Have you been all looking forward to it? I know I’ve certainly been.
I’ve had the chance to get an early ride on the Steamroller, back for this one-time comeback!
I managed to put it together using mostly parts I already had lying around. I think the only new parts I bought were the brakes and chain.
For the handlebars, I took some sandpaper to my Cheater Bar and gave it a little polish. It’s the kind of thing I probably wouldn’t do to my other bikes, but somehow, the Steamroller feels like it’d be totally cool with it.
The saddle was a gift from Tommy-san. It’s got that nice old-school, slightly worn-in look. I love it.
I think that’s one of the best things about the Steamroller, and Surly as a whole. It has this incredible ability to accept all kinds of customization, even the slightly random, rough-around-the-edges kind. Nothing has to be perfect. It’s a bike with a big heart and plenty of room for whatever you want to throw at it.
I have a feeling this bike will stick around for a long, long time. I’ll probably keep changing things up every now and then, depending on my mood or what I feel like riding it for.
Meanwhile, Samba is right here in the shop, going back and forth on what to do next while building up Nigo-san’s bike from HUB.
And me? I’m about to swap out my handlebars!
I’d love for you to stop by the shop and check out how it turns out. Come see the new setup!
