STAFF BIKE: 2014 Surly Disc Trucker

Hey, Justin here. Check out my new commuter, a custom built 2014 Surly Disc Trucker. I built this bike to replace my beloved Puch which is also pictured. I'll start with a little bit about the Puch... A few years back I found the Puch frame and fork on Craigslist and bought it and an old Sugino crank for $20. The frame had a stuck rusted bottom bracket and headset which took a lot of work to remove but the work was worth it because I ended up with what would prove to be a magic commuter that set the bar high for all my bikes. It had a rough life by the looks of it, but I like to think the many different builds I put it through made up for it. Unfortunately, after putting over 3,000 miles on the weathered Puch, the derailleur hanger became fatigued- ready to snap, so it was time to upgrade.

Enter the Surly Disc Trucker. Originally, I planned to swap most of the Puch's components onto the Surly, but that eventually went out the window because blood red frames need all black. I strived to use all gloss black components with little or no branding and as you can see, I was successful. The end result was what intended it to be, a modernized version of my all-time favorite commuter.

The Surly was also a serious upgrade. Aside from the obvious higher quality frame, I upgraded from an Acera mix-match 7 speed drivetrain to Shimano 10 speed drivetrain with Dura Ace bar ends converted to thumb shifters with Paul Comp Thumbies. One of the biggest upgrades was the jump from V-brakes with Kool Stops and Tektro levers to hydraulic XTR disc brake calipers with XT levers. The only things I kept from the Puch were the Lumotec dynamo light, Shimano Alfine dynamo hub, fenders, Civia Pizza Rack, and the inner chainring. Now that it's done, I have to say I wouldn't change a thing. The Surly looks great, rides beautifully, and it's good to go for thousands of miles.