Price: £2.100.00 as tested. Frameset £800.00 / From: Ison Distribution, ison-distribution.com

Surly has always been individual and self-confident in its outlook. From pioneering the first production singlespeed (the 1x1, which pre-dated even Kona’s Unit and the On One Inbred) to popularising one of the first 29ers (2001’s Karate Monkey), Surly has always been focused on the fringes of the cycling world, even when those fringes encompass ‘just riding your bike and doing fun stuff’.

Surly has always prided itself in its no-nonsense 4130 cromoly steel frames, always made to accept the biggest tyres possible and to be as compatible as possible with as many of those components that you have lying around in the shed.

A few years ago now, amazingly back in 2012, Surly introduced its Krampus model, and singlehandedly popularised a whole new tyre size: that of 29in x 3.0in, or 29+. this was, and still is, a tyre size that baThes most riders and which is ignored by most of the bike industry. Trek’s Stache is one of the only other believers, along with Salsa, Surly’s stablemate at Quality Bicycle Products. And, with the exception of a few small builders, that’s about it for 29+ believers, which is going to limit any tyre, rim or further bike development for simple economic reasons. However, for those who have tried this tyre size, it really is measurably diTherent and both grippy and stable. Fans of the wheel size tend to be rabid disciples, so this oddball size is probably going to stick around for a while. (Average-sized riders get a choice, Surly also offers the ECR in 27.5+ in sizes medium and below. 29+ comes in medium (as here) and larger)