Surly Wednesday

Overview

Our inspiring review is coming soon, for now here is what Surly says:

The Wednesday is Surly’s all-terrain fat bike. The frame features trail-ready geometry, 4.6″ of tire clearance, provides lots of cargo carrying capabilities and is paired with a 100mm suspension-corrected fork.

Geometry & Ride Characteristics

The Surly Wednesday geometry is distinctively crafted for both trail and touring adventures. The frame is designed to provide clearance for 26 x 4.6” tires, ensuring versatility across various terrains. The Wednesday has a comfortable and ergonomic riding posture, offering a balanced stance that melds the upright comfort of touring bikes with the agility of trail bikes Furthermore, the bike is equipped with multiple braze-ons for front and rear racks, three-pack mounts, and fenders.

Riding the Surly Wednesday feels like a seamless fusion of adaptability and robustness. Its geometry, combined with its tire clearance, offers a ride that is both responsive and stable, making it perfect for navigating through snow, sand, and singletrack trails. The bike’s design leans more towards trail bikes but with the spirit of a touring bike. With its versatile features, riders can expect a balanced and comfortable riding position, suitable for both challenging trails and long-distance journeys. This configuration not only provides excellent control in diverse conditions but also ensures comfort during extended rides, making every day a great day to ride a Wednesday.

• Rider Height Design: The Surly Wednesday’s geometry is tailored to accommodate a broad spectrum of rider heights, ensuring that individuals of various statures can find an optimal fit, setting it apart from some bikes with a more restrictive height range.
• Reach and Stack: The reach of the Wednesday spans from 400.0mm to 471.0mm, and the stack ranges from 573.0mm to 606.0mm across its sizes. This configuration guarantees a relaxed and ergonomic riding stance, contrasting with certain bikes that might lean towards a more aggressive posture.
• Head Tube Angle: The Wednesday maintains a consistent head tube angle of 69.0° across all sizes. This angle offers a harmonious blend of stability and nimbleness, differing from racing bikes that might have sharper angles for rapid maneuvers.
• BB Drop: The BB drop for the Wednesday is consistently set at 55.0mm for all sizes. This design choice ensures a lower center of gravity, enhancing stability, especially during turns, distinguishing it from some bikes with varying BB drops.
• Wheelbase: The wheelbase of the Wednesday extends from 1081.0mm to 1164.0mm. This is longer than many aggressive trail bikes, and a lengthier wheelbase provides enhanced stability, especially at increased speeds, making it apt for a variety of terrains.
• Chainstay Length: The Wednesday boasts a uniform chainstay length of 435.0mm across all sizes, ensuring consistent and predictable handling. This is slightly elongated compared to some performance-focused bikes, emphasizing stability over agility.
• Top Tube Length, Actual and Effective: The actual top tube lengths for the Wednesday range from 571.0mm to 627.0mm, and the effective lengths span from 570.0mm to 650.0mm. These measurements ensure riders have a comfortable reach to the handlebars, in contrast to some bikes that might have extended top tubes for a more aggressive posture.
• Seat Tube Angle: The seat tube angles for the Wednesday are consistently set at 73.5° across all sizes, ensuring an ideal pedaling position. This contrasts with some racing bikes that might have steeper angles, prioritizing aggressive pedaling dynamics over comfort.
• Standover Height: The standover heights for the Wednesday extend from 711.0mm to 841.0mm, allowing riders of diverse heights to comfortably mount and dismount the bike, especially crucial for trail settings with frequent stops.

vs. the Surly Ice Cream Truck

The Surly Ice Cream Truck and the Surly Wednesday, while both fat bikes, offer distinct ride experiences. The Ice Cream Truck, with its 4130 Chromoly steel frame and ability to accommodate up to 5-inch wide tires, is designed for rugged terrains, providing a plush ride that excels in snow or sand. In contrast, the Wednesday’s geometry leans more towards versatility, suitable for both trail and touring adventures. While both bikes prioritize stability, the Ice Cream Truck is more oriented towards challenging terrains, making it relatively pricier than the more versatile Wednesday.

• Fork:
  • Ice Cream Truck: Features a Surly Ice Cream Truck fork with a 1-1/8″ straight steerer and tapered straight blade.
  • Wednesday: Comes with a 100% Surly Chromoly steel fork, designed for disc-only, lugged and brazed, with a sloping crown and tapered, butted curved blades.
• Drivetrain and Groupset:
  • Ice Cream Truck: Equipped with a Shimano SLX drivetrain, known for its reliability and smooth shifting.
  • Wednesday: Features an SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain, providing a wide gear range suitable for various terrains.
• Tire Clearance:
  • Ice Cream Truck: Can accommodate up to 5-inch wide tires, making it ideal for extreme terrains like deep snow or sandy trails.
  • Wednesday: Designed for up to 4.6-inch wide tires, offering versatility across a range of conditions, from trails to snow.
• Ride Feel:
  • Ice Cream Truck: Offers a plush ride, excelling in challenging terrains due to its wider tire clearance and robust frame.
  • Wednesday: Provides a more versatile ride feel, suitable for both trail adventures and touring, with its balanced geometry.
• Geometry:
  • Ice Cream Truck: Geared towards stability in rugged conditions, with a design that emphasizes control in challenging terrains.
  • Wednesday: Features a geometry that leans towards versatility, accommodating both trail and touring setups, with modern mountain standards incorporated.
• Cost Implication:
  • Ice Cream Truck: Generally positioned at a higher price point due to its specialized features for extreme terrains.
  • Wednesday: Relatively more affordable, designed for riders seeking versatility and adaptability in various conditions.
• Versatility:
  • Ice Cream Truck: Primarily designed for rugged terrains, making it a top choice for riders tackling snow, sand, or muddy trails.
  • Wednesday: Known for its adaptability, the Wednesday can handle singletrack trails, snow, and long-distance touring with ease.

vs. the Salsa Mukluk Deore 11

The Salsa Mukluk Deore 11 and the Surly Wednesday both cater to the fat bike category but offer distinct ride dynamics. The Mukluk, with its aluminum frame and Bearpaw fork, is lightweight and agile, optimized for snowy terrains and winter expeditions. In contrast, the Wednesday’s Chromoly steel construction and versatile geometry make it adaptable for both trail adventures and touring escapades. While both bikes emphasize stability, the Mukluk leans more towards specialized snow performance, potentially positioning it at a different cost tier compared to the multi-terrain Wednesday.

