Mountain Biking - Got my Cross Check

I got a used Cross Check today. It's in pretty good shape, with a few scratches and the right side decals torn half off, but overall, it's a nice frame.

it came with...
Ultegra 52/39 Octalink crankset
LX Parallelogram brakes
105 front and rear derailleurs
Brooks leather saddle
XT rear hub on unknown 700C rim
Ultegra front hub on unknown 700C rim
XT brake levers
RSX 8 speed shifters
Straight bar

I would like to strip it and repaint the frame (if I keep it) if I can get the decals at a decent price. Does anyone know if the decal set is available anywhere in the Montreal area?

Now for the million dollar question, do I keep it a mountain bike/hybrid or turn it into a touring bike with dropped bars?

If I keep it as it is, I will replace the shifters/brakes anyway. I also need to replace the cassette and rear derailleur for a long cage type as I think I will keep the front double.

If I decide to fix it up and sell it, what do you think would be more popular with buyers?


Thanks for the help and info,
Ian

You can get decals from Surly direct. As for what to turn it into, I would go for what ever kind of riding you are going to do most. Do you have any pic's for us to see....

You can get decals from Surly directI checked their site and they say they do not sell directly to the public, you have to go through a dealer.I did find a dealer in Montreal, it's ABC Cycle


Do you have any pic's for us to see....

You want to see it as it is, battered and dirty and incomplete? I'll take a few pics tomorrow when it's light out.

Here are some pics...

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Surly1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Surly2.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Surly3.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Surly4.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Surly5.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Surly6.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Surly7.jpg

nice...

I started taking it apart for cleaning and painting today. The BB is a 105 (BB-5500) cartridge. By the way, at Jenson this BB is $60, the 118mm for a triple is only $39.50, why the difference, popularity? The rims are Salsa Delgado Cross.

I paid $325 CDN for this bike, not too bad I think.

Lots of potential there, great snag.

Even looks like it's in fairly good shape. Any particular reason you want to replace the derailleurs? The whole thing could use a good cleaning, and bits of the drivetrain have probably seen better days, but the derailleurs look to be in decent shape, and they are decent ones. Is it a matter of durability or cassette range?

Any particular reason you want to replace the derailleurs?

The RD is a bit on the rough side, so I will probably replace it. The front is fine. I have an FSA Gossamer triple that I was thinking of using, so a long cage derailleur will be needed, but I'm not sure yet.

I definitely want to replace the shifters and brake levers. I am leaning towards dropped bars, so a nice set of brifters would be nice, but the price is prohibitive. I have a set of RSX brifters, but they are about 12 or so years old, so I would like something newer and better quality. I have LX derailleurs and shifters that have about 20km on them. I could use these, but like I said, I would like dropped bars.


Is it a matter of cassette range
If I keep the double, I will want a wider cog range, I think I will need a medium cage at the least.

I wonder what year that frame is, some of the earlier CCs were built with 8xx series Reynolds tubing.

Nice bike!

I wonder what year that frame is, some of the earlier CCs were built with 8xx series Reynolds tubing.

Nice bike!

Can you tell the year by the serial #? It is M5050450


Here are some pics after stripping the paint.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Picture025.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Picture026.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Picture027.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Picture028.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Picture029.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Picture030.jpg


There is still a couple of spots where the paint didn't come off, so a little wet sanding is in order. there isn't a scratch, dent or mark on the bare frame, it's in really excellent condition.

What do you think of perfectly cleaning the frame and just clear coating it and then putting new decals on? It might be a cool look.

I would get it powder coated in a color you like, but that's me..

I think I've decided to paint it a dark metallic blue. With white handle bar tape and the white Surly decals and white wire housings, I think it will look nice.

Nice project.

Go with drop bars, these are great do-everything bikes that are 90% as fast as $$$ road bikes (when slicks are installed). The CC is a great century-ride/long distance bike if drop bars are installed.

Michael

I would get it powder coated in a color you like, but that's me..

I would love to get it powder coated, but it's too expensive.

I would love to get it powder coated, but it's too expensive.

You could get if done for $100 give or take if you found the right person... If you are tight on funds, I could see then how it would be to expensive..

You could get if done for $100 give or take if you found the right person... If you are tight on funds, I could see then how it would be to expensive..

I looked around the net a bit and saw that people were getting their frames powder coated for about $100, I didn't know it would be so low. I figured around $250 - $300

I checked a couple of places and they want $175 - $200, I'll paint it.

Sometimes powder-coaters will give you a discount if you call and ask what colors they are using that day. They give you the discount because they already have the colors mixed and will have extra anyways.

