Surly Bikes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Surly Bikes | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Private |
| Founded | Minnesota, 1998 |
| Headquarters | Bloomington, Minnesota, USA |
| Industry | Bicycles |
| Website | www.surlybikes.com |
Surly Bikes is a manufacturer of bicycles, frames, parts, and accessories in Bloomington, Minnesota, established circa 1998.[1] Distinctive products made by Surly include the Dingle cog, cranksets with separately detachable spiders, and reversible chain tensioners. The Surly Singleator chain tensioner is credited by many with having started the single speed craze.[2] The Singleator was Surly's first product, before they even had a brand name.[1] The company aims to build solid components for a reasonable price,[3] this approach and the honest and down to earth attitude along with a dash of eccentricity is what has elevated them to their current status within the singlespeed culture,[4] as Minnessota's The Rake magazine stated, "carving out a solid niche".[5]
All Surly frames and forks are made from cromoly, a low alloy steel.[6] The company is well known in bicycle messenger and single-speed culture and helped establish the Single Speed World Championship (SSWC). A Surly frame was given as a prize at the 2005 SSWC, it was decided the frame should go to a volunteer to acknowledge their efforts.[7] Surly chose the location of the 2006 SSWC as the victors of the derby in 2005, demonstrating how embeded the company are in the world of single speeding.[7]
In 2005, Surly began selling the first mass-produced mountain bike with extremely large volume tires for deep snow and sand riding.[8] This model, the Pugsley, required different tire, tube, bottom bracket, and frame design than had been seen before in mountain biking. The bike's front and rear wheels share a common hub size and can be interchanged, allowing for additional gearing combinations. The Pugsley is still sold, as of 2008, but has inspired similar models sold by other manufacturers. Noted bicycle technical authority Sheldon Brown said, "Pugsley is, in its way, as revolutionary as the original mountain bikes were in the early 1980s."[9]
Surly also produces a mountain unicycle, the Conundrum.[10]
Surly now expects to sell 10,000 frames a year.[5] They are owned by Quality Bicycle Products, and share a location. The companies have certified sustainable practices, including on-site worm-composting. The company offers indoor bike racks, showers, changing rooms, and a competitive league challenging teams of employees to rack up the most bike commuter miles.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Tim Grahl (14 April 2005). Interview: Surly Bikes.
- ^ Complete One Speed Kits. Charlie The Bikemonger.
- ^ Joe Whitehair. Surly 1x1 Frame Review. Single Speed Outlaw.
- ^ One Speed Revolution,Issue 2. Gravel Tech (18 September 2001).
- ^ a b c Dan Gilchrist (29 May 2007). Twin Cities on Two Wheels. The Rake Magazine.
- ^ Surly. Century Cycles.
- ^ a b The blog for all things surly.
- ^ Regenold, Stephen (July 2006). Adventure bikes :: Gear Review :: July, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
- ^ Brown, Sheldon. The Amazing Surly Pugsley!. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
- ^ Surly 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
