Surly Wednesday Update; 18 month review

It`s been a year and a half since i was given a Surly Wednesday Frame set and Halo Fatbike wheel set from Pat as a thank you when he was working at ISON, the UK Importer/Distributor for Surly,

I have had great fun on this bike and here is a Drone film by friend Phil at the beginning of the year of me riding happy on the coast...


Coastrider; Flying with Phil... from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

27.5+ 50mm wide rims, 3" tyres;
These wheels are the same diameter as the 4" tyre Fatbike wheels, but a lot lighter and the bike is more lively for throwing about bermed Trail Centres, and throwing the bike about in the air.
Maxxis Chronicles set up split tube tubeless despite being tubeless Mule Foot rims as you get a little bit more rim protection from the rubber strip of the inner tube on the exposed rim edge i prefer firmer side walls of the Chronicles to the previous Schwalbe tyres that felt like they were trying to roll off the rim when sticking the bike into berms at speed...


29+ 50mm wide rims, 3" tyres;
Been waiting for a pair of these to turn up for sale and friend Tony offered his for sale, Halo Hubs same as my other wheels on Halo Vapour rims,
I love the big cart wheels for local trails as they roll like hell and although 29+ wheels raise the BB height on a Fatbike the extra pedal strike clearance is good on off piste riding and the Bontrager Chupacabra tyres set up tubeless feel great, big and floaty i will ride the bike a lot on these wheels...


26"  80mm wide rims, 4" tyres;
The go to size for most people for fatbike wheels,



You can see here the 29+ wheels behind are about an inch higher then 27.5+ wheels...

Sunday i was up early to swap out the drive train on the Wednesday and then try it out, along with a ride on the 29+ wheels...

From 1 x 11 speed gears, back to 10 speed;
With 3 rear wheels and wanting quick wheel swaps without swapping the cassette i have set up the bike 1 x 10 with a stealth Granny ring as i did on my previous Surly Krampus, and Prototype Genesis Caribou builds...

I have done this as i think 10 speed runs smoother,and  is way cheaper for chains, mechs, shifters and rear cassettes, the 11 speed XT set up was always a bit rough though a great range of gears.

The 10 speed Shimano ZEE mech is compact and kept tucked in out of harms way...

40t Sunrace cassette to 30t front sprocket gives a low enough gearing for around here...

But if that`s not low enough the chain tension is still fine if i manually shift the chain up front onto the stealth 22t granny ring...

Why I bought a double ring crank!...

So with all that sorted on with a short ride and superb views across the county...

Autumn colours as the trees change...

The Mill at Smeaton was operating, Maintained by The National Trust it is an amazing sight to see still working after all these years....

Leaving the village i climbed up to Pencraig Hill, soaking up the view north across the countryside to North Berwick...

Then it was through the woods and then descended the section of the old Ridge Road to then drop down and home through harvested fields,

Love this bike!...

Here is a wee film from the days ride,
Song is `It came to me`  by The Barr Brothers

Surly Wednesday 29+ local trails Oct 17 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

More soon...