rdrummond

Hi All,


This is the parts list for the Surly Straggler Commuter pic I recently posted. This was a first build for me, so for the sake of those considering their own builds I plan to follow up with some additional posts on tools, DIY-able stuff, and mistakes made.


Surly Straggler Build Parts List
Frame & Fork
--Surly Straggler
Drivetrain
--Crankset SRAM S100 1.1 Courier Crankset (48T)
--Cassette SRAM PowerGlide PG-820; 11-32
----spacer 3 mm ?*
--Bottom Bracket TruVativ Power Spline Bottom Bracket 68x118mm
--Chain KMC X8.99 Bicycle Chain (1/2 x 3/32-Inch, 116L, Silver)
----KMC Quick Links 8 speed KMC MISSING LINK II Bicycle Chain Link (7 and 8-Speed, 6-Pairs)**
--Rear Derailleur Shimano Claris RD-2400 8 speed
--Front Derailleur None!***
--Shifters SL-R400 (using right shifter only, on downtube--indexed)
Brake System
--Caliper (Mechanical) Shimano BR-M375
--Rotors 160 mm, Shimano Centerlock, SM-RT64 (Deore)
--Front Adapter Shimano MA-F, IS to Post / 160 mm
--Rear Adapter Shimano SM-MA-R180, IS to Post / 180 mm + washers for spacing****
--Levers Avid FR-5 (Long Pull)
Steering
--Handlebar Lopez Butterfly Bar, 31.8 mm
--Stem Origin 8 Pro-Fit Black 1-1/8 Threadless, 31.8 mm
--Headset Velo Orange Grand Cru 1-1/8”, Threadless, External Cup
--Headset spacers Wheels Manufacturing
Pedals Shimano PD-M324 (double sided)
Wheelset Shimano RX05 Disc Brake Wheel (700c)
Tires Panaracer T-Serv Pro 700x35
Seatpost Kalloy 27.2 x 350 mm
Seat OUTERDO Bike Saddle Mountain Bike Seat 27*15cm


* this is a guesstimate. LBS installed for me when I was in the shop picking up my cassette.
** not totally necessary but was glad to have these when I mis-sized my chain the first time around
*** going for simplicity/durability/ease of maintenance, so going with a 1x build
**** 160 mm rotor, but for this frame & caliper a larger adapter (+ hardware store washers) was needed to have clearance for the caliper so that the caliper didn’t touch the top of the rotor

well biked

Your proposed brake calipers and brake levers are not compatible with each other (mountain/road). Since you're going with mountain style levers, I would go with Shimano mtb hydraulic brakes. Worlds better than any mechanical disc, and even an inexpensive, entry level Shimano hydraulic will do.

rmfnla

Oh pooh.

I have XT MTB levers and SRAM Force calipers and they stop just fine.

No guarantees the OP's proposed set-up will work but you can't simply assume it won't.

One of the best parts about building up a bike is the "let's try this and see how it works."

Your suggestion to go hydraulic does have merit, however...

well biked

I didn't realize the bike was already built up, I should have read more closely. I thought it was simply a proposed list of parts. One thing's for sure, with flat bar brake levers, the switch to proper mtb brake levers would be easy and inexpensive.

PatrickGSR94

mis-sized chain? Are you running 2 sets of KMC master chain links on one chain? I suppose it might be okay but probably not something I would do. I cut my 8-speed gravel grinder bike's chain a bit too short when I built it up, but it was only a $10 KMC chain so I just picked up another from the LBS.

RubeRad

Hey, you should repost your pic here.

FYI you might find my CrossCheck build post interesting. If Surly had come out with the straggler a couple years earlier (and had an initial color other than that unicorn sprinkle purple), I would probably be on a straggler right now.

Also I like your choice to go 1x, my cc might as well be 1x since I never use the 52 ring.

Any reason you chose 8sp? If you had a bike that was already 8sp and stuck with it, that would make sense, but it seems an odd choice for a ground-up build (for instance you had to include a cassette spacer). I chose 9sp because I didn't want the thinner chain of 10sp. Also Retroshifts were a central concept of my build and I think if I went 8 I'd have to source shifters separately. It turns out afterwards I really like 9sp because I'm a little OCD and it pleases me to have a gear 'in the middle' that feels neutral to me. With 8sp (or 10sp) you're always above or below 'average'.

PatrickGSR94

lol funny you mention that. I use my 10sp cassette's 5th and 6th gears more than anything else, and that works out nicely since there are 2 front rings.

rdrummond

Hi All,

thanks for the comments! yes, guess the levers calipers are mismatched..however they do work. But...it seems that the levers can barely pull enough cable. Would this be expected of the setup I'm running, and would the MTB levers help that ?

rdrummond

I am running two QL's now. This is one of those topics you will read 50% say it's ok, have been doing it for years, ..., and 50% not, don't risk it, chains are cheap, ... I'm going with the reasoning that a chain is as good as its weakest link, and if a QL was somehow compromising the chain, even one would be a risk. But this is mainly a convenience thing, as I had the QLs to use on hand.

rdrummond

Hi
I went 8 speed because I was going for durability, so yes, avoiding the "thin chain" as you say. What do you mean by a Retroshifter ?

The 8 speed gearing is working ok for me...but this is a personal thing with the ratios you feel at home in..for me they key thing was to have low enough gearing to handle the hills on my commute...otherwise I intend it for flat rail trail touring etc. So figured I'd "adapt" to the gearing easily enough.

Actually, I originally intended friction shifters but couldn't get them...but I'm liking the indexed one.

rdrummond

reposting pic to this thread, for previous poster's request

RubeRad

Yes, road levers are also known as 'short-pull'. MTB levers will pull more cable.

rmfnla

However, in this case it appears you nailed it...

rmfnla

Yeah, I didn't catch that it was already on the road, either...

rdrummond

Hi All,
Tonight replaced the road brake levers with Avid FR-5 long pull levers (revised original post parts list). Huge difference! Thanks for pointing it out.

Maybe this is a good lead in to my "mistakes" post...

well biked

Glad it worked out....Btw, I've owned a Straggler for nearly two years now, and have used it as my primarly commuter bike during that time period. I absolutely love it, they're great bikes.

rdrummond

Yeah liking mine a lot so far.