NEW BIKE DAY: SURLY DISC TRUCKER
Today, I have a slightly different post for you. It's the best day of the week - New Bike Day. But this time, it's not for me.
Today, I'm going to introduce you to my little brother's new bike. He's about to embark on a big tour through Southern Europe and North Africa, with the final destination being the Canary Islands. For a trip like this, you need a reliable bike ;). Since a new touring bike and the necessary gear (camping equipment, etc.) aren't exactly cheap, we aimed to work within a sensible budget (bike > €1500). He earned the money for it by diligently delivering packages for the postal service after finishing high school.
I found the challenge of getting the best possible bike within this budget really exciting. It was especially interesting because sometimes my suggestions were rejected due to their appearance, which drove the engineer in me crazy. But in the end, we came up with something really good and timeless.
The finished Surly Disc Trucker. It's kept in a subtle color, but the frame is truly timeless. The thick tires also complement the frame very well.
The heart of the bike is, of course, the frame. I quickly realized that this would make or break the budget. At the same time, you want to get the most bang for your buck and not skimp in the wrong places. We had steel frames from Nordest, Surly, and Brother to choose from. Why steel? Because it's straightforward, durable, and timeless. Sure, it comes with a bit more weight, but we're not building a rig to win the Atlas Mountain Race. My brother eventually chose the classic Surly Disc Trucker, arguably one of the legendary frames for bike touring. Personally, I would have gone for one of Nordest's gravel bikes, but my brother preferred the look of the Disc Trucker. In retrospect, I agree with him—the frame was the right choice.
Next, we considered the drivetrain. In 2024, there are countless drivetrain options, each with its own pros and cons. Classic Shimano gravel groupsets, budget knock-offs from China, and a seemingly endless array of wireless drivetrains from SRAM. Based on my experience, I made the decision here and opted for something relatively classic and analog—bar-end shifters. Why? Because it’s a simple way to use a mountain bike derailleur, cassette, and crankset without any issues. Bikepacking or touring through Europe means you’ll encounter some steep mountain ranges. In Spain, it's the Pyrenees; in Switzerland and Austria, the Alps; and in the east, the Carpathians. What do you need for that? Proper gearing to haul yourself and your gear over those climbs. With the bar-end shifters, we can run a 10-52 tooth cassette and a 32t chainring up front. This setup will get you up any hill, though you'll have fewer high-speed options on the descents—but that just gives you more time to recover from the climb. I also believe it’s important to have simple technology on a touring bike so that if something does break, you can easily find replacement parts.
The rest of the components are less specialized but still very functional and budget-friendly. We got the wheelset from eBay, the brakes are simple mechanical ones from Shimano with pads you can find anywhere. The tires are currently still tubed tires from Specialized, but at 47c, they provide plenty of comfort. The saddle is a Brooks C17 that came from my old parts bin and fits perfectly.
Frame: Surly Disc Trucker, size 56cm
Drivetrain: TRP brake levers, SRAM GX Eagle derailleur, SRAM XG-1275 10-52 cassette, Microshift bar-end shifters
Handlebar: Easton EA70, 42cm
Stem: Newman Evolution, 80mm
Fork: Surly Disc Trucker
Wheels: Fulcrum Rapid Red 5 DB
Seatpost: PRO LT aluminum seatpost
Saddle: Brooks C17
Pedals: BC Basic platform pedals
Tires: Specialized Pathfinder 47c 700c
Brakes: Shimano BR-RS305
Since none of these parts are rocket science, I assembled the bike myself. I'm not a perfect mechanic, but I'm getting better, and the build went smoothly. The only “problems” were due to the quirks of the Disc Trucker frame. For example, a brake adapter meant for the rear was needed up front, but otherwise, everything went well.
Now it’s time to ride, ride, ride, and the tour kicks off in the height of summer. Once the bike is fully packed, I'll post another update showing how it looks with all the bags and gear and what he’s taking on his first big tour.
