Bike Setup: Shimano 9 speed. 105 brifters, Ultegra triple crank, ultegra FD, RD, chain, and cassette. FSA gossamer brakes, Mavic Open Pro/Ultegra wheels, and Terry Liberator saddle.
Summary: I bought this frame to build as a commuter/long-distance winter trainer. It rains a bit here in Seattle, so I wanted something on which I could mount full fenders. As the old-timers say, "steel is real," and while certainly not as good on the many hills here as my carbon frame, it has performed better than expected. I'm 6'2" about 190 lbs., and put a decent amount of power through the cranks but I have not experienced any really bothersome flex in the bottom bracket.
This frame has performed flawlessly for my purposes. I have commuted through the rain, and ridden straight from Vancouver B.C. to Seattle (about 165 miles) comfortably. While certainly not a tourer, this bike is comfortable for long single-day rides.
Bike Setup: Dingle speed with 39,53:16 Truvativ Roleur Cranks, White Industries 16T single, Surly flip-flop hub, Tektro R530 brakes, Cane Creek HS, Bontrager race Lite X stem and seatpost, Campy downtube shifter, Dura-Ace front derailleur, Paul chain tensioner. 22 lbs after full build, which is a pound heavier than the 3Rensho.
Summary: I needed a replacement for a 3Rensho frame that broke (bought it with an imperfection that I was told would fail, eventually -- it did). The Surly Pacer is too heavy and too soft. Heaviest steel ride I've owned in the last 25 years. Softest steel ride, resulting in poor performance characteristics. Did not want to be built up and ran into some design flaws, particularly the rear drop outs and the flange covering the QR nuts. Would not recommend this for anyone over 150lbs or anyone who can torque the cranks. Buy a cheap frame from Nashbar or Performance before looking at this one. Called the folks at Surly for help, and they were lets just say, somewhat worse than "not helpful" and leave it at that. I'll ride it through winter, then sell it in the spring after it's warmed up enough to train on my race bike.
Strengths: Color -- metal gray. Fits larger tires for winter/spring inclimate riding.
Weaknesses: Way too flexy through the bottom bracket. Does not inspire confidence in handling when a good chunk of power is swaying side to side, not being put through the drivetrain. Heavy, especially the front fork. Downtube braze ons are not manufactured properly, and needed to modify shifter to fit.
Similar Products Used: Not really anything similar. Bottom of list of bikes in last 25 years. Doesn't hold a candle to the 3Rensho.
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Favorite Ride: Commute / Sat morning / Wisemans ferry
Bike Setup: Built up myself with a second hand full Dura ace groupset (400aud - ebay) 700 x 25mm tires, MKS pedals and various parts or bits stolen from my old bike
Note: 7700 Dura ace brakes fit fine
Summary: This bike is no longer available in Australia. It looked exactly what i was looking for, strong, comfortable, ridable and not so flashy it will get stolen - so i ordered over the internet and had it shipped here from the states.
It rides like a dream either as a replacement for a car or Saturday morning rides. even on hardpack dirt its great. Probably not for racing or triathlons, but perfect for everybody else.
Strengths: Not as heavy as you might think mines a 54 and 10kg complete with r500 wheels classic pedals and no carbon bits.
size 54 is perfect for me - i have had a 53 and 56 road bike before that were two small/big
Weaknesses: would love rear rack mounts
Similar Products Used: Various cheaper aluminum bikes
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Bike Setup: Full 105, r-550 wheels, brooks b-17 saddle, thompson post, wcs bars/stem
Summary: Bought this frame and built it up two years ago. Built up with a shimano 105 kit and shimano r550 wheels, thomson post, wcs stem, etc. etc...
all i can say is this is a bombproof ride that is amazingly smooth on the road... riding in the northeast i've got lots of bad road and this is just such a sweet ride. I've ridden several other frames over the years (giant tcr, trek 5200) and this is my favorite frame and convinced me to stick with steel frames from here on out as i do not race and am not looking for a 15 lb bike.
Strengths: price, bombproof, steel is real
Weaknesses: weight, but it is what it is, if you're looking for a lightweight frame, you wouldn't be reading this review
Similar Products Used: ted wojcik custom steel
soma smoothie
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Bike Setup: -surly fork/ frame
-mavic open sport rims to random hubs
-Shimano 600 7 speed shifting and brake levers
-cane creek sr5? 3? long reach brakes
Summary: I absolutely love this frame. I had a karate monkey a few years ago and I love the steel frame and fork. I bought it because of the downtube shifter brazeons (I'm too cheap/poor to buy STI shifters) and the fact that it will last forever if I take care of it. It was also a little cheaper than the SOMA smoothie frame I was pondering. I also liked that the resale value on surlys is pretty solid in case I did'nt like it, but I do and now I really want a LHT and a Big Dummy. I contemplated the Kona Honkey tonk as well, but I can't seem to find any reviews or sizing specs on it.
Strengths: Can accomodate DT shifters, traditional sizing and relatively light considering it's a steel frame and fork
Weaknesses: I'd like to see more brazeons for a rear and front rack, but I did'nt buy a LHT or cross check so what are you gonna do? I also had to wait a week or so after I got the frame for the Long reach brake calipers,but I already knew that so it's not much of a weakness. I guess just a slight irritation because of my lack of planning. oh well.
Similar Products Used: Mid 90's trek Aluminum frame that a lawyer from my work gave me. I ended up using the 7 speed shimano 600 drive train on my surly and it works great, minus the biopace chainrings of course. Biopace, sheesh, give me a break. I also had a 1994 Diamond back Expert TG back in high school that was a pretty sweet ride.
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