MulliganAl

wanted to make it:

Fast
Smooth
Comfortable
Retro looking

how would you build it up?

Barrettscv 

Smooth & comfortable. If you want fast or retro, start with something else.

MulliganAl

Yea, I should have said it a different way, I don't mean fast in terms of something like my Tarmac, just fast in terms of this type of bike. I've also seen some folks build them up with just a touch of retro which looks pretty cool.

Tabor

It has downtube shifter braze-ons, horizontal dropouts, and it is made out of steel. I think it well on its way to being retro.

EDIT- I vote comfort.

Barrettscv 

It's a matter of preference. The CC can be just about anything, which is great. But since this is the commuter forum, smooth & comfortable has special merit.

What major components are you considering?

dewaday

This way:

https://centurycycles.com/page.cfm?PageID=520

mickey85

Fast:
700c tires, triple chainrings, 7-8 gears out back

Smooth:
70X35-38 tires

retro-looking:
down tube shifters or bar end shifters
polished aluminum components
super wide centerpull or side pull brakes

Comfy:
get the bars high up and get one that fits.


That's how I'd build up a fast, comfy, retro, smooth Cross Check.

MulliganAl

This will be my first build ever, so it's all new to me. I was thinking about going with Shimano 105 or Shimano Deore M771K (not sure if I should go with 165, 170, 175 or 180 crank).

I have a Mavic Kysrium Equipe wheel set with an Ultegra cassette that I hope I can use for commuting with slightly larger tires (not sure if this will work).

I was thinking about a Cane Creek headset with mustache handlebars and a Brooks leather seat.

This is just my first attempt at bringing together all the parts.

Barrettscv 

PM on the way...

MulliganAl

Thanks Mickey, this is good stuff. I like the idea of the bar end shifters and I had a black Cane Creek headset in my shopping cart but I'm going to switch to the polished aluminum.

CliftonGK1

Salsa Delgado rims
Vittoria Randonneur 35mm tires
Shimano 3N80 front hub and IQ Cyo light
Velo-Orange Tourist or Nitto North Road bars w/ shellac cork grips
Alfine rear hub
Honjos
Brooks saddle

It won't be the fastest of fast, but it will be reasonably quick, very comfy, and if you unbrand the frame it will have a nice retro look.

Metricoclock

I went with a modern-retro look and setup.

And so far from the feed back from other readers they are pointing you in the direction of my bike pictured below.

2008 Surly Cross-Check , 1x9 gearing, Ultegra Cassette, 105 Derailier , Nitto Mustache bars, Dura-Ace 9sp bar-con, Shimano Canti’s (BR-550), Mavic Open Pro’s laced to 105 hubs and wrapped in Vitoria Randonee tires, recycled rear rack, recycled SKS fenders, Ortlieb Roll Top Panniers.

nopinkbikes

I have a 2000/2001 Bean Green CC. I have it set up as 1x9 (39 - 11x32) with a bar end
shifter. I use a Salsa Xing Guard and Nstop for the inside. Front wheel is a Velocity Dyad(silver) with Scmidt SON Dynamo hub with B&M headlight. Rear wheel is a Velocity Dyad(silver) with
Ultegra hub. I have a Brooks(British Racing Green) B17 Champion Special saddle, the Salsa Bell
Lap bar with Grey cloth tape and twined off with Green twine that is shellac'ed. I have a Small Minnehaha saddle bag as well. Then I have Planet Bike Cascadia fenders in silver, and use 700x32
Panaracer Pasela TG's for tires. I think this has a good mix of looking retro(classic) and yet is designed for fairly fast commuting. It is my main commuter bike.

MulliganAl

Now Metricoclock, that's what I'm talking about, beautiful. That is the bike I want, color, handlebars and all. Did you build it yourself? I like the idea of passing on the front Derailleur, I don't really need a triple or even a double.

