wickedcold

I'm having Old Spokes Home in Burlington, VT build me a Surly Cross-Check which should be ready today. Pictures to come! I'm so psyched. This will be my first "real" road bike after riding a Trek 7200 hybrid for a year and a dept. store mountain bike before that.

Here's the buildup if anybody is curious:

Frame - 52cm Cross Check, black
Wheelset - Shimano XT hubs, Mavic A719 rims, built by Peter White
Tires - Schwalbe Marathon 700x32
Saddle - Brooks B17 - black
Bar - Nitto Noodle
Tiagra STI's 3x9
Crank - Sugino XD 600 48/36/26
Front Derailleur - Shimano 105
Cassette - SLX 11-32
Rear Derailleur - Shimano LX
Chain - SRAM PC991
Brakes - Avid Shorty 4

I will be putting SKS fenders on, not sure on which rack I'll be using yet. Probably either a Jandd Expedition or a Nitto Nice Rack.

d2create

Congrats! Sounds cool. Post pics.

Quel

Nice ride. I've got a stock CC, and the thing that I'm changing next is the gearing. A 36/25 stock doesn't cut it for large hills. I make it up them, but have to mash harder than I'd like. Not quite sure if I'll change the cassette or add a third ring up front. So you made the right choice on the triple and cassette I think. Enjoy.

wickedcold

One of the reasons I went with a custom buildup. My friend bought a Complete and he's going to switch out the crank for a triple too.

Barrettscv 

Sounds like a great bike for VT. It should climb like a goat.

Cheers

Michael

xB_Nutt

Sounds like a nice, reasonably priced, and well thought out build. Even though it will more than likely come out more expensive than a complete, you will have it set up just they way you want from the beginining. I have yet to buy a bike and keep it stock for any length of time. Make sure they leave a lot of steerer tube when they cut the fork. You can always cut it down when you get your cockpit all sorted out to fit you. It's hard to put material back though...

rumrunn6

Congrats, best of luck!

bikegeek57

Congrats! am jealous. Burlington VT is a great place to ride. Well anywhere in VT is a great place to be right now. (temp outside 88 deg. humid too here in Atlanta) I'll be in Rutland/Poultney area June 20 for my daughter's wedding. will be bringing bikes and ride when we are not tied up with wedding fun. any ride suggestions in Rutland/Poultney area?

M_S

Nice. The only thing you might not like are the Shorty 4s. I've always found them to be just OK, nothing great. But a large part of that is the stock pads.

Anyways looks like a solid, functional build. Should ride great!

wickedcold

Ok, I got it and I LOVE it!!! This thing is incredible.

I hope you dig the bar tape as much as I do.

crawdaddio

A beautiful machine.
Sorry, but I don't like the green bar tape. Just doesn't jive somehow.

MulliganAl

Sweeeeet bike, and I like the bar tape; it's a personel touch that says this bike is all mine (I mean yours actually). Love the headset with the adjustable stem, interesting combo. You've given me some ideas for my CC hookup, happy trails on that fine machine.

Andy_K 

Sweet.

How do you like the brakes? I know a lot of people had issues with the old Shorty 4's. I'm curious how they do since the redesign.

Wanderer

Kool Stop, salmon, will really help most weak brakes......

woodenidol

Very nice, and I like the tape, gives it some pizzaz.

Like your setup too, nice high handlebars, looks like a real comfort machine. Im not much on Brooks, but your new bike looks great!

Andy_K 

I went with Kool Stop Tectonics and a shorter link wire on my 2008 Shorty 4's, and they're actually very good like that. I'm just wondering if the new ones are better out of the box.

Quel

Inspired by this thread, I finally stopped by the LBS on my way home and put a 11-32 cassette on the back to replace the 12-25. Was much better for my hills, and still has all the cruising ratios I normally use.

Seems like a lot of spacers up top. I probably wouldn't have noticed, but the alternating silver and black spacers drew my eye. Of course, what fits, fits.

making

I should pick mine up saturday and it should look about like yours. Er except the tape. Like that color on your bike though,

JeffS

What is your primary hand position?

martianone

Very nice ride !
The green looks great !!
OSP always seemed to be well connected to commuter/utility cyclist needs- they also did a fine job customizing my CrossCheck.
ps- I am a little envious of the tape, which one did they use ?

wickedcold

Martianone, I'll have to check next time I'm at the shop. I don't remember the brand.

Cyclaholic

Nice build! The bartape color is not my thing but hey, you dig it and that's all that matters.
I like your choice of components, it has that 'balanced' look to it if you know what I mean.

wickedcold

Thanks! The hardest thing to decide on was which triple crank to use. I HATE the look of the Shimano ones, and in the gearing I want they seem to only offer mountain bike cranks which look all silly. The Sugino crank is sleek and simple, and the polished finish looks great.

CCrew

Sweet bike! I'm not feeling the tape tho or the height of the stem... But I didn't have to pay for it so my opinion doesn't count

I'd have done a natural cork color with a honey Brooks.

wickedcold

I'd actually have preferred that myself, but I already had the black Brooks and didn't want to buy another. Maybe if Nashbar has them for $69.99 again I'll pick up a honey one! :-)