The "Best" Surly Straggler - Custom Build
Nov 11, 2025
When the redesigned Surly Straggler landed at our shop, we knew right away that we wanted to do something different with it — something to show off what makes this frame so versatile, but also to show off the kind of details that make custom builds so much fun.
"Best" Surly Straggler?
Recently, we’ve done a series of YouTube videos called “Best” builds - “Best” is in quotes because, of course, there’s no single best bike. We built the “Best” Bridge Club and “Best” Midnight Special, each time taking a production Surly bike and hand-picking every part to build the best version based on our budget and vision for the bike. The new Straggler felt like the perfect next project.
Starting With a Vision
This one started with a color — the new Straggler Subtropic Algae frame — and a part that had been stuck in my head for months: the SimWorks Stand Alone rims in an incredible bronze finish. That combination became the foundation for the build. From there, we started layering on details — a set of gold spoke nipples, a Wolf Tooth headset in limited-edition Espresso, and a set of PNW Components Loam grips. Perhaps the biggest highlight of this build is the gold Growtec Brakes supplied by Velo Orange. None of these colors match perfectly, and that’s intentional. I’ve never been a fan of matchy-matchy builds. Done right, mixing tones and textures gives a bike personality and warmth — something that feels as though it was assembled by hand, not ordered from a catalog.
Building an ATB-Inspired Straggler
We wanted this Straggler to lean more toward the ATB (All-Terrain Bike) side of the spectrum rather than a traditional drop-bar gravel setup. For the drivetrain, we opted for the Microshift Sword 1x10 — a 40T chainring paired with an 11– 48 cassette. For the tires, we wanted to test the frame’s limits by running a Continental Terra Hardpack 700x50c, set up tubeless. They give the bike a confident stance and plenty of clearance, striking the right balance between fast-rolling efficiency and dirt-road capability. The cockpit really completes the ATB look and feel, with SimWorks by Nitto CowCow bars providing enough rise and sweep to provide a comfortable ride. We paired those bars IRD brake levers connected to the cable actuated Growtac brakes.
When you combine a bunch of different parts, there’s always a risk. But for this bike, we think it all came together.
We’ll have this bike on display in our bike shop in Ottawa, Kansas, as a demonstration of the types of custom builds we can do for customers. We also used this bike in a YouTube Video called Building the “Best” Surly Straggler. We hope to also put some miles on it and provide a ride review in an upcoming video.
Parts List:
Frame: Surly Straggler – Subtropic Algae
Fork: Surly Straggler Steel Fork (1-1/8" Steerer)
Headset: Wolf Tooth – Espresso Anodized (ZS44/EC44 with Adapter)
Stem: Custom Built
Handlebars: SimWorks by Nitto CowCow Bar – 80mm Rise / 12° Sweep
Grips: PNW Components Loam Grips – Peanut Butter
Brakes: Velo Orange Growtac Equal Hydraulic Disc Brakes – Gold
Brake Levers: Interloc Racing Design (IRD)
Shifter: Microshift Sword 1x10 Thumb Shifter
Rear Derailleur: Microshift Sword 10-Speed
Cassette: Microshift H-Series 11–48T
Chainring: 40T Microshift
Crankset: Microshift Sword 170 mm
Bottom Bracket: FSA BSA Threaded
Wheels: SimWorks Stand Alone Rims (Velocity Cliffhanger Base) – Bronze
Hubs: Velo Orange (Black)
Spokes: DT Swiss
Nipples: Brass – Gold Anodized
Tires: Continental Terra Hardpack – 700x50c (Tubeless)
Pedals: PNW Components Loam Pedals – Black
Saddle: Brooks B17 – Softened Leather
Seatpost: Thomson Elite
