Here is the Surly Pacer we delivered yesterday.
While the Cross Check is an all-around versatile bike, for those seeking a bit more speed or wanting to ride further, the road-based Pacer is definitely the way to go. It can accommodate a 28c tire plus fenders, and depending on the specific model, can even clear a 32c tire.
For this build, we had the frame painted a simple orange by Kyutai Paint.
The Navy Chris King headset, chosen as an accent color, is a great color selection by the owner.
We are seeing more and more builds using the new 11-speed 105 group set, and this one is a full 105 build as well. For the crankset, a 52/36T was selected. Simply put, standard (53/39T) is for those who stick to the flats and like to push hard, while compact (50/34T) is for those who love to climb. In this case, 52/36T was chosen for its all-around versatility.
The tires are Panaracer Race Type D Evo2 700x25c. They roll well and have solid grip. Since the Type D focuses on durability, I personally like using them because I can dive into light gravel sections without any hesitation.
Although we didn't use them this time, the Type A Evo2 in the same lineup is lighter, rolls more smoothly, and offers race-ready performance. At Circles, we keep Type D in 25c, and Type A in 23c and 25c in stock at all times, so if your current tires are wearing down, take my word for it and give these a try! They are very reasonably priced, so I’m sure you’ll be satisfied! Lately, I’ve been relying heavily on Panaracer, both for their Race Type and Tourer Plus tires.