008, this “longbike” cargo workhorse sold out.

Surly started in 1998, selling only single speed bikes. Around that time on city streets and mountain trails, riders were converting their multi-geared bikes to single speed machines. They wanted a stripped down, simple bike to ride that was easy to maintain. Why have speeds you’ll never use? But taking out the derailleur usually left slack in the chain. So, near Minneapolis, a few innovative guys working for the bike parts distributor, Quality Bicycle Products, came up with the 1×1 Singleator. Installed against the derailleur hanger, it tensions the extra slack out of the drive chain. The following year, the still nameless company made the 1×1 Rat Ride single speed mountain bike frame. More than ten years later, Surly is proud to say its term, 1×1, is used pretty much for all single speeds on the market.

Hours of work

Monday thru Friday 9am to 5pm

Additional Information

• Standard Frames: Yes
• Custom Frames: No
• Retrofitting old bikes: No
• Year Established: 1998
• Products Made In: Taiwan
• Availability: Independent bicycle dealers
• Types of Bicycles: Complete bikes: Road, Touring, Mountain, Cargo
• Frames: All of above plus All-terrain Utility bike, Mountain Unicycle, single speeds
• Construction Methods: Tigg welding
• Frame Materials: 4130 CroMoly Steel