Originally Posted by
rebel1916
I think it is a fundamental tendency towards being a retrogrouch that makes you think a surly is a better choice than a Trek. And I think Treks stink on ice.
No, Surly is just an unapologetically practical, mostly unsexy maker that seems to understand that the latest isn't necessarily the greatest. That said, many of their frames can be built up as sexy (or not) as you'd want: You can build up the Troll or Ogre as a high-tech mtb complete with disc brakes and newest comps, or you can build them into ultra-simple utilitarian rigs.