Really enjoy your videos. Good commentary on your rides that I can relate to, although I don't ride much. But most of all, incredible bird song in your bike review. Truly amazing.
Awesome video! Agreed. Get a frame that’s tough and then deck it out with components you love. A steel frame is super aero if you put a frame bag behind the head tube. And the it handles gravel chop like a dream.
Thanks for the bike check! I was kinda wondering if you had updated much since the drivetrain swap. it looks awesome and makes me want to build a gravel bike and (hopefully) do the 100 next year!
Great looking bike. I fixed up an All City Gorilla Monsoon for the 5o mile Unbound this year. I stripped the dropper post out for a Whiskey carbon post and used a set of Reynolds carbon wheels. I will try in the future to lighten the bike up. I plan to replace the front fork with carbon, drive train at some point and the bars. It would be cheaper if I lost the weight instead of the bike losing it. That's for another day.
Sweet, I'd like to get a Gorilla Monsoon again at some point. The weight was pretty high, but what a great ride. And I'm with you, for another day for sure haha!
Great video. Love a Surly. I am also all about MTB gearing. Thanks for sharing the tips on the camera setup. I would be interested to learn more about your microphone setup too.
Thanks Alan. On the bike I just use that media mod gopro. For my canon camera, I switch between a Rhode shotgun mike and that rhode wireless go ii mic I'm wearing in this video. I'm not sure it was actually functioning properly in this video, but overall I've had pretty good luck with Rhode products.
Great video. I have been using the brooks C19. Found that it flex’s good but just a little to hard. Put a ergon seat on a month before unbound and wow. My butt almost never got sore on the 50 mile. Which has never happened.
I have to second this. I have the C17 Carved saddle and although I like it for sitting upright slow and bumpy single track rides, nothing compares to my Ergon SR Allroad Core Comp saddle on my steel frame. I do 50 mile rides with no chamois without even thinking twice. And I'm a bigger guy (was 6', 255ish before just losing a lot of weight).
Love this video! Irony is while I watch this I am waxing my chain for the very first time (with that SILCA wax pot). Excited to see how it works for a race on Sunday!
Great video! Your Unbound video was the first of yours that I watched. More than any other video about Unbound that I’ve watched, I felt like what it would be like to be in it. We have a lot in common: equipment sense, physique and ability level. So I could relate to you. Great delivery too and always interesting. These two videos are pretty long, but I didn’t get bored or switch away. One question, and I know it can be subjective and irritating, but what does your Surly Midnight Special weigh? I don’t think you stated it in the video. Apologies if I missed it.
Thanks so much for those comments! I'll have to get a weight with the current setup and get back to you. I meant to bring the scale when I filmed this but to be honest I just forgot it. It was sub 25lbs with bottle cages when I initially built it. I'm interested in what it is fully loaded with aero bars, etc.
@@backofthegravelpack Used it for about 1000mi till I found the MS frame was just a tad too tall for me. It has 3 pack mounts so can also work for bikepacking trips.
@@jcmuellnerI might be interested. Or maybe I'll buy the Whiskey off @backonthegravelpack and he can buy yours. Either way I've been looking for a carbon fork for my midnight special
Great breakdown! I’ve really enjoyed your race videos also. Anything you do for paint protection? I’ve noticed chips from tires flinging gravel and from cables
I've used some airplane tape on my frame to help with rubbing from bikepacking bags. I've never tried the frame wraps they make for stone chips, etc. I do have some chips though, so probably not a bad idea.
@backofthegravelpack what did you think of the handling of the Midnight special over 100 mi of gravel? I ride the same machine in size 56 (also in periwinkle sparkle) . I haven't swapped out my steel fork yet and I'm loving the 650bx47 tire size. I'm 50/50 gravel/pavement in my riding around MN. Did you wish for a slacker headtube angle over the longer distance of gravel? I really like how the bike handles, but it is definitely a bit on the "quicker" side of the spectrum. Great job finishing Unbound this year and thanks for the great content you've been doing from the race.
Hmm good question. I'd like to try it with a bit slacker front fork and see what I think. I suspect I would like the ride a little more, but hard to say. I do like the quick response, and really like the tucked rear end. I have learned not to respond to quickly/severely though. That will get you in trouble on a MS haha! I've also ridden this bike with the same size wheels and tires as you. In the end I just enjoyed the 700c more, but that big tire was nice.
Really enjoy your videos. Good commentary on your rides that I can relate to, although I don't ride much. But most of all, incredible bird song in your bike review. Truly amazing.
Appreciate the kind words Steve. That is a great spot for birds!
Awesome video! Agreed. Get a frame that’s tough and then deck it out with components you love. A steel frame is super aero if you put a frame bag behind the head tube. And the it handles gravel chop like a dream.
Yea I'd like to try a thin walled high quality steel frame someday, but until then the durable surly is doing great!
I watched a ton of your videos today, thanks for all the content 😂❤🎉
Awesome thanks for watching!
Enjoyed the video! Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for all the content really enjoy the long form videos, i hope your wife is good i havent seen here riding in any videos in awhile
Appreciate that. I'm hoping she will be back on the tandem sometimes this fall!
legit bike!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the bike check! I was kinda wondering if you had updated much since the drivetrain swap. it looks awesome and makes me want to build a gravel bike and (hopefully) do the 100 next year!
The mullet drivetrain update has been awesome, I would for sure do that exact setup again if I had to choose.