• Frame Material:
  • Salsa Mukluk Deore 11: Features an aluminum frame, which is lightweight and resistant to rust.
  • Surly Wednesday: Constructed from 100% Surly Chromoly tubing, known for its durability and flexibility.
• Fork:
  • Salsa Mukluk Deore 11: Comes with a Bearpaw fork, designed specifically for fat bike conditions.
  • Surly Wednesday: Equipped with a 100% Surly Chromoly steel fork, lugged and brazed, tailored for disc-only setups.
• Drivetrain and Groupset:
  • Salsa Mukluk Deore 11: Features a Shimano Deore M5100 drivetrain, renowned for its reliability and efficient shifting.
  • Surly Wednesday: Uses an SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain, offering a wide gear range suitable for diverse terrains.
• Tire Clearance:
  • Salsa Mukluk Deore 11: Designed to accommodate fat tires, making it ideal for snowy terrains and winter rides.
  • Surly Wednesday: Can fit up to 4.6-inch wide tires, providing versatility for trails, snow, and more.
• Ride Feel:
  • Salsa Mukluk Deore 11: Offers a responsive and agile ride, especially optimized for snowy conditions and winter trails.
  • Surly Wednesday: Delivers a versatile ride experience, suitable for both trail adventures and touring, due to its adaptable geometry.
• Geometry:
  • Salsa Mukluk Deore 11: Geared towards stability in snow and challenging conditions, with a design that emphasizes control and maneuverability in soft terrains.
  • Surly Wednesday: Features a geometry tailored for versatility, accommodating both trail and touring setups, with modern mountain standards integrated.
• Cost Implication:
  • Salsa Mukluk Deore 11: Given its specialized features for snow and winter terrains, it might be positioned at a different price point.
  • Surly Wednesday: With its focus on versatility and adaptability across various conditions, it could be relatively more affordable or in a different cost bracket.
• Versatility:
  • Salsa Mukluk Deore 11: Primarily designed for snowy terrains and winter trails, making it a top choice for riders tackling soft and challenging conditions.
  • Surly Wednesday: Renowned for its adaptability, the Wednesday is apt for singletrack trails, snow, and long-distance touring.

vs. the Salsa Beargrease SLX

The Salsa Beargrease SLX and the Surly Wednesday, while both falling under the fat bike category, present distinct riding experiences. The Beargrease SLX, with its carbon frame, is designed for agility and speed, making it a top choice for racing on varied terrains, especially snow and loose trails. In contrast, the Wednesday, with its Chromoly steel frame, emphasizes versatility, suitable for both trail adventures and touring. While both bikes prioritize stability, the Beargrease SLX leans more towards performance-oriented rides, potentially positioning it at a different cost tier compared to the multi-terrain Wednesday.

• Frame Material:
  • Salsa Beargrease SLX: Boasts a lightweight Beargrease Carbon v2 frame, offering rigidity and responsiveness.
  • Surly Wednesday: Constructed from 100% Surly Chromoly tubing, known for its durability and a more compliant ride feel.
• Fork:
  • Salsa Beargrease SLX: Features a Kingpin fork, complementing the lightweight and performance-oriented nature of the bike.
  • Surly Wednesday: Comes with a 100% Surly Chromoly steel fork, designed for disc-only, offering robustness and versatility.
• Drivetrain and Groupset:
  • Salsa Beargrease SLX: Equipped with a Shimano SLX M7100 drivetrain, ensuring smooth and efficient shifting for performance rides.
  • Surly Wednesday: Uses an SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain, offering a wide gear range suitable for diverse terrains and conditions.
• Tire Clearance:
  • Salsa Beargrease SLX: Designed for 27.5 x 4.0″ tires, focusing on speed and agility.
  • Surly Wednesday: Can accommodate up to 4.6-inch wide tires, providing versatility for trails, snow, and touring.
• Ride Feel:
  • Salsa Beargrease SLX: Offers a performance-oriented ride, emphasizing speed, agility, and responsiveness, especially on snowy and loose trails.
  • Surly Wednesday: Delivers a versatile and adaptable ride experience, suitable for both trail adventures and touring, with a focus on stability and comfort.
• Geometry:
  • Salsa Beargrease SLX: Geared towards racing and performance, with a design that emphasizes quick handling and agility.
  • Surly Wednesday: Features a geometry tailored for versatility, accommodating both trail and touring setups, with a balanced approach to stability and maneuverability.
• Cost Implication:
  • Salsa Beargrease SLX: Given its performance-oriented features and carbon construction, it might be positioned at a higher price point.
  • Surly Wednesday: With its focus on versatility and adaptability across various conditions, it could be relatively more affordable or in a different cost bracket.
• Versatility:
  • Salsa Beargrease SLX: Primarily designed for racing on varied terrains, making it a top choice for riders seeking speed and performance.
  • Surly Wednesday: Renowned for its adaptability, the Wednesday is apt for singletrack trails, snow, and long-distance touring.