Metricoclock

^^^^
Yep, built the whole thing up myself. I already had the brooks on another bike and transferred it over to the CC. It's my main ride these days, i can do just about anything i want with it. I am going to get a little steeper and shorter stem to help raise me up a lil bit.

Metricoclock

pictures please!

halfro

I built a cross check as a commuter. Part list if it will help:

Lever: Cane Creek Drop V
Brakes: Cane Creek SCX-5
Seat Post: Thomson Elite (27.2x330mm)
Headset: Chris King
Stem: Thomson Elite 4X
Crank: FSA Gossamer
Saddle: b17
Fenders: Planet Bike
Handlebars: WTB mountain drop


Wheels:

Spokes: DT Champion
Nipples: Black Alloy
Rims: Salsa Delgado Rim
HUbs: Surly
freewheel: 16T DX

It's relatively fast and comfortable. I could put on a mustache bar and flip the stem so make it a super comfort ride.

Have fun with the build. The Cross Check is a great start. There are so many options with this frame it can be scary to pick which part because you can pretty much pick anything.

Mr IGH

Retro = no black parts, all silver, IGH....

Drop bars with old school levers, bar end shifters, loopy cables and all

noglider 

This thread came in a very timely way. A friend of mine is entirely too generous, and he's practically GIVING me a cross check. He sneaked into my house the other day, and I noticed it in the basement this morning accidentally as I went for the laundry. My God, it's gorgeous. I'm not sure it's the right size, but it probably is.

I'm not even sure what kind of bike I want to build out of it. An expensive commuter bike may not be wise, because a commuter bike ought to be disposable. Maybe I'll make a touring bike out of it, as I'm getting interested in doing long distance riding once again after many years of not doing it.

I'm thinking of putting upright bars on it, since I don't like bending over any more. I'm 48 years old and starting to have back problems.

I tend to like narrow tires.

It will have fenders, for sure, and cantilever brakes. I will probably be able to put on a used Ultegra 9-speed drivetrain on it. Other than that, I don't know yet. But I guess it's already taking shape in my mind.

modernjess

Ok. My cross check. It's very comfortable. It goes as fast as I can pedal it. To the uninitiated it looks pretty retro. It's bomb proof. There's a million ways to build one of these up. This is how I did mine.

MulliganAl

True, gotta' love those silver parts on the retros. I'm now looking at a Soma Double Cross also that I'd set up to look something like this.

Barrettscv 

That is one nice looking commuter

MulliganAl

Looks petty sweet to me modernjess, did you remove the decals to give it more of a retro look? That seems to be one of the advantages to a Surly; at first I thought it was a bad thing.

modernjess

Yeah, I removed the decals for a few reasons; I don't like the way they look. I like Surly a lot, but not their graphics, and I like that they made them removable by not clear coating over them. I did keep the head badge on, I think it looks nice that way. I could care less if people know what type of bike I'm riding. Every cross check owner knows what it is when they see it.

I also think this type of a bike looks way better plain (maybe that is retro, I don't know) The classic road bike geometry, the utlilitrain nature of it and how I use it it just seems right.

Third; Since I use this in an urban environment and lock it up frequently I think the no decal look makes it less enticing to thieves. If you know what you are looking at you would want to steal this bike but if you know what you are looking at you are probably not in the bike stealing business.

rugerben

Fast-
700cX28 of a good tire like Conti gatorskin or Panaracer Pasela TG

Smooth-
It'll be smooth with the 28's and it's nice steel frame.
Also, I'd recommend an 8 speed cassette with either double or triple chainrings depending on how hilly your area is.

Comfortable-
Same as smooth. Add a Brooks B17 to it (you can get them for $70 delivered) and you're set. Also se the saddle height approx the same as the handlebars.

Retro-
Well, it's already steel so that's a plus. Brooks saddle will help. I'd say get the 8 speed ultegra bar-end shifters from Jenson. They are $56 and are FANTASTIC quality for the price. I have them on my C-dale touring bike and love them.
You also might want to think about a quill stem rather than threadless headset if you really want to get the retro look.