Build the USBRS with Surly

May 24, 2016

Surly has seen the great success of the Build It. Bike It. Be a Part of It. campaign and the growth of the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) and is sponsoring a $1,000 match challenge to keep the momentum going. Donate now to have your contribution matched by Surly! 

We recently sat down with Surly to learn more about the company and what they believe in. Here's what they had to say: 

In 1998, a group of QBP employees started making small parts to convert geared mountain bike frames into single speeds and ended up creating the Singleator. A couple years later, we built the 1x1 Rat Ride, one of the first production single speed mountain bike frames ever available.

Eventually our wizard lawyer coined the name ‘Surly’ and the rest is history.

Surly was born out of a desire to create simple, durable products that most people can afford. We’re known in touring circles for our Long Haul and Disc Trucker models, both great examples of our commitment to delivering solid bikes that will perform no matter where you choose to ride. Plus, we make conscious efforts to keep our bike pricing low, so as to give more people more access to dependable, non-motorized transportation.

Many of us who work at Surly love bicycle touring. Many of us have, at some point, gone on an extended tour, and have even worked bicycle touring into our own company retreats (see photo).

Simply put, we love bikes. We love riding bikes. We think the bike makes people healthier and happier. For us, the bicycle is more than just a way to exercise or get around — the bicycle is a way of life. Anything that can be done to get more people on bikes will only make life better for us all, so when the opportunity to support the USBRS came up, it was a pretty easy decision.

The Adventure Cycling folks said it best, “The USBRS is about connecting communities, supporting businesses and small towns, creating a healthier future, and linking our iconic landscapes together.” These are values that Surly holds dear, too — and we would be foolish not to support such an amazing piece of bicycle infrastructure.

Photo courtesy of Surly.