As a kid, I loved dinosaurs.
I couldn't believe that such enormous creatures had walked the same earth about 100 million years ago. I'd lose myself in picture books and dreamed of one day digging up dinosaurs for a living.
As I grew up, after plenty of twists and turns, I got clearer about what I really love, and now I work with bikes. But as a kid, I think I had this feeling that, with limitless imagination, I could do anything and become anything.
If you haven't yet decided what you want to do, if you're still figuring it out and weighing your options, the SURLY Straggler is exactly the bike we'd love you to choose.
A Bike Called the Straggler
Before the Straggler was born, there was a bike called the Cross-Check, launched in 1999.
It was the bike that made Surly known throughout the universe. With a frame like a blank canvas, it handled commuting to work or school, shopping, cyclocross racing, long-distance touring and more — truly the embodiment of "it can do anything."
Inheriting the Cross-Check's DNA, the Straggler was born in 2014 as its disc brake version.
SURLY Straggler Single Circles Original Complete Bike
This time we built up an Original Complete Bike in size 38 (best for riders around 150–160cm).
Size 38 might sound pretty small, but what do you think of these proportions? Personally, I think it has a really nice silhouette that doesn't feel like a small size at all.
The J.B.Bar, for Relaxed Everyday Cruising
For the handlebar, we installed the SYCIP x SIMWORKS J.B.Bar Silver, which just came back in stock.
It revives the "JAVA BOY BAR," a handlebar style hand-bent one at a time in Sycip Bikes' own workshop, blended with ideas that adapt it for today.
It's easy to get caught up in the OLD SCHOOL vibe, but your wrists sit at a natural angle and your upper body stays upright, making it a wonderfully comfortable bar for everyday riding.
Simple and Unfussy: Single Speed
The drivetrain is a simple single speed. All you have to do is turn the pedals.
When you want to go slow, pedal slowly. When you want to go fast, pedal fast.
Simple and unfussy.
For riding around town, that's all you need.
And as a bonus, the simple construction means it's hard to break.
※Of course, you can also switch to multiple gears later on.
A Front Basket You Can Count On Every Day
With the hot season coming, riding with a bag on your back gets sweaty and is no fun at all.
So we fitted a front basket, letting you carry your things in front of the handlebar where you can keep an eye on them.
Now your daily shopping is no problem!
It's on the small side, but having this basket or not makes a big difference in how useful the bike is.
For brakes, it uses cable-actuated mechanical disc brakes.
The stopping power is more than enough for everyday use, and even on rainy days or slightly rough roads, you get the reassurance of stopping firmly with just a light squeeze of the lever!
Actually, while I was writing this, this very bike happily found an owner.
If this blog post has you thinking "that's nice," we only have size 38 left, but we can build one up with the same spec!
Feel free to get in touch.
We're also holding a SURLY Fair in store until May 31.
There are various SURLY models on display and available for test rides, plus some specially built models, so we'd love for you to drop by.
Of course, you can also talk to us at Circles Tokyo!
If you live in or around the Kanto area, feel free to DM the Tokyo store's Instagram.
