The Road Less Pedalled: September 2025 --> February 2026

This is a brief rundown of the slow build of my Surly Ogre frameset.

I have for many years wanted to build an all road or off road touring bike that would be as well fitting, comfortable, and always a pleasure to ride like my very off road capable but more road/gravel orientated Long Haul Trucker.

I wanted something I could load up with panniers etc and use on both tarmac as well as more rougher off road while hopefully able to find that sturdiness, reliability and fun I get every time I ride my Trucker, be it multi day tours, hauling Caleb in his trailer, commuting or randonneuring.

I tried previously with the Shand Bahookie, and while a great frame I could just see it wasn't going to end up as quite what I wanted. So back in October 2023 I purchased a small size Surly Ogre in Champagne Supa Nova colour. I had a few other things going on with life over this period to say the least, and it wasn't like I didn't have other bikes to ride, and so it sat patiently in the loft while parts were slowly gathered. I didn't lose sight of what I wanted to build overall but the details of each parts were carefully considered and like all my Surlys will probably get changed now and then to suite it's use. Though I am hoping that I may get it like my Trucker in as much as even after all the miles it has done it is still pretty much as I built it up back in 2011. Here's hoping.

This plan did evolve and come together over a couple of years, so while this might read like a weekend, it was in fact quite slow so it amazes even me that I managed to keep it bubbling along, if not always in the flesh, then in my mind.

I debated building it up with 27.5 wheels as I have a set of Stans Arch wheels that were for the Bahookie and would fit the frame no problem at all. This Surly frame runs the Gnot Boost rear spacing which will take 29" or 27.5" wheel with 142/148mm thru axle or 135mm Quick Release with a Rohloff torque arm slot as well, so lots of options.

Not long after I had the thought of fitting a internal hub gear as I used to run an Shimano Alfine 8 on the Big Dummy and currently run an Alfine 8 on the Bullitt Cargo Bike and have ridden a few of Brians machines with Rohloff speed hubs fitted both on and off road. Quite impressed and with this being a bike for the distance rather than outright speed or singletrack use I thought it might be an option to explore further. I had been keeping an eye out for an Alfine to come along at the right price when I spotted an advert for a good condition Rohloff Speed Hub on a 26" wheel for a very very good price from a bike charity. Looked and sounded great, with little use and came with gear box, cables, shifter etc. So I took a leap of faith/trust and so glad I did. It was all there and while a bit dusty from sitting about and with the first gen shifter rubber being perished like chewing gum, which I think could have been from someone cleaning it with some sort of solvent more than the usual time ravaging as it was out of place with the rest of the gear. I decided in the end to replace the gear changer to the latest version along with inner and outer cables, just to start with everything working as it should. Even with the shifter purchase it was still a bargain. So a oil change of the hub and all was good to go.

I debated for a long while whether to build the wheels as 27.5 or 29'ers. I went with the 29'er rims as this seemed what most of the mixed terrain riders were using with 2.5 tyres. I ended up going with WTB 35mm wide MTB rims. This was around late May last year and with spokes ordered I built them up along with the front being to an XT front hub. Laced at home and then finished and trued down at Brians on his jig one wet Sunday, thanks Brian.

At some point I had decided to try a set of Surly Moloko bars as I had been using Jones style bars on the 1X1 and Pugsley for a few years now and liked the look of the Molokos with a slightly shallower sweep. The fact there is plenty of space for lights etc is great too.

Pretty much once the wheels were built I started to gather a few more things together, with some items such as the XT chainset, seatpost, stem etc were already left over from the Shand. I also had a new set of BB7 brakes ready to fit so it was in December 2025 I ordered new Rohloff cables as I had picked up the new shifter last year. Then Just a fortnight ago I ordered a set of SKS 69mm mudguards and a Brooks Cambium saddle. So all I had to do now was put it together. It had been pretty much roughly together the last 4 months but needed finishing and importantly cabling up. The Rohloff was a new thing to learn, but pretty easy once their processes were followed.

We have also been saturated in never ending rain since the snow melted early January and so it was fitting that I had planned to get it all cabled up on Saturday as there was some clear whether forecast for Sunday as well.

Saturday morning went smoothly cabling everything up, usual measure twice, cut once and all went smoothly, brakes and Rohloff spot on, then I put on the new chain, and that's when things hit a snag. When putting the chain on it ended up being a half link out. Either move the wheel forward and inch or back an inch, adjust the brakes either way and hope the Rohloff is fine where it is, cable wise. DOH!! Not a problem as even after all this time it was only another 20 minutes or so.

Tomorrow morning I will fit the mudguards and hopefully get out for a ride. That is for the next blogpost.

Here are some photos of the build at various stages. One of the photos you will see a red Rohloff hub. This is one of Brians 27.5" wheels that he lent me so that I can try this with my front 27.5 to see which I prefer. Easy to switch the Rohloffs around as the shifter and cables disconnect, slot the wheel in and push the shifter in and its good to go!