SURLY Straggler 650B Frame Set

It can handle paved roads and even gravel roads.

What is this Straggler? The simple answer is that it is a Cross-Check with added disc brakes, which is almost an exact answer, but for a long time there were calls for a disc version of the very versatile Cross-Check.

The two units are very similar with respect to almost everything, but there are a few things that have changed with Straggler. The most obvious difference, of course, is that the Straggler has disc caliper mounts instead of rim brake studs, which will accommodate up to 160mm rotors.

Eyelets for racks and fenders are plentiful, and Surly's 8Pack Rack, 24Pack Rack, and Nice Rack can also be mounted. The Horizontal Dropout Rear End, which slides forward and backward, allows for customization to single speed.

Unique Dropouts

The uniquely modified rear dropout is a partially closed horizontal design that is compatible with single-speed or geared drivetrains. It features a stop screw that screws in from the rear, making it easier to secure the wheel and reposition the rear wheel for optimal shifting. Additionally, a stop screw mounted forward on the drive side prevents the wheel from slipping forward due to the rider's powerful leg forces. The rear dropout is simply 135mm wide instead of 132.5mm like the Cross-Check, and this width allows for a much wider choice of disc hubs.

What Straggler can do

The Straggler comes with all of the direct-attach accessories for fenders, racks, and bottle cages that the Cross-Check has. However, the geometry of the Straggler is slightly different from the Cross-Check, with slightly different angles and tube lengths. But just like the Cross-Check, it will get you out and about wherever you want to go, and it's a great choice for a day trip or a 2-3 day weekend getaway. It's a road-style bike for the "rough stuff," a cyclocross bike that doesn't pretend to race at all, or, to put it more coolly, it's practical and urban. And it's also a lightweight touring bike and an all-weather commuter bike. If you get tired of one kind of combination, Circles always considers it the best ride-out bike because you can swap out parts and make it something else.