Little are the riders aware of the Surly Ice cream truck, though the overused cycling buzzwords includes ‘adventure’ and ‘enduro’. The truth is that if adventurers like Hillary or Armstrong were alive today and used bicycles to travel, they probably would ride fat bike. They probably would ride surly ice cream truck. A fat bike is worthy of a weekend or weeklong adventure, the Ice Cream Truck goes anywhere and does anything.

With a tire clearance of up to 26×5″, the Surly Ice Cream Truck Fat Bike is ideal for snow, sand, and single track riding. The bike has a long top tube, short seat stays, and a 68° head tube angle; it is made from 100% Surly Chromoly steel. There is also external cable routing, stealth dropper post routing, and thru-axles on the front and rear.

Here we give you a quick Surly Ice Cream Truck Fat Bike review for you to be precise on your purchase. 

Complete bike specifications of Fat bike

18 things you are not aware of the Surly bike 

• As a result of expert testing, the Sugar bike can withstand drops of 2 to 3 feet.
• It is possible to mount tires up to 5 inches.
• Its geometry is deliberately aggressive, making them fast, especially when descending downhill.
• A hydraulic disc brake system provides sufficient braking power.

• Both climbs and descents are made more accessible by double-butted 4130 Chromoly steel tubing.
• The frame of this steed is coated with electrophoretic deposition (ED) to prevent rust.
• There are options for direct-mount derailleur hangers, 190mm quick-releases and single-speed setups using the rear 12mm thru-axle and rear-facing horizontal dropouts.
• The fittings on the bike include racks, fenders, bags, and eyelets.

Surly Ice cream truck review 2022

A versatile and reliable frame and equipment

Continuing Surly’s tradition of using no-frills 4130 Chromoly steel tubing in its models, the Ice Cream Truck is no different. For the first time, Surly has incorporated a 132mm-wide, press-fit bottom bracket – something it aims daily to make easily assembled frames.

This approach pushed the chainstays farther apart, allowing Surly to increase tire clearance. It is sturdy and still but heavier than high-end steel tube sets. The inside of Surly’s tube is protected from corrosion by electrophoretic deposition (or ED coating), a requirement for an offshore rig.

A combination of braze-on and eyelets on the frame and fork of the Ice Cream Truck makes it nearly impossible to restrict the variety of racks, frame bags, cages and fenders.

Performance while Climbing

Cross-country bikes such as Ice Cream Trucks are not lightweights. The 35-pound vehicle skirts uphill smoothly despite its weight. A balanced position allows the rider to transfer power to the ground.

Despite the 72.5-degree seat tube angle, you don’t feel heavily behind the bottom bracket despite the slack angle. The long top tube makes it easy to move weight around.Its weight doesn’t limit its performance as a climber. In addition to providing plenty of room to move weight, the seated climbing position is efficient. A tricky aspect of standing climbing is balancing the traction of the rear wheels with the wander of the front wheels.

For its size, this bike handles well and is nimble through switchbacks. The Surly is well suited for technical sections, given its weight. There is no sluggish steering on the Ice Cream Truck, as the head tube angle is too slack. You don’t need a perfect game plan to navigate rock gardens and switchbacks. In tight areas, 4.8-inch tires have an obvious disadvantage.

Keeping the front wheel planted when standing is one of the quirks of climbing aboard a Surly. Especially when the terrain becomes steep, this can be a problem. For maximum power transfer, you must stand up, but your weight should be shifted forward to keep the wheel from wandering. Depending on the loop, dismounting may be necessary.

Performance on downhill slopes

It exudes confidence as it descends. Compared to other fat bikes we’ve tested, this one has a more aggressive geometry. A trail with short and choppy sections can benefit from aggressive angles. Despite its heft, this bike has surprising cornering abilities and is quite playful.

The steel construction greatly influences the downhill performance. Aluminum and carbon fiber are less forgiving than steel. The mellowness of steel is far superior to that of aluminum or carbon fiber when mudding rough trail surfaces. Dampness plays a vital role. 

You can ride smoothly and calmly on 4.8-inch fat bike tires if you combine this muted and damp feeling with a forgiving and muted feel. A smooth trail surface is not translated to the rider by the Ice Cream Truck, which smooths out the chatter.

A trail bike’s geometry is similar to the Ice Cream Truck’s. This bike has a long top tube in combination with a semi-slack 68.0-degree head tube angle reminiscent of a complete suspension bike. Despite the extra length in the entire line, the frame still provides plenty of stability thanks to the different sizes in the top tube. 

When they have a head tube angle of 68.0 degrees, riders will feel confident dealing with steep trails. There is a dose of speed and stability in the added running length. More enormous impacts are handled well by the Ice Cream Truck. A massive tire can bounce you around if you push it too hard.

In its favor are wider, faster turns on the Surly. There is direct steering, but driving in tight corners is challenging due to the long top tube and slack feel. The Ice Cream Truck performs well when the speed gets carried through wider corners. Although the Ice Cream Truck isn’t as playful at speed, it is far more enjoyable when moving fast.

Largest tire clearance

Ice Cream Truck can do it all if you’re looking to ride twisty singletrack covered with logs and roots or shaded trails on powdery snow. Even a grizzly might be able to hop over you if the situation arises. 

It’s certainly possible to describe Ice Cream Truck as confident and traction-filled, but those phrases are primarily meaningless. We didn’t load it with anything, and we’re not here to inspire you. The trail bike designed has;

100mm rims, with a possiblity to fit a full 26″ x 5″ tire.

It is tight and maneuverable on fast, technical terrain thanks to long top tubes, short seat stays, and 68-degree head tube bends.

Standard trail bike features include a hidden dropper post and a 44mm head tube.

Conclusion

Surly first introduced fat bikes. With an aggressive geometry for improved climbing and increased ability on trails, the Ice Cream Truck is the most recent evolution of the company’s design. With its clearance for 5″ tires, the Ice Cream Truck could overcome the obstacles it encountered more quickly than some carbon-based fat bikes. Besides fat biking, this rig has also been used for all-around riding, from long-distance bike packing to general riding. When racing in the winter, tubeless setups and carbon rims are recommended.

Every year, fat bikes sprout new branches. Currently, 27.5+ and 29+ models that are almost fat bikes are available, and an actual 27.5in fat bikes are in the works. Ice Cream Truck lives up to its core mission despite these niches within niches, traversing terrain that is otherwise inaccessible on a fat bike.

If you are in search of a Surly ice cream truck, you can buy it online from the local bike shop.