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I have had a venerable steel Inbred for 7 years that has seen action in NZ, Hertfordshire and other places and all weathers -12 degrees was a bit a push. Being on a limited income I have upgraded it over the years slowly and it has got some choice bits including Hope Hoops, Jones H bars etc.It was brought on the Bike to Work scheme.
It's great for here and even in NZ it coped with all that was thrown at it and held off my brother in laws Santa Cruz Bronson.
I am looking at migrating the kit as best I can to a Surly frame so my question is what frame and will it really be that much better ride wise.
If not, I'll save the money and learn to drive sometime!
Depends what you mean by better.
Surlys aren't light so I doubt you would feel a benefit in ride quality. Geometry might be better/different.
Can't really see much benefit unless it fits you better
What wheel size?
If it's 26" I think the Inbred is as good as it gets at that wheel size. Yes you can maybe find an old Cotic Soul or a Stanton Slackline with a bit of zing, but I still smile at the giggles I got on my Inbred.
(I still ride a 26" Inbred but it's singlespeeded and used for dog running on flooded river paths).
I prefer my Surly 1x1 to the Inbred, they've both been run in various combinations of ss or Sturmey 3 speed and with front suspension or fully rigid. I don't think there's much in it, but the 1x1 has always been the one to just get on and ride. I also have a Cotic Simple, which is a very different animal, much lighter and with a definite zing to it. With a straight suspension corrected steel fork it is much faster and sharper handling, great for quick blasts for an hour or so on a warm evening (remember those?). Not sure how easy any of those frames are to find these days though, but all the bits off the Inbred transplanted straight onto the Simple with no trouble.
Thanks for the replies, the Inbred is a 29 er, I have a Scandal 26 which now has drop bars on it.
Once the Inbred gets going it rolls really fast, but does feel a bit dead. It has non butted tubes, so it is stuff. I want something light and a bit of spring to it.
I like the look of the Ritchey frames as well.
Light a Surly won’t be. Nice ride? I’d say so. I’m on my third Surly so somewhat biased.