Surly Ice Cream Truck – 2023

Overview

From log and root covered ribbons of twisty singletrack to miles of powdery snow or sandy beaches, Ice Cream Truck can handle it all. Hell, you could probably even hop over a grizzly if the situation arises. Probably.

While we could certainly throw out terms like “confidence-inspiring” and “traction-laden” to describe Ice Cream Truck, those phrases are mostly bullshit, so we’re not going to do that. We’re not here to inspire you, and we didn’t laden it with anything. What we did do was design a monolith of a trail bike that doesn’t give two shits about what’s in front of it.

Geometry & Ride Characteristics

The Surly Ice Cream Truck’s geometry is meant for diverse terrains, from twisty singletrack to powdery snow and sandy beaches. The bike boasts the most extensive tire clearance in the fat bike category, accommodating up to a full 26” x 5” tire on 100mm rims. Its design features a long toptube, short seatstays, and a 68-degree headtube angle, ensuring a balance between agility and stability. The Ice Cream Truck’s geometry also integrates modern trail bike standards, such as stealth dropper post routing, a 44mm headtube, and thru-axles, making it a standout in its class.

Riding the Surly Ice Cream Truck is an experience of versatility and adaptability. Its unique geometry, combined with its massive tire clearance, ensures a ride that is both agile on technical terrains and stable on softer grounds like snow or sand. The bike’s design leans towards trail-oriented adventures, and with its specific geometry, riders can anticipate a slightly aggressive yet comfortable riding posture. This setup not only offers excellent control in challenging terrains but also reduces strain on the rider’s body, making off-road adventures and trail rides exceptionally enjoyable.

• Reach: The Ice Cream Truck’s reach extends from 405mm to 472mm across sizes. This range ensures that riders can maintain a comfortable and ergonomic riding position, differing from some bikes that might have a more compact or stretched reach.
• Stack: The stack measurement ranges from 588mm to 616mm. This design ensures a relatively upright riding posture, which contrasts with some bikes that might prioritize a more aggressive, hunched-over position.
• Head Tube Angle: The head tube angle is consistently set at 68° for all sizes. This angle offers a balance between stability and agility, unlike some bikes that might have steeper angles for aggressive handling or slacker angles for downhill stability.
• Head Tube Length: The head tube lengths vary from 95mm to 125mm. This ensures that riders of different heights can achieve an optimal and comfortable handlebar height, differing from some bikes that might have shorter or longer head tubes affecting the bike’s overall stack.
• Seat Tube Length: The seat tube lengths range from 366mm to 521mm, accommodating a variety of rider inseam lengths. This design ensures that riders can find an optimal saddle height, unlike some bikes that might have limited adjustability.
• BB Drop: The BB drop is consistently set at 60mm across all sizes. This design ensures a low center of gravity, providing stability and a balanced ride, especially during turns.
• Wheelbase: The wheelbase extends from 1105mm to 1182mm. This is longer than many traditional road or mountain bikes, offering more stability, especially at high speeds or on challenging terrains.
• Chainstay Length: The chainstay length is consistently set at 440mm for all sizes. This ensures predictable handling and stability, especially when navigating through technical terrains.
• Top Tube Length: The actual top tube lengths range from 556mm to 623mm, and the effective top tube lengths range from 585mm to 660mm. This ensures riders have a comfortable reach to the handlebars, differing from some bikes that might have elongated top tubes for a more aggressive posture.
• Seat Tube Angle: The seat tube angle is consistently set at 73° for all sizes, ensuring an optimal pedaling position. This angle offers a balance of comfort and pedaling efficiency, unlike some bikes that might have steeper angles for aggressive racing postures.
• Standover Height: The standover heights range from 777mm to 860mm. This design allows riders of various heights to comfortably straddle the bike, especially important for off-road settings where frequent dismounts might be necessary.

vs. the Surly Wednesday

The Surly Wednesday is tailored for agility and nimbleness, making it particularly adept at navigating tighter trails and more technical terrains. While still a fat bike, its design emphasizes responsiveness and quick handling. On the other hand, the Surly Ice Cream Truck is crafted for broader versatility, with a geometry that can tackle everything from sandy beaches to snowy paths, boasting the most extensive tire clearance in its category. Furthermore, while the Wednesday is positioned as a more budget-friendly option, the Ice Cream Truck comes at a premium, reflecting its expansive range of capabilities.

