I was really excited to get out and ride with my buddy Ben and his new Surly Straggler. I loaded up my Surly Cross Check as well as my camera and we Rode 23 miles in the cold Sierra foothills. Ben keyed me in on what he loves about the straggler as well as some future plans he has for it.

In essence the Surly Straggler is a Cross Check with disc brakes. The geometries between the two are slightly different according to Surly’s website and the Straggler offers 135mm rear dropouts opposed to the Cross Check’s 132.5mm dropouts. The difference opens up many more options for disc hubs.

Versatility is the name of the game with Surly bikes and the Straggler is no exception. With seemingly endless braze-ons and wide tire clearance, you can build up your Straggler to do just about anything.

Ben’s Straggler was purchased as a complete build. The majority of the drivetrain is pieced together with Shimano components. I’m a big fan of Shimano and this setup meets my standard of accuracy and reliability that I’ve come to expect with their components. The Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes that are equipped on the Straggler are my personal favorites for disc calipers. I’ve used them on a  mountain bike in the past and they perform very well and are super easy to maintain from a mechanic’s perspective.

Ben plans on purchasing a frame pack, handlebar bag, enormous saddle bag, and possibly some fenders in the near future to see what the straggler can do in regards to some weekend Bikepacking.

The Straggler handles great on the road, even with cross tires, and makes an excellent commuter bike.

If you’re looking for a bike that can handle a huge variety of terrain while offering noticeable comfort from its well-built steel frame, then it might be time to head down to your local bike shop and ask about the Surly Straggler. You’ll be happy you did!

I really hope you enjoyed this article. Please feel free to contact me if you have any comments or questions 🙂

justinchiazza@gmail.com