The Disc Trucker has been reincarnated as an off road tourer. Yes, this was the bike that was wrecked in the crash on July 31, but even getting hit by a car cannot keep a good Surly down. The frame has been hanging in the garage waiting until I got around to rebuilding it. Since I now have the Soma Saga which is my ideal road tourer, I figured with it's 26 inch wheels the DT should be consigned to off road duty. So I got some new hoops and fitted them with some mountain bike tires and off I went. Although the gearing is not as low as a mountain bike I was able to climb some moderate hills no problem. The first one I tried was really muddy and I kept slipping. I had to get back a little farther on the seat. Downhill was another question. I'm not quite ready for any real downhill. Without a quick release seat collar I couldn't lower the seat, and without a front shock every little bump wanted to launch me over the bars. I had to slide way back and keep low. I think I'll get the hang of it but downhill is not really what this bike is about.
All in all it really handles great. It would be the perfect bike for a trip like the one we did in Colorado a few years ago. I'm looking forward to some fun in the Coast Range next summer.