Bike Project MNL

FEATURED BIKE: SURLY PREAMBLE

The Surly Preamble keeps things simple, but in a smart, well-balanced way. Its steel frame delivers a smooth, stable ride, especially on rough or mixed surfaces. It’s also versatile—wide tire clearance plus mounts for racks and fenders make it easy to set up for commuting or everyday rides.

We custom powdercoated this one in Signal Yellow, giving it a bright, eye-catching look that really stands out on the road. Overall, it’s a reliable, no-fuss bike that’s approachable but still capable.

The Official Intergalactic Surly Regional HQ

FEATURED BIKE: THE PROJECT GRAVEL GRINDER

This Gravel Grinder came in for rustproofing and a much-needed component refresh. The frame stayed in its original color — no drastic changes — just a solid foundation protected from the inside out. What we focused on was giving the bike a new heartbeat. With the Shimano CUES 11-speed groupset, the ride instantly felt more modern and capable. The wide-range cassette — mountain bike style matched to a drop bar setup — delivers smoother climbs, better cadence control, and dependable shifting under load. Paired with Shimano SLX, braking became more consistent and confidence-inspiring, especially on faster sections and rougher roads.

To elevate the ride feel even further, we installed an Origin8 Carbon Wheelset, trimming weight and improving responsiveness. Acceleration feels quicker, and the bike carries speed more effortlessly. Wrapped in Panaracer GravelKing SS Cranberry tires, it rolls fast on hardpack while still gripping when things get loose — plus that Cranberry color adds a subtle but striking touch against the original frame. Finishing touches like the Ciclovation Grind Touch Bar Tape and Selle Italia Flight Boost improved comfort and control, making long rides smoother and more efficient.

Same bike, familiar look — but with sharper performance, better feel, and a renewed personality. A thoughtful upgrade that truly breathed new life into this Gravel Grinder.

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FEATURED BIKE: PINEWOOD KATANA

Imagine a bike slicing through the wind, rolling swiftly over the terrain to get to its destination—this is the Pinewood Katana. Inspired by its name and by the famous swordsman Musashi, the design for this bike was to powdercoat it in a cool teal, giving a pop of color as it races through the gritty gravel tracks. We included Japanese sword elements like the katana sticker, Musashi kanji, and our client’s chosen Bible verse in a Japanese font, as well as carbon fiber stickers for added texture. We also installed a new carbon handlebar with leather bar tape to mimic the hilt of a sword. The bike was also overhauled and custom cut PPF was applied to extend the protection of the paint.

This bike has seen a lot (iykyk), and is now ready to inspire its rider for more gravel adventures and races to come.

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