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We’ve got a minor weather event going on today after a pretty cold weekend, so it might be a while before I manage to actually ride my bike again. With that in mind, I thought it might be a good time to finish out my Top 5 posts series with Number One.
In the fall of 2009, I had gotten to the point where I decided I was done using my road bike for a commuter. It was beating me to death, it was taking a beating, and I felt like I deserved to have a dedicated commuter bike if I was going to continue to commute by bike full time. I spent an agonizing month scrutinizing bike specs and features, developed my specific set of requirements, waffled quite a bit over two or three different frames that would meet those requirements, and finally ordered my Surly, basically spec’ing it out from the frame up.
I suppose I had probably ridden it to work 7 or 8 times, when I posted my thoughts on the bike.
Interestingly, I feel like nearly 100% of what I wrote back then would be re-stated if I were doing a two year review of the bike. The only thing I would possibly change might be a slightly lower grade for the brakes. For what I use it for, I still feel like the Surly is a perfect match.
Here’s some trivia. If you compare the picture above with the picture in the original post, you might be astute enough to notice that the water bottle cage has been moved. What I figured out is that I was only drinking while stopped at lights. For that, it’s actually easier for me to get the bottle in and out when it’s mounted on the seat tube as opposed to the down tube. The opposite holds true when I drink while moving.
God bless…
TW
Explore posts in the same categories: bicycle, Bike Commute, Cycling, FitnessTags: bicycle, Bike Commute, Cycling, Fitness, Surly Cross-Check
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February 13, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Interesting. I did the opposite with my water bottle. I did it because it is easier to lock with the holder on the down tube. I find it easier to drink by pulling it from the seat tube whether stopped or riding.
February 16, 2012 at 10:01 am
I hear you on the agonizing and scrutinizing part.