This is the color I am going with. It's from Dupli-Color and it's called Metal Spec as it has metal flecks in it to give it a sparkle. The color is Ocean Blue.

I took the picture outside from the paint can cap, so there is a slight variation in the color.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Picture002.jpg

$175 is not all that bad to have a nice paint job and one that will hold up and look better then Dupli-Colo. Like darksiderising said you may be able to get adiscount as well.

Well, it's painted. I used an adhesion promoter as my primer, and then 3 coats of paint. I will clear coat it tomorrow with another 3 coats.

I contacted Surly and they said my frame is a 2005 model. I also ordered the decal set from a retailer here in Montreal, sadly, I will have to wait a while as Surly is out of stock.

I will start assembling the bike on Friday after a couple of days of dry time. I've looked around the net and the dropped bars look better than a straight bar.

Anyone have a decent set of brifters for sale cheap?

I bought a set of used Dura Ace ST-7801 10spd brifters. Can I use the 105 derailleurs I have or do I need 10 speed derailleurs? I presume I need a new cassette and chain as well going from 9spd shifters to 10.

Also, I have an FSA Gossamer triple with the MegaExo BB, is this better or worse than the Ultegra FC-6500 52/39 crankset with a 105 (BB-5500) BB that is currently on the bike?

Thanks,
Ian

What do you think the bike would be worth if I installed these parts?



6600 STI flightdeck shift/ brake levers (double)
6600 Rear Derailleur (standard cage)
6600 Front Derailleur (34.9 clamp)/ double
6600 Front Brake w/ Swisstop pads
6600 Rear Brake w/ Swisstop pads
6600 Cassette 12-27
6600 Chain
Jagwire Racer cable/ housing kit (new)

These last two posts have me confused, you bought DA brifters but are considering buying a [I assume] new ultegra grupo?

What a bike is worth would be the last thing on my mind at this point, how its going to ride means everything.

Personally I'd build it on the cheap, 105 is a great pricepoint for a cromo frame. If you were dealing with some sort of carbon fiber wonderbike it would be a different story. I own two of surly's bikes and they are both decked out with low-medium priced parts.

These last two posts have me confused, you bought DA brifters but are considering buying a [I assume] new ultegra grupo?

What a bike is worth would be the last thing on my mind at this point, how its going to ride means everything.

Personally I'd build it on the cheap, 105 is a great pricepoint for a cromo frame. If you were dealing with some sort of carbon fiber wonderbike it would be a different story. I own two of surly's bikes and they are both decked out with low-medium priced parts.

I was just curious about the Ultegra parts. I bought the brifters thinking I would use them on the bike. They were the least expensive ones I could find at $169. I do not know if I will keep the bike, or sell it when it is finished.

I like building bikes, researching the different parts (Mostly through this forum) available at my price range and buying the parts. I do get a bit confused though when I have too much stuff running through my head.

Thanks to all for the help and info,
Ian

BTW please post pictures of the painted frame

Here ya go. Decals will be in in a couple of weeks.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Picture005.jpg

I thought this was the mountainbiking forum........

I thought this was the mountainbiking forum........

Hey, you're right.

Anyone with the power and ability may move this thread to the appropriate forum. You have my blessing and permission, which you need neither.

Nooooooooo, don't move it. I was being my normal abrasive self. I really like that color you picked.Very blingy.

Nooooooooo, don't move it. I was being my normal abrasive self. I really like that color you picked.Very blingy.

Hey, when you're right, you're right. Move it, Or not.:)

I like blingy. It's a metal flake blue. I think it'll look great with the white Surly decals, white cable housings and white bar tape.

OK, here it is almost finished. All I need are grips and the decals. I kept the warning label from the bike and reapplied it after painting, real authentic.

I'm having a difficult time finding grips I like. I don't like the rubbery feeling of the grips I have seen. I tried sewing leather around one grip with foam rubber underneath for cushioning and I'm not crazy about it. Any one have nice grips?

I still might convert it to dropped bars as I have most of the necessary parts.

It has LX gearing, LX dual control shift / brake levers, an FSA Gossamer triple and Avid Single Digit 7 brakes, FSA stem and Specialized riser bar. And don't forget the Brooks Professional saddle.:)

Haven't ridden it yet though.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Picture032.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Picture033.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Picture034.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b390/w98seeng/Picture035.jpg

Nice !!

Nice paint job.

Thanks, I'll post pics once I get the decals on.



BTW I'm pretty sure that your chain is too short. Maybe you don't plan on using your largest front chainring, though.

It was fine when these components were on a different frame, but you might be right. I haven't ridden it yet, so I guess I'll find out. The chain is for a 9 speed triple setup though.