Surly is a small bicycle company based in Bloomington, Minnesota that has a unique style and approach to bike and frame building. Besides complete bikes and frames, Surly also makes several components that have become well know in certain circles. The Surly Singleator chain tensioner was the first of it’s kind on the market and some credit it with instigating the entire single speed craze. Surly doesn’t build any fancy carbon or aluminum frames, but sticks with the tried and true cromoly steel frame. Most Surly owners bike for fun rather than competition.
One of the most interesting frames in the Surly catalog is a mountain bike built to handle huge 4″ tires called the Pugsley.
The Surly Pugsley, like all other Surlys, is built with double butted 4130 CroMoly steel. Surly solves some of the problems that come with running big tires by adding a 100mm-wide bottom bracket shell and providing an E-type front derailleur mount. In case you’re wondering why anyone would want to run 3.7″ tires, the reason is this.
By running low pressure, high volume tires, riders are able to tackle terrain unthinkable for traditional tires. Think ice, snow, sand, rocks and roots. The great thing about the Pugsley is that it’s only sold as frameset, so you can be assured that you Pugsley will be a unique creation, tuned to fit whatever kind terrain you’re crazy enough to ride.