{"id":556480,"date":"2026-03-22T06:41:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T06:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/556480\/"},"modified":"2026-03-22T06:41:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T06:41:13","slug":"readers-rig-kobkits-surly-straggler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/556480\/","title":{"rendered":"Reader’s Rig: Kobkit’s Surly Straggler"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week\u2019s Reader\u2019s Rig comes from Kobkit in Bangkok, Thailand, who shares a surprising Surly Straggler build that visually summarizes his journey through the world of bikes. Learn a little about Kobkit and scope out his unconventional Straggler here\u2026<\/p>\n

Words and photos by Kobkit Thitithanawat<\/a><\/p>\n

Hello, I\u2019m Kobkit. I\u2019m a freelance photographer, sometimes DJ, and a hack-job home mechanic from Bangkok, Thailand. <\/p>\n

\"Surly<\/a><\/p>\n

I got interested in bikes a couple of years back, then got even more interested in tinkering with them. I started with a fat bike with a fear of Bangkok\u2019s potholes, then slowly moved down to skinny and skinnier tire sizes.<\/p>\n

As for this new Straggler, I\u2019ve been a fan of mountain bikes\/ATBs with chonky tires since the beginning, but wanted to try a \u201cfaster\u201d bike. The Midnight Special was on my list when this new frame dropped, with a slacker geometry and a statement that it can also take suspension forks. I\u2019m pretty sure that\u2019s meant to be for the bigger 700c-sized frames, but I gave the build a go.<\/p>\n

\"Surly<\/a><\/p>\n

Frame: 49cm Surly Straggler, 650B
\nFork: Rockshox Rudy 40mm
\nWheels: Zipp 303 Firecrest 650B
\nTires: Panaracer Gravelking (SK front, SS rear)
\nHandlebars: Zipp Service Course XPLR
\nHeadset: Cane Creek Forty
\nCrankset: Prowheel DMJ 160mm, SRAM 110 BCD spider, Veloci 40T ring
\nPedals: MKS Gamma
\nGroupset: Microshift Sword\/Advent X
\nBrakes: Growtac Equal
\nSaddle: Selle Royal SRX
\nSeatpost: KS Exaform dropper
\nStem: Leader Bikes The Shield
\nFrame bags: Decathlon
\nRear bags: ILE seat bag
\nOther accessories: Minoura bottle cage, Spurcycle Bell, Forager cable cherries<\/p>\n

With this project, I was aiming to get a black 30mm Rudy fork, but the tan 40mm is the only one I could find here at the moment. It probably raises the front end a bit, but it made the bike a bit more comfy!<\/p>\n

You can keep up with Kobkit on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Send Us Your Bikepacking Rig<\/p>\n

Use the form below to submit your bikepacking rig. We\u2019ll choose one per week to feature in a Reader\u2019s Rig Dispatch and on Instagram. To enter, email us your best photo of the bike (preferably at a 90\u00b0 angle), your Instagram username (optional), and a short description of you and your rig. If your bike is selected, we\u2019ll need a total of five photos and a little bit more info. <\/p>\n

Further Reading<\/p>\n

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info…<\/p>\n

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Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.<\/p>\n