Having a bike that can do it all means more fun and more riding (see below for more on that). A bike that kinda encapsulates everything that makes a fun everyday bike is something we carry at the shop here: the Surly Skid Loader. The back rack can handle 100lbs., the pedal assist can help you crush even the gnarliest San Francisco hills, and the 27.5” semi-knobby tires mean that both paved and unpaved adventures can be had.
We have a small and medium in these. Because each has a sloped top tube and a dropper seat, these rippers can take people in a wider range of heights in each size. Drop us a line if you want more info on the Skid Loader.
I really, really like bikes (and riding them). I'm always looking for more ways to get out and ride and get rid of any sort of impediment to doing so. In the process, I ditched the SPDs, specialized cycling clothing, added fenders, and got into carrying a Keroppi lunch pail filled with snacks everywhere. All of that plus a rack and basket combination has meant that my bike is truly my everyday ride: I can throw street finds (like framed pressed flowers against crushed blue velvet!) in my basket, carry groceries (read: copious amounts of cat food for my little ones), and make lunch runs for the shop and not need to have the lunch bag swinging to and fro on one of my handlebars.
All of the above means I want to ride more and drive less. Driving is always the last option for me and it means that I needn't get gridlocked in the 19th Ave./Park Presidio bs. Instead I can shred on the dirt trails that run alongside it. I don't hate cars and think that they're the worst and blah blah blah. I'm more keen on focusing on this: the less time spent in a car means that I feel less irritated and rushed. And I can keep enjoying my bike around town, on all of the fire roads in Marin, and when I want to take Bolinas Ridge out to Olema for a late lunch.
I also think that any bike can be that everyday bike. I like advocating for more time on the bike and having fun doing it whether that means fast-paced rides with, say, Pas Normal SF (hey guys!) or meandering rambles with the lovely San Francisco Bike Gang. I don't think that my ideal bike (a blend of the philosophies of Jan Heine and Grant Petersen) is for everyone. Besides I enjoy seeing how each person makes cycling more of their own thing and how they express themselves with how they assemble their bike.
This week perhaps think on what it is that keeps you from getting out and do something about it. Happy riding!
I’m the outlier here cause I run tubes. I like that it’s less of a mess and I can swap tires more readily. However, I do still think that tubeless has its place, especially with smaller tires where pinch flats are a real problem.
When I was on my first foray into tubeless, I had only ever known tubes and patch kits. Going tubeless meant getting familiar with properly seating a tire, using sealant, topping off sealant, clogged valve cores, and carrying plugs for punctures that sealant couldn’t seal. It felt like a lot when I first started off but, with time, I got comfortable with all that came along with tubeless. I also began to enjoy the often improved ride feel and stressed far less about little shards of glass ruining a ride for me prematurely.
My LBS was instrumental in hearing out all of my missteps and giving me good, solid answers to the questions I had. The shop also had a good selection of bike bits that helped me prepare for punctures out on the road (namely, Dynaplug kit). Should you be in the spot I was in a while back, feel free to stop by whenever with any questions about tubeless, going tubeless, or how to fix a flat while out on a ride while running tubeless.