• Fork Design:
  • Wednesday: Tapered straight blade 4130 Chromoly.
  • Ice Cream Truck: 1-1/8″ straight steerer with tapered straight blade.
• Geometry:
  • Wednesday: Designed for agility and nimbleness, making it adept at navigating tighter trails and technical terrains.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Tailored for versatility, capable of handling everything from twisty singletracks to sandy beaches and snowy terrains.
• Tire Clearance:
  • Wednesday: Accommodates wide fat bike tires, suitable for various terrains.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Boasts the most extensive tire clearance in the fat bike category, accommodating up to a full 26” x 5” tire on 100mm rims.
• Ride Feel:
  • Wednesday: Offers a more nimble and agile ride feel, emphasizing responsiveness.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Provides a balanced ride, versatile across a wide range of terrains.
• Groupsets and Components:
  • Wednesday: Features components like SRAM Avid BB5 Mechanical brakes, SRAM SX Eagle 12-spd shifter, and SRAM NX Eagle DUB crankset.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Comes with components such as SRAM DB Level TL Hydraulic or Tektro Gemini Hydraulic brakes, Shimano SLX SL-M7100 shifter, and Race Face Aeffect or Ride crankset.
• Price Point:
  • Wednesday: Positioned as a more budget-friendly option.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Priced at a premium due to its expansive range of capabilities and features.

vs. the Salsa Mukluk Deore 11

The Salsa Mukluk Deore 11 is designed with a focus on stability and adaptability, featuring an aluminum frame and the Bearpaw fork, making it lightweight and responsive on snowy terrains and trails. Its componentry, including the Shimano Deore M5100 drivetrain, emphasizes reliable performance in diverse conditions. In contrast, the Surly Ice Cream Truck, with its 4130 Chromoly steel frame, is tailored for broader versatility, from twisty singletracks to sandy beaches. While both bikes are premium offerings in the fat bike category, the Ice Cream Truck is positioned at a slightly higher price point, reflecting its expansive capabilities.

• Frame Material:
  • Mukluk Deore 11: Mukluk Aluminum frame.
  • Ice Cream Truck: 100% Surly 4130 Chromoly steel.
• Fork Design:
  • Mukluk Deore 11: Bearpaw fork.
  • Ice Cream Truck: 1-1/8″ straight steerer with tapered straight blade.
• Geometry:
  • Mukluk Deore 11: Designed for stability and adaptability, especially on snowy terrains and trails.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Tailored for versatility, capable of handling everything from twisty singletracks to sandy beaches and snowy terrains.
• Ride Feel:
  • Mukluk Deore 11: Emphasizes a stable and adaptable ride, especially on softer grounds like snow.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Provides a balanced ride, versatile across a wide range of terrains.
• Groupsets and Components:
  • Mukluk Deore 11: Features components like Shimano Deore M5100 drivetrain and SRAM Level brakes.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Comes with components such as Shimano SLX SL-M7100 shifter, SRAM DB Level TL Hydraulic or Tektro Gemini Hydraulic brakes, and Race Face Aeffect or Ride crankset.
• Tire Compatibility:
  • Mukluk Deore 11: Accommodates wide fat bike tires, with a focus on snow and trail adaptability.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Boasts the most extensive tire clearance in the fat bike category, accommodating up to a full 26” x 5” tire on 100mm rims.
• Price Point:
  • Mukluk Deore 11: Positioned as a premium offering in the fat bike category, with a focus on value and performance.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Priced at a slightly higher premium due to its expansive range of capabilities and features.

vs. the Salsa Beargrease SLX

The Salsa Beargrease SLX is crafted for speed and agility, featuring a lightweight carbon frame and the Kingpin fork, making it particularly adept for racing on varied terrains, from snowy trails to muddy singletracks. Its componentry, including the Shimano SLX M7100 drivetrain, is geared towards performance-oriented riders. In contrast, the Surly Ice Cream Truck, with its robust 4130 Chromoly steel frame, emphasizes versatility and durability, suitable for a broader range of terrains from twisty singletracks to sandy beaches. While both are premium fat bikes, the Ice Cream Truck is positioned at a slightly higher price point due to its comprehensive capabilities.

• Frame Material:
  • Beargrease SLX: Beargrease Carbon v2 frame.
  • Ice Cream Truck: 100% Surly 4130 Chromoly steel.
• Fork Design:
  • Beargrease SLX: Kingpin fork.
  • Ice Cream Truck: 1-1/8″ straight steerer with tapered straight blade.
• Geometry:
  • Beargrease SLX: Designed for speed and agility, optimized for racing on varied terrains.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Tailored for versatility, capable of handling everything from twisty singletracks to sandy beaches and snowy terrains.
• Ride Feel:
  • Beargrease SLX: Emphasizes a fast and agile ride, especially on softer grounds like snow and mud.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Provides a balanced ride, versatile across a wide range of terrains.
• Groupsets and Components:
  • Beargrease SLX: Features components like Shimano SLX M7100 drivetrain and SRAM Guide T brakes.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Comes with components such as Shimano SLX SL-M7100 shifter, SRAM DB Level TL Hydraulic or Tektro Gemini Hydraulic brakes, and Race Face Aeffect or Ride crankset.
• Tire Compatibility:
  • Beargrease SLX: Designed for optimal performance with tires like 45NRTH Vanhelga, 27.5 x 4.0″.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Boasts the most extensive tire clearance in the fat bike category, accommodating up to a full 26” x 5” tire on 100mm rims.
• Price Point:
  • Beargrease SLX: Positioned as a premium offering in the fat bike category, with a focus on racing and performance.
  • Ice Cream Truck: Priced at a slightly higher premium due to its expansive range of capabilities and features.