Zoxe

So I wasn't going to post the obligatory picture thread until I had some better glamour shots. But I'm just back from my first shakedown ride, and I have to share! So, while I hope to upgrade to some sunny-day pictures with a real camera, for now you'll have to live with overcast cell phone pics.

Background:
Some of you may remember this thread where I was looking for feedback on look and feel for steel framed bikes.

I ended up going to a LBS and working with the GM there to do a semi-custom frame up Cross Check build.

Build List:
There are cheaper ways to build a Surly Cross Check, but this is how I did it:

• Surly Cross Check Frame/Fork (Dark Dirty Blue)
• Shimano 105 5700 Compact Double Crankset 175mm Silver
• Shimano 105 5700 English Bottom Bracket 2-piece
• 105 5701-GS Mid-Cage Silver Rear Derailleur
• 105 5700 Double Front Derailleur 31.8/28.6mm, Silver
• Shimano 105 3 x 10 speed STI Lever Set Silver
• Shimano Tiagra 10 speed Cassette
• Shimano 105 5701 10 speed Chain
• Tektro CR720 Cantilever Brakes Polish Silver
• Problem Solvers Clamp on Cable Hanger with Noodle, 28.6mm, Silver
• Tektro Rear Cable Hanger with Ferrule, Fits 8mm Bolt
• Handspun Handbuilt Peloton Series 1 Wheelset (32 front, 36 rear) / Ultegra 6700 / Mavic Open Pro / DT Competition All Silver
• Ritchey Logic Pro 1-1/8" Threadless Black
• Velo Orange Long Setback Seatpost 27.2 x 300mm
• Salsa Cowbell 3 Handlebar 31.8 44cm
• Cinelli Cork Tape Black
• Dimension Threadless Stem: 100mm; 83/97 Degree; 31.8; Silver
• Continental Gatorskin Tires 700x32 Tire Black Steel
• Q-Tubes 700c x 28-32mm 32mm Presta Valve Tube
• Tektro RL721 Cross Levers for 31.8mm OD Bar Black
• ENVE Rim Strips 700c
• Shimano M540 Pedals, Silver
• Specailized Body Geometry Seat (one of my spares)

Shakedown Ride:
Picked her up today, and I'm VERY happy with the results. The bike is less flashy than I expected (that's okay), but she rides great. When I visited the bike on Weds to drop off the seat and pedals, I wasn't sold on the dark dirty blue color. But now that everything's installed, I like it a lot better. I think all the silver will look great on a sunnier day. She's also a lot lighter than I expected.

I took her out for a ~4mi ride around the block that included a good mix of roads -- loose chip n' seal, compacted chip n' seal, smooth/fresh pavement, and a moderate hill or two. My complaints about the fit on the Bianchi were taken care of (LBS General Manager nailed the fit). The 32mm Gatorskins are fabulous on chip and seal, better than I expected and really fun to go bombing down hills and feel secure. I don't have the computer installed yet, but I'll say I feel slower on smooth/flat pavement (an area where the Bianchi shines). The compact/double crank will take a little getting used to, but my shifting problems were with the driver not with the bike.

And finally, here are your pictures.... (more to follow).

Beachgrad05

Nice!

Zoxe

Another short ride today. It was barely 40, overcast, and had a headwind coming from all 4 directions, but I'm still very jazzed about this build.

I talked about this in Chef's touring thread, but I'm calling this a "semi-custom" build. We started with a factory frame, but sized and fit everything else to me. This is maybe as close as I'll ever get to a fully custom frame / build.

I had visited the shop and exchanged email to get the build list going. When I came back to the shop to finalize details, they asked that I bring my current bike in for reference. LBS General Manager put my Bianchi up on their fitting stand and stood over it with a clip board and wrote down all the distances, angles, and dangles. We talked about what I liked and didn't like about the Bianchi, what I had trouble with on longer rides, etc. Then took a few measurements from me and sat down to crunch numbers. I put half down, and he ordered parts.

I was pretty nervous about doing this -- I hadn't ridden the bike yet! But with this particular shop, fit is guaranteed.

Still overcast here, so no new pictures. I'll say that the ones I posted don't do it justice. The bike looks fairly plain w/o flashy logos (even the Surly logo is black on dark blue). I don't have fancy aero wheels, and zero carbon fiber. From 10 feet away, it looks like a thousand other Surly bikes.

But this one is mine, and it was built for me.

Zoxe

Still cloudy outside, but here are some more pictures before I get it all dirty.

goldfinch

Lovely.

irishexpat

I should be picking up MY new surly cross check (also blue) in a few days. I am going SS, but that is one nice looking bike. I'm considering the cowbells, but this is a commuter bike, so if you have any thoughts about how wide the bars are for weaving cars, that owuld be sweet to know.

also, I've got the open pros on my roadie and i love them....went with the A719s for the cross check to allow for bigger tires.


Enjoy the ride!!!

Zoxe

Thanks!

The bars on mine were fit to me and are fairly wide. The drops flare a bit, but not a huge amount. I am not a commuter, but do think they'd be easier to manage than most flat bar bikes. Said another way, they aren't much (any?) wider than I am. You could always order a narrower set if you were worried.

Good luck with your SS!

CraigB

Looks great!

