How It Started vs How It's Going

Five years ago I had the idea of building a Surly Steamroller with 650Bx47 tires after seeing someone's bike with WTB Horizons on it (it was either a Kona Rove or Sutra). I didn't know if the tires would fit in the Steamroller or not, so I sent an email to Surly's customer service. This is the response I got:

Thanks for the message. The Steam roller does not have the proper clearance to make running a 650x47 tire safety. The largest we can recommend is a 700x38 or 700x 32 with fenders. I hope this helps.

Bummer. Well, I kept thinking about it over the course of that year, and by the time fall came around, I decided I wanted to try it out anyway. Here's how it turned out:

First photo of the completed build (taken in October 2018).

Frame: Surly Steamroller 59cm

Fork: Surly Steamroller

Headset: FSA Orbit DL
Handlebar: Zipp Service Course SL80 40cm
Wrap: Zipp Service Course
Stem: Zipp Service Course SL 100mm +/-6 degree
Seatpost: Zipp Service Course SL 20mm offset
Saddle: Your Air Camel
Crankset: SRAM Omnium
Chain: KMC Z410
Cog: All-City Standard 17t
Tires: WTB Byway 650Bx47
Rims: Velocity Aileron 650B
Hubs: e*thirteen Chubs
Spokes: DT Swiss Champion

And here it is over 11,000 miles later:

Most recent picture (taken in January 2023).

Frame: Surly Steamroller 59cm
Fork: Whisky No.7 RD+

Headset: FSA Orbit DL
Handlebar: Sim Works 4 GSC Smog Cutter Handlebar 53cm
Wrap: fizik Tempo Bondcush 3mm Soft
Stem: Zipp Service Course SL 120mm +/-17 degree
Seatpost: Zipp Service Course SL 20mm offset
Saddle: Your Air Camel
Crankset: Rotor Track 3D24
Chainring: Rotor 46t
Chain: KMC Z1eHX Wide
Cog: All-City Standard 17t
Tires: Challenge Gravel Grinder 650Bx46
Rims: Zipp 303 Firecrest 650B
Hubs: Harmony Composites
Spokes: DT Swiss Aero Comp

I think it turned out okay. Here's to another 11,000 miles.