Ben from Heath Creek Cycles shares with us his customized Surly Karate Monkey with some details we think the singlespeed readership will really appreciate. You don’t have to go full-custom to have a customized bike! Check out a few quick words from Ben below, along with more photos from Josh Kowalski, who manages Continental Bikes in Duluth, MN…

I rebuilt my karate monkey and went a bit crazy with a torch and file. I stripped off all the braze-ons save for the SS ones, filed dropouts smoother and cleaner, added new brake cable guides, and filed down the stock guides to match.

Then, I refinished in white with a matching rack, I think it turned out pretty special.

We’d like to thank all of you who have submitted Readers Rides builds to be shared over here. The response has been incredible and we have so many to share over the next few months. Feel free to submit your bike, listing details, components, and other information. You can also include a portrait of yourself with your bike and your Instagram account! Please, shoot landscape-orientation photos, not portrait. Thanks!