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| A 1x1. I assure you, I will make all the words about it later. |
So Surly took a couple years, then mashed the 1x1 up with another model, the Instigator. This birthed the Nexus 6 of 26" singlespeed, fuckin' a steel frames. They created...
The Lowside.
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| And it was... well, not really good. I have been having a lot of teething problems. |
I bought this toward the end of the first production year, because I didn't expect it would make it to a second. I normally would have preferred to start from a frame only, but the wheels are Boost 26+. Super common, right? If you are not a bike person, they are not common. I figured it would be worth it to just buy a complete bike for those wheels alone, and then have extra parts.
I was not impressed with the stock build, and I think Surly remedied that with later releases. Suprisingly I won't bitch about it now, but I think the wheels and headset are the only pieces left stock. I'm cool with the dropper routing, but really, Surly? A deraileur hangar? I rather would have had proper braze ons for the dropper than violate the sanctity of my singlespeed rage. No gears. No mercy.
This bike has the great distinction of flat out rocking me twice already. It definitely draws you out and encourages you to push the limits. Or she may just hate me. Much like that dude from the Led Zeppelin albums, I flew too close to the sun, then choked on my own vomit. Hah. Nah, I mean Icarus, and yes, I plummeted back to Earth.
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| Victim of a bitched landing. I liked these saddles. A clever bike dork may have noticed a significantly toasted version of this on that arrrrnge 1x1 up top. |
They aren't great stories, which is often the case with the bad crashes. I'm usually festive and jovial about the harsh reality of embracing sweet lady dirt, but these really hurt. I actually took a day off work for the second one.
First time I dedicated too late and biffed the landing on a tabletop. I think if I hadn't hesitated I would have been fine. The other one I was just making my second run of the day on a short little section I've ridden at least a hundred times and just went too hard too fast. Brutal. But crashing is cool, and I hear chicks dig scars.
So a quick breakdown on parts and setup:
Cockpit:
Deity bars and stem. Cut down about 20mm on each side. High rise, and there is not a lot of stack. It feels perfect after I cut the bars. I tore up my pinkie knuckles more than once with those wide bars.
Demolition grips in purple swirl. I didn't really ride these til today, and til now I thought the circular pattern may be annoying. Wrong. Way comfy, sick colors, and circa 2003 Hatebreed graphics. Into it. Bmx grips win. Like rawdoggin' your bars without those clamps getting in the way of the feel.
Paul levers. Smooth. Pretty. My first purple part of the build.
Drivetrain:
Raceface Atlas cranks. I guess these have a aluminum spindle. I put my trust in steel. 30mm bottom bracket. At least it is threaded.
Blackspire 32t ring. Narrow wide. Thumbs down for singlespeeding, but it's a search to find proper rings these days.
20t steel Surly cog. Crom.
Those Deity pedals look snazzy but I'll destroy the hell out of them by October. Kmc chain. I don't know why there are other brands.
Brakes, dropper, whatever:
Spoon saddle. Poor 66sick seat. It lived such a short life. Fortunately I got it on closeout.
Fox Transfer dropper in Kashima coat. Raises pinkie high. I may be a dirtbag, but my girls get the best.
Brakes are mechanical. TRP Spyke with Hope rotors. More bling.
Maxxis tires. DHR and DHF 26+. The good stuff with light casing, tear protection, 3 tire compounds. Whatever else Maxxis made up to sound more better. The wheels are no name hubs with Alex rims. I'll build a fancy set someday, but that is expensive.
Brought to you by Rocky Ridge park in York,PA and Houses of the Holy.
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