I think I'll write about bicycles for a change.
It has been a while since the long-beloved Surly road bike, the Pacer, was removed from their lineup.
I've heard people lamenting its absence here and there, and we still receive many inquiries about it at our shop; we are down to our very last stock of the Pacer (42cm).
The Pacer we delivered the other day was painted by Kyutai Paint, and it set off to its new owner wearing a truly peerless look.
Because a successor model to the Pacer wasn't announced for quite some time, and with the gravel segment gaining so much momentum globally in the bicycle industry, I even wondered if Surly might just do away with road bikes entirely.
Nay.
That just isn't the case.
Even if Surly lives up to its name and seems like a bunch of surly guys (though they aren't at all), there's no way they would make products that ignore what everyone wants, and sure enough, there was a bike waiting that would take us by surprise.
Complete Bike : 258,000 JPY (tax excluded)
Frame & Fork : 110,000 JPY (tax excluded)
This is the kind of bike we were waiting for.
A bike that answers our desire for freedom—that is the Midnight Special.
Equipped as standard with 650x47b "WTB Horizon" tires, you can experience a comfortable ride both on and off-road.
With ample tire clearance (up to 42c for 700c, and up to 60c for 650b),
various mounts for cages, racks, and fenders, and modern standards for a comfortable ride
(such as thru-axles and flat-mount brakes),
it is a spec that covers everything from the extraordinary to the everyday.
But a question arises here.
Drop bars.
Disc brakes.
650 tires.
"Straggler 650"
What’s the difference?
Going back to the basic question, I stare intently at the geometry chart.
The biggest differences between these two are the BB Drop and Fork Offset.
These two factors significantly affect handling and bike stability.
Listing the characteristics of these two based on their geometry:
The Straggler 650 is set up for stable handling and a responsive center of gravity, while the
Midnight Special is set up for sharp handling and a stable center of gravity.
So, it’s built like a cross bike versus a road bike. (I suppose that’s obvious, as that’s how they are categorized.)
Even with thicker tires, a road bike made by Surly is still very much a road bike; it’s a bike that makes it incredibly fun to head out from the city, hit the mountains, transition from on-road to off-road, and then return to the city.
It also comes in a wide range of sizes, fitting riders from 152cm to 203cm tall.
I think this is the perfect bike for someone looking for a bicycle that can do it all.
Surly really does it again, doesn't it?
The color name is "Hot Mayonnaise."
I'm sure that means, "It's a super mild build, but with a spicy kick."
So, for those of you looking for the perfect bike for the summer, how does this sound as an option?