| Surly has been quietly revolutionizing the bicycle world | | | | makes a frame good or bad for you. Buying a custom |
| since 1999. Strangely, they have been doing this | | | | frame is partly about getting the perfect bike to ride |
| revolutionizing through the use of practical frame | | | | and partly about getting the perfect bike to show off. |
| designs and that exotic frame material, steel. From | | | | Both are legitimate reasons I suppose. |
| street bikes to off-road bikes to bikes that do anything | | | | Q: Any chance Surly could ever build bikes in the |
| and everything, Surly offers something for everyone | | | | USA? Or is that just not possible given the economic |
| who views a bicycle as more than a toy, a status | | | | reality of today's global economy? |
| symbol or a piece of exercise equipment. | | | | A: It is doubtful. We've had stuff produced in the U.S., |
| A few years back, I e-mailed Surly. I laid out all the | | | | and have checked domestic manufacturing pricing on |
| economic reasons why they should build a 68cm road | | | | many items. We've run into lots of issues and plan to |
| frame. I stated my case in an organized manner, then I | | | | stay with our manufacturers in Taiwan. The majority |
| begged, pleaded, groveled, etc. Shortly thereafter, I got | | | | of the world's bicycle frames and parts are produced |
| an e-mail back from Surly's Andy Corson. He | | | | here, and having that center of infrastructure lowers |
| complimented me on the structure of my request and | | | | pricing on everything quite a bit. A lot of people want |
| politely said "No." | | | | domestically produced stuff but simply are not willing to |
| We had such a nice dialogue around that issue that I | | | | pay for it. |
| have pinged Andy every now and then since our | | | | However, it isn't just pricing. We're happy with the |
| original conversation, asking him questions on the | | | | quality of the work our builders put out. In fact we feel |
| bicycle industry and generally getting his take on | | | | it's on par with, and in some cases better than, frames |
| various bicycle-oriented situations. He has always been | | | | costing quite a bit more. We work closely with our |
| prompt, helpful and insightful, so I figured he might have | | | | agent and manufacturers. This allows us great control |
| some interesting things to say for Cycloculture. | | | | over the process and quality of the stuff being |
| Q: What is your official title at Surly? | | | | produced. It also means we personally know not just |
| A: Marketing "Manager." That's with the quote marks, | | | | the managers of these firms, but the employees as |
| although you could place them on either word for | | | | well, the people welding the frames. We see where |
| equal irony. | | | | and how they work. |
| Q: Forget, for the moment, about marketability and | | | | When we have investigated domestic manufacturing, |
| other mundane concerns. If you could design and | | | | we have found the same obstacles repeatedly: pricing |
| produce any bike you wanted to, what would it look | | | | is much higher, quality is no better and sometimes |
| like? Ride like? Be like? | | | | worse, supply chains are spottier. There are a few |
| A: Honestly, it wouldn't be that much different from | | | | places that might be able to do what we want, but I |
| many Surly models. That may sound corny, but I | | | | doubt we could keep our prices even close to what |
| started working for Surly in large part because their | | | | they are, and that would fundamentally change the |
| designs and approach made more sense to me than | | | | sort of company we are and the stuff we could offer. |
| most of the other stuff that was and still is out there. I | | | | Q: Do you commute by bike or by car (or by |
| like fenders and big tires. I like steel for a lot of reasons, | | | | something else)? |
| not the least of which is the ride quality. And I like | | | | A: Both. I drive sometimes, I ride sometimes. I'm o.k. with |
| versatile designs that allow some significant | | | | having and using a car, just not for everything. I've |
| personalization. Although not everyone will build a | | | | noticed that there are people who will try to make me |
| unique frankenbike, with a Surly the option is there. | | | | feel guilty for this, but outside of the insulated world of |
| Q: There seems to be a movement toward | | | | bike geekery, I think it is representative of a challenge |
| front-loaded carriers on bicycles these days. Any | | | | most people are faced with. The fact is that most |
