(UPDATED: 4th December 2007)
In mid 2006 I got a Surly Pacer. After looking at many carbon-fibre and alloy racing bikes that looked like they would snap if I rode them through a small pothole, I decided to get a real bike. Namely, a classic geometry steel-frame with sensible wheels. This bike is the result of that decision. Since getting the bike its gone through a few changes to get to its current state.
The photo below shows the bike in its current state. Click for a larger version.
When I was looking at getting a Pacer, I found it difficult to find any pictures and descriptions of full builds. So, here's what I have.
And, if you're really interested, here are the 'accessories' I like:
The bike was put together for me by Peter at Biomechanics Cycles in Adelaide. He was very helpful and it was fantastic to come across someone in a bike shop who was keen on the idea of a steel frame road bike!
So far I've racked up over 10,000km on the Pacer. This includes several rides of around 150km and one 200km, daily commuting, and many many training rides.
Climbing: Okay, the bike is probably a bit heavier than most bikes at this price point, but its still pretty light. I'd guess that I could've saved a couple of kilos by going with something made of carbon-fibre/alloy with low-spoke count wheels. But realistically, that wouldn't make a lot of difference for the type of riding that I do. And you miss out on a lot of things when you go lightweight (like, er, durability).
Descending: I feel like I descend much faster on this bike than on my previous road bike. The Pacer has a comparatively long wheelbase and a slack headtube angle which makes it very stable. I could ride no-handed in a straight line without any difficulty the first time I tried. The brakes also pull you up quick, which is a real confidence booster.
Comfort: I feel a lot more comfortable on this bike than my old one. I'm 192cm (6'4") and I got the biggest size that Surly make, a 62cm. The saddle ended up fairly far forward using the "knee over pedal spindle" method, so we went with a longish 120mm stem. The original Gel Flite saddle was comfortable for shorter rides (1-2 hours) but the centre gave me a bit of pain on longer rides. I've recently switched to a Specialized Avatar and its hard on the sit bones, but no pain anywhere else. I've done a 200km ride on this saddle and could still sit on the saddle without wincing, which is good enough for me!
Looks: Well this is subjective. The Pacer has a very subtle appearance unlike the blingy pimped out race bikes which seem to be the rage these days. I definitely appreciate this. Its only available in black which suits me fine, and the decals look pretty cool as well.
In conclusion, if you are after a solid no-nonsense road bike with stable handling and classic looks then I would definitely recommend a look at the Surly Pacer.
This page seems to be pretty high on the big G for the search term 'Surly Pacer' so gets a lot of hits. If you want to know anything you can send me an email (daniel dot searson at gmail dot com) and I'll do my best.