I can't wait to see Jonathan at the shop and tell him that you only said you were pleased because you wanted to be polite, and that you're really very disappointed in their work.

rideorglide

Nice to see what you've done with the length of the fork tube, to allow the high stem to fit yourself.
I'm a guy that needs it high like that, but I don't like flat bars, so I've been thinking of doing same with my next fork.

That's a sweet looking ride. Oh yea, and I like the interruptors too. and the ...

Slowhead

That is a very nice bike, well thought out. I like the color.

Zoxe

Hah, I actually emailed Jonathan after I did the first shakedown ride to thank him. I didn't have a chance to talk to him when I picked the bike up (he was with another customer). I'll be back soon enough to dispell whatever lies you tell.

Zoxe

Honestly, when I picked up the bike and saw all the spacers, I was initially dismayed. It's a macho thing, I guess. We did talk about leaving the fork stem long for adjusting, but in my head I didn't picture it being that much of a distance. But, this build was about comfort and fun, not going fast at any cost.

I am not arguing with the (very early) results; so far the balance between bars and seat are pretty good, and I have less saddle pain despite being on a narrower seat (compared to the Bianchi). I hope to get out tomorrow for a longer session and test some more. Got the cateye wireless installed tonight, so I can get an idea of my speed compared to the other bike.

By the way, I'm just back from some work travel out your way, rideorglide ... spent the first half of this week in the Islip/Amityville area for meetings.

10 Wheels

Great bike....Counting on you June 8th for a 100 mile ride on it.

redvespablur

Nice!

Brando_T.

I like your build.

does that seatpost have a particular design for further setback? was that intentional?

skilsaw

Deep blue is a stealth color.
You will be able to speed through radar traps un-noticed.

Ride on!!!

cyclokitty 

Gorgeous bike. It looks very classy.

Zoxe

It does have a long setback. Was one of the components the shop suggested (my original build sheet had "?? - Silver" in several spots). During discussion, I said I liked the look of Velo Orange stuff, and it's half the price of a similar Nitto item (not bashing Nitto; have never used them).

One of the big differences I was aiming for on this bike was that I wanted the hoods further apart and a little longer reach compared to the Bianchi. I'm not a bike fitting expert, but I assume the setback was part of that consideration.

Seatpost info here:
https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...g-setback.html

Zoxe

A quick update and a few more pictures.

I have the Cateye Micro wireless installed. The Micro is okay, but is larger than I expected when I got it out of the box. I've been using Cateye Strada on everything for the past ~4 years, so this thing feels huge. I may replace it and swap this one to my Giant.

I did a course a couple nights ago that I ran this season on the Bianchi for interval training, and I still have my progress notes from training in mid-2012. Only a 7.5mi loop, but has some rolling (fun) hills, chip n' seal, and a couple of really grindy hills. This course always pushes my heart rate.

I am a touch slower on some of the fast downhills, but much faster on the rougher stuff. My overall speed and time was the same, but heart rate was much better (floated more on the roughest sections of chip n' seal). Looking forward to some warmer weather (and longer daylight hours) so I can put some longer rides down.


Beautiful sunny day, so I got a couple of more pictures on a real camera. I like how the color shifts depending what type of light is on it -- looks very "slate" in these pictures but looks blue when inside.

forluck

Lovely job

I am in the middle of trying to figure out how to fit STI gearing to a Crosscheck

How did you run the cables under the bottom bracket .. I'd be really grateful for any tips. Scratching my head at the moment

Zoxe

I'm still in my PJs but wanted to reply. I went with a local shop to do the wrench turning on my bike. I spec'd the parts list above, but they filled in the little gaps like cable routing. (Said another way: I'll have to look to see how they did it. )

I'll try to grab a couple of pictures later today. Other than a shot of the bottom bracket, is there anything else I can get close-ups of?

The Surly has been a great bike. For the $$, I could have done something sexier, especially with all the great factory 'cross bikes coming out the past couple of years. But it rides like a Cadillac on chip n' seal roads, which is what I built it for. I ride it mostly in early and late season when the roads are less pleasant. During the heat of the summer, I tend to get the Bianchi out.

The only thing I'd change is the color. The dark blue doesn't have the same 'pop' as a black or the current snot green color.

forluck

Thanks for the pics, Zoxe

I guess there must be some widget to screw ito the bottom bracket to route the cables . though Iknow of people who have cable tied fully sheathed cables as the solution.

I got my frame very cheap (display job with a few superficial marks) and the parts I am putting on are 'variously sourced' But as to the blue (there wasn't a choice colourwise) I was initially reluctant to go for it given Surly's other colour option, but I just love it to death now ... absolutely love it.

Zoxe

I am a big jerk and haven't yet uploaded the pics I took this weekend.

I can confirm that my frame has a little black plastic clip/widget that routes the cables around the bottom bracket. The clip is vaguely 'H' shaped with a single screw holding in the center and the cables routing through the legs of the 'H'. The side of the 'H' that faces the crank is angled a little bit so that the cable going to the front derailleur is roughly centered on the BB as it comes up to the derailleur.

Zoxe

Sorry for the delay. He're's the pic I took of the BB and the mystical H plastic widget. Please excuse the dirty bike and the dirty garage door mat.

(Actually don't excuse the dirty bike. Clean bikes make me sad. )

I posted the pic at full resolution. You should be able to view it in a separate browser window to embiggen it.

Mark Stone

Embiggen? Hahahahahahahaha Great word!