This is Steven, he's the Operations Manager at here Chromag Bikes. Amongst his quivver of bikes he runs a Surface Voyager, read on to get the full scoop.
Build spec:
- Fork // RockShox Pike Ultimate 140mm Boost 110x15mm
- Stem // Chromag HiFi BSX 40mm
- Bar // Fu40
- Headset // Cane Creek Forty ZS
- Crank // SRAM GX 170mm
- Brakes // SRAM G2
- Rotors // SRAM 180mm
- Shifter // SRAM GX Eagle
- Cassette // SRAM GX Eagle 10-52T
- Derailleur // SRAM GX Eagle
- Rims // Stans Arch 28mm
- Hubs // Hope Pro 5
- Tires // Maxxis Ardent/Ikon (or Minions if in MTB mode)
- Seatpost // OneUp 240mm
- Saddle // Chromag Lift
- Grips // Chromag Squarewave with bar ends
- Chain //SRAM GX Eagle
Any notable changes you made to the stock build or additions?
I decided on the Stans rims as I wanted a narrower rim to give me a better profile when running narrower tyres. I went with the longest dropper available at the time , 240mm. I also added the Fu40 bar as I had a bike fit, and we wanted to raise the front end for overall comfort!
What's your day to day setup for pressures? Do you run anything differently on adventure rides vs. mountain bike rides or other uses?
For MTB rides I'm typically running about 4 PSI lower than I'd run on my Lowdown. When it's in gravel bike mode with the Ardent/Ikon tyres on, I'll run super high pressures to get it faster rolling.
Other than being a Chromag employee, what drew you to the Surface Voyager and ultimately why did you buy this frame?
I recently turned 30, and like every good 30 year old, I was gravel-curious. I thought about getting a gravel bike, until I realised that they're stupid. After a bit of consideration I settled on a Voyager. A gravel bike for mountain bikers!
You have a very unique colour scheme, can you explain your inspo here?
I grew up in Yorkshire (UK) and my favourite beer from home is Timothy Taylors Landlord. I wanted to get a paint job that paid homage to that. I also think tinted clear-coat is a beautiful finish on a steel frame, and I wanted both. I worked with the Graphics Team at Chromag, and this is what we ended up with.
What kind of adventures have you taken your Surface Voyager on thus far? Any wild and crazy stories you'd like to share?
It's done everything! I raced an XC race on it, have done bike packing missions, and ridden some proper MTB trails on it. I had a lovely trip on the Sunshine Coast on the Voyager last year, and finished the day bivvying in the rain. I woke up in the middle of the night with a wet bivvy bag covering my face, while it poured rain onto it, basically waterboarding me. That was a low point.
What kind of bag system have you been using on your Voyager?
I have a lovely frame bag made by Rockgeist that fits the thing perfect. Then I ski strap a dry bag to the bars. I need to get a new saddle bag for it, but my DIY budget set-up works pretty well so far.
What are your fave kind of trails to ride on your Voyager? Where does this bike really shine for you and why?
The bike shines cause it'll do anything and everything! It's the perfect sea-to-sky trail bike, but will happily ride proper trails at either end. It's also steel, hand-made and custom painted, so I feel like a cool guy when I ride it.
Are there any adventures you're gearing up for this year? Other than the annual Chromag Campout...
I'd like to do Squamish-Pemby-Squamish in a day, and now I've said it out loud there's some accountability for me to get it done! I'm also excited for spontaneous after work camp outs!
Anything else you'd like to add?
This is a bike that doesn't want to get pigeon-holed into a category. It's a bicycle that's built to put a smile on your face, and it does a bloody good job of it.
Steven's Surface Voyager also made an appearance at our annual Chromag Show n' Shine