| thoughts on that trend? | | | | people are not going to completely give up their cars |
| A: I assume you're talking about platforms or front | | | | because it is impractical. Using a car isn't fundamentally |
| baskets, as opposed to front 'low rider' racks and | | | | bad, but using it for everything is equally impractical. |
| panniers. Most front carriers are add-ons, and they ride | | | | Q: Is the bicycle a practical vehicle in cold, snowy |
| crappy when you throw any kind of weight on since | | | | climes such as Minnesota? |
| they're generally connected to the bar and fork, and | | | | A: Sure. A bike is arguably better in an urban winter |
| ride high. Some companies alter the geometry of the | | | | environment, since you can avoid a lot of the traffic |
| frame to help accommodate compromised steering | | | | tangles that sprout up when the weather gets bad. |
| with this sort of front platform. Others connect the | | | | Cars can't. |
| basket or platform to the frame instead of the bar and | | | | Snow is an issue no matter what. You have to have |
| fork. I don't have anything against front carriers, but I | | | | skills to safely drive a car on snow and ice, and you |
| don't use them either. With so many other options that | | | | have to have skills on a bike too. I find riding in winter |
| work so well without a specific frame, I don't find them | | | | less stressful than driving. Cars do not require the level |
| compellingly useful. | | | | of confidence that bikes do, though. It can be a hard |
| However, front loaders are part of a larger trend that | | | | argument convincing people they can ride in winter. But |
| seems to be growing, a trend of people exploring | | | | then I look out the window and see the guy who rides |
| options and investing in technology to haul stuff by | | | | past my house every day on a cheap walmart-type |
| pedal power. From handlebar bags to entire | | | | bike, wearing regular clothes. No studded tires, no wind |
| cargo-dedicated bikes and frames, I can't remember a | | | | shell, no special gloves. 'Nuff said. |
| time when there was such a range of offerings for | | | | Q: Can you give me an idea of Surly's basic design |
| hauling stuff on your bike. And that is the real point I'm | | | | and/or corporate philosophy in a few sentences? |
| trying to make here: it doesn't really matter if I | | | | A: We design and produce no bullshit bike stuff that |
| personally like front racks, because each option has it's | | | | works like it is supposed to, that's durable, practical, and |
| pros and cons and what works for me may not for | | | | versatile. Our stuff is meant to be used every day. |
| someone else. What matters is that there are options | | | | We don't do anything just because someone else is |
| and an awareness of the possibility of using one's bike | | | | doing it, whether it's a business decision or a product. |
| for more than a Sunday cruise. | | | | Q: Does Surly have anything new and exciting coming |
| Q: What's the main difference between a Surly and a | | | | out in the near future? |
| custom-made steel frame? | | | | A: Yes! |
| A: Custom stuff is custom. Surly produces some very | | | | (Editor's Note: $%&*#@!!! Guess Cycloculture is |
| fine quality frames but they are production frames. | | | | going to have to grow a bit before we get scoops like |
| When you buy a Surly frame or bike you don't get a | | | | this...) |
| lighter or heavier tubeset to match your weight and | | | | Q: Do you have something against big dummies? |
| riding style. You don't get geometry designed just for | | | | Keep in mind that I am 6'6", and I know where you |
| you. You don't get to pick your paint color, or have | | | | work. |
| your name put on the top tube. There can be some | | | | A: Why, because we don't produce an XXL Big |
| real advantages to buying custom, especially if you | | | | Dummy frame? Maybe you could use one as a |
| don't fit standard frames, or if you're an | | | | unicycle. |
| advanced-enough rider to notice and benefit from | | | | Q: What else would you like to say? |
| custom spec'd tubing and geometry. Or if you want a | | | | A: Nothing for me, thanks. I'm full. |
| lugged frame. | | | | Q: What do you like for breakfast? |
| Most people are not going to benefit in any real way | | | | A: This morning I had raisin bran with rice milk. Pretty |
| from a custom frame, however, as a lot of the | | | | good, but a meatball and bacon sandwich would be |
| benefits are relatively small in the larger scope of what | | | | better. |