Feb 26, 2025
"It Has to be Comfy" ; Josh's Surly Skid Loader e-Cargo.
If you were to ask me “Hey Josh, if you could have one vehicle to do it all while making you happy… what would it be?” I’d respond “Harriet, my 97 Nissan D21.”
If you were to ask me to build one bike to do it all, then I’d say a Surly Skid Loader.
I’ve been a bike mechanic on and off since 2010 and for some reason I’ve always nerded out on purpose built commuter bikes. Over the years wrenching on hundreds of bikes I developed a mental list defining my ultimate commuter:
- It has to be comfy
- It has to carry my shit
- It should be more convenient than driving a car
IT HAS TO BE COMFY
It’s cliche but I do love the feel of a heavy steel bike. I love the way my All City Big Block rides through everything. I liked the way my steel fixie conversion rode before that bike. I’ve owned carbon and alloy bikes both of which ride nice, but I’m not gonna feel great locking their top tubes against bike racks and random sign posts long term. Nothing rides the way a steel bike rides.
It needs big volume tubeless tires for comfort and flat resistance. I feel like that is self explanatory.
IT HAS TO CARRY MY SHIT
I’ve endured enough years and summers with different bags and backpacks to come to the conclusion that I no longer want to carry anything while riding a bike. I want my bike to carry me + all my things. Whether it’s groceries, car parts, layers for weather, camera gear, or emotional damage from another failed online date… it needs to carry it so I can enjoy the ride.
IT SHOULD BE MORE CONVENIENT THAN DRIVING A CAR
Aside from checking tire pressure occasionally (which you should be doing to your car) it should be ready to go on the daily. I shouldn’t be thinking about charging lights, what to eat, how far am I riding, do I need a bag, etc. Inherently a bike is gonna be easier to park and depending on your city’s infrastructure.. much faster in traffic to get around.
SO WHY THE SKID LOADER?
It literally checks off all of my requirements. It’s comfy with its big volume 27.5 x 2.5 tubeless tires. It’s steel. It’s a midtail cargo bike, so it carries my shit while still feeling and handling like a normal sized bike. It’s a Bosch mid drive e-bike. I run the tires at 15/18psi and whether it’s empty or fully loaded I can average 18mph all day long running errands and fucking around when the opportunity arises without breaking a sweat. There’s something about hauling groceries home via my favorite mtb trails that makes that chore more enjoyable on bike than in car. Lastly, my lights draw power from the battery so I never have to think about keeping them charged.
MY BUILD
Out of the box it’s cool, but it needed some mods to make it just right for me. In the comfort department I swapped the OEM bars with some takeoffs I had laying around and swapped in my tried and true Brooks B17n saddle. I also went ahead and threw some FSA CK220 155mm cranks on there for a better fit.
To carry all my shit I installed a Surly 8-Pack front rack, Sruly Petite Porteur house bag, and Benno Utility Panniers.
I wired in a Lezyne Macro Drive 1000 lumen front light and a Lezyne StVZO taillight for my lighting package. SKS full coverage fenders, Deity Deftrap pedals, and a Peak Design out front phone mount round out the rest of the build.
I’ve owned the rig since September 2024 and have 1,021 miles logged. The only thing I’ve had to replace was the factory chain which was well past .75 before 300 miles. I’ve been pretty happy with a KMC e10 chain.
I love this bike, thanks for reading. See ya out there!
Josh
Full Specs:
Bars - 2021 Marin Rift Zone 2 780 mm takeoffs
Stem - kalloy 4 bolt 65mm
Headset - Cane Creek Viscoset 40 series setup on medium dampening
Saddle - 2010ish Brooks B17n
Seat post - TranzX 120mm dropper
Bosch Gen 4 Cargoline Drive unit
FSA CK220 155mm crank arms
Stock chain ring 38t
Stock Microshift Advent X 11-48t
Microsoft advent X 10 speed rear derailleur
KMC e10 chain replaced the Taya 10 speed (blew it out in 200 miles)
Deity Deftrap pedals
WTB i35 rims
Surly Extraterrestrial 27.5 x 2.5 tubeless
Surly 8 pack front rack
Surly petite Porteur house bag 2.0
Benno Utility Pannier Bags
SKS full coverage fenders
Lezyne Macro Drive 1000 lumen front light
Lezyne StVZO taillight
Peak Design out front phone mount
Arundel bottle cage
