Many of us remember the original Surly Steamroller in Battleship grey from the early aughts. It was one of the coveted fixed gears on the market and thanks to its FFF wide chainstays, it made for a great commuter bike in cities with rough surface roads. Well, Josh got his hands on one and converted it to S&S couplers and the result is nothing short of amazing! Let’s check it out…

I finished my OG Steamroller. Had it modified with S&S couplers by @moontowerbikeco and paint by @catharo1. Was able to source a 1 inch Cross Check fork as well, the OG fork was designed for short reach brakes and I really wanted a front brake and a 38. It’s the only bike I’ve ridden all year (not that I ride a lot anyways).

This is a “purpose built” bike made for our gravel levee trails and our local fixed gear training rides (@smashbrosplusone on instagram). I also travel quite frequently and found myself missing my bike a ton and after travelling with a full size bike a few times got quickly annoyed by it.

I found this bike for sale locally with the paint stripped and has been through a couple iterations. I also included photos of it’s first complete builds. I really tried to keep some of the parts I loved on the bike, the cranks are off of a 1984 Trek 560 that was my first fixed bike, the seatpost and brake were from a friend in Philly, the chainring was an impulse buy at a bike swap in Austin, the C15 was my first saddle that’s been travelling from bike to bike and it kinda came together well.

I will be attempting a few overnighters on it soon like the Central Texas Lowdown and longer gravel rides. I’m not sure what else to include here other than I built this bike for me to love and it’s been great for me physically and mentally. I could not ask for a better bike at this time. My instagram handle is @thankyoubasedjosh, huge shout outs to my smashbrosplusone family.

Build Spec:

• Year: 2000/01
• Frame: Surly Steamroller
• Forks: Cross Check 1 inch
• Stem: Race Face Diabolous
• Headset: Chris King Nothreadset
• Bottom Bracket: Shimano UN300
• Handlebar: Salsa Pro Moto Carbon 25.4
• Brake Lever: Dia-Compe
• Front Brake: Avid Arch Rival 40
• Brake Pads: Kool-Stop Thinline
• Cables/Housing: Whatever was in my parts bin
• Crankset: Sakae CRC 01 144 bcd
• Chainring: NOS Salsa 47t Track Chainring
• Pedals: Shimano M520
• Hubs and Spokes: Surly Ultra New, Sim Works Peregrine with Sim Works Brass Nipples
• Rims: DT Swiss R460
• Tires: Vittora Terreno Zero 700×35 622×37
• Seatpost: Nitto S65
• Saddle: Brooks C15
• Seatpost Clamp: Wolftooth
• Grips: ESI Chunky
• Chain: Izumi
• Cog: Kronos 17t cog

We’d like to thank all of you who submitted Readers Rides builds to be shared here at The Radavist. 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!