Great looking bike. I fixed up an All City Gorilla Monsoon for the 5o mile Unbound this year. I stripped the dropper post out for a Whiskey carbon post and used a set of Reynolds carbon wheels. I will try in the future to lighten the bike up. I plan to replace the front fork with carbon, drive train at some point and the bars. It would be cheaper if I lost the weight instead of the bike losing it. That's for another day.
Sweet, I'd like to get a Gorilla Monsoon again at some point. The weight was pretty high, but what a great ride. And I'm with you, for another day for sure haha!
Great video. Love a Surly. I am also all about MTB gearing. Thanks for sharing the tips on the camera setup. I would be interested to learn more about your microphone setup too.
Thanks Alan. On the bike I just use that media mod gopro. For my canon camera, I switch between a Rhode shotgun mike and that rhode wireless go ii mic I'm wearing in this video. I'm not sure it was actually functioning properly in this video, but overall I've had pretty good luck with Rhode products.
@@backofthegravelpack Thanks for the suggestions. Great stuff!
Great video. I have been using the brooks C19. Found that it flex’s good but just a little to hard. Put a ergon seat on a month before unbound and wow. My butt almost never got sore on the 50 mile. Which has never happened.
Nice, which Ergon are you using? I've heard good things about their seats as well.
I have to second this. I have the C17 Carved saddle and although I like it for sitting upright slow and bumpy single track rides, nothing compares to my Ergon SR Allroad Core Comp saddle on my steel frame. I do 50 mile rides with no chamois without even thinking twice. And I'm a bigger guy (was 6', 255ish before just losing a lot of weight).
Nice I'll have to give one a try, thanks for the advice!
Love this video! Irony is while I watch this I am waxing my chain for the very first time (with that SILCA wax pot).
Excited to see how it works for a race on Sunday!
Also super jealous that you have the Alt Angle stand! It’s not cheap but super smart and I want. (Eventually)
And last, yes. If a hat is left I would buy one and pay for shipping.
I think overall it's worth it, just a bit of a pain. Hope you like it! And you are in luck with the hats, I have both colors still
@@backofthegravelpackawesome! I love the brown one. Lets offline how we take care of the dollars and cents of getting it to me.
Great video! Your Unbound video was the first of yours that I watched. More than any other video about Unbound that I’ve watched, I felt like what it would be like to be in it. We have a lot in common: equipment sense, physique and ability level. So I could relate to you. Great delivery too and always interesting. These two videos are pretty long, but I didn’t get bored or switch away. One question, and I know it can be subjective and irritating, but what does your Surly Midnight Special weigh? I don’t think you stated it in the video. Apologies if I missed it.
Thanks so much for those comments! I'll have to get a weight with the current setup and get back to you. I meant to bring the scale when I filmed this but to be honest I just forgot it. It was sub 25lbs with bottle cages when I initially built it. I'm interested in what it is fully loaded with aero bars, etc.
Just subscribed love the videos
Much appreciated!
I used a Fyxation Sparta fork on my Midnight Special, and have a brand new spare if you want it.
Hadn't heard of that one before, you been pretty satisfied?
@@backofthegravelpack Used it for about 1000mi till I found the MS frame was just a tad too tall for me. It has 3 pack mounts so can also work for bikepacking trips.
@@jcmuellnerI might be interested. Or maybe I'll buy the Whiskey off @backonthegravelpack and he can buy yours. Either way I've been looking for a carbon fork for my midnight special
@itsMeHammie Have at er, i think I'm going to try and come up with an Enve or Rodeo
Great breakdown! I’ve really enjoyed your race videos also.
Anything you do for paint protection? I’ve noticed chips from tires flinging gravel and from cables
I've used some airplane tape on my frame to help with rubbing from bikepacking bags. I've never tried the frame wraps they make for stone chips, etc. I do have some chips though, so probably not a bad idea.
@backofthegravelpack what did you think of the handling of the Midnight special over 100 mi of gravel? I ride the same machine in size 56 (also in periwinkle sparkle) . I haven't swapped out my steel fork yet and I'm loving the 650bx47 tire size. I'm 50/50 gravel/pavement in my riding around MN. Did you wish for a slacker headtube angle over the longer distance of gravel? I really like how the bike handles, but it is definitely a bit on the "quicker" side of the spectrum. Great job finishing Unbound this year and thanks for the great content you've been doing from the race.
Hmm good question. I'd like to try it with a bit slacker front fork and see what I think. I suspect I would like the ride a little more, but hard to say. I do like the quick response, and really like the tucked rear end. I have learned not to respond to quickly/severely though. That will get you in trouble on a MS haha! I've also ridden this bike with the same size wheels and tires as you. In the end I just enjoyed the 700c more, but that big tire was nice.
Great video, really appreciate the perspective. Just goes to show steel bikes can and do go the distance.
No doubt!
go for the Enve gravel fork. Its strong.
Thanks, that's the way I'm leaning.
I think we fixed the head set finally???
Yep head set seems to be good!
How much does your bike weigh with all those upgrades. I have the same sized frame.
I'll weigh it when I get a chance. Initial build was sub 25 lbs before the drivetrain upgrades.
Lauf Fork. It isn't cheap but everyone online that uses them loves them.
I've heard some complaints from heavier riders that they didn't love the Lauf. It is on my list though for sure thank you.
@@backofthegravelpackhmm, interesting. Do test it out for us real men. 😂