Well, it's not too surly, but it does have a bit of an attitude.

Seriously, though, folks, the bike shop finally installed my Surly CrossCheck fork on my commuter. It originally had a cheap suspension fork of some kind that I never really cared for. When it started acting up recently that was all the excuse I needed to replace it. The Surly fork is the same fork they use on their CrossCheck 'cross bike. Steel, sturdy and available in any color as long as it's glossy black. I would have installed it myself, but it had to be cut to length and a threadless headset (I got a Ritchey). I figured they would have the specialized equipment needed to cut the fork. They did: a hacksaw and a file! Anyway, the black looks OK with my charcoal/silver paint job.

This fork feels much better. The travel of the suspension made me feel like I was 'rocking' forward and back all the time and just felt mushy. I feel more in control. The fork feels nice and solid but the steel has enough flex to ease bumps.

Just thought I'd file a report.
Regards,
Raymond

Yeah, it's amazing what a hacksaw and file can do....
Last spring, I bought a new Kinesis aluminum fork, and tried to install it myself. I had a brand new Shimano Ultegra headset, but no headset press. I did manage to put the race on the fork crown by using a 1.067" ID piece of threaded gas pipe, which I had ground the edges down on the grinder at work. I attempted to make a headset press with one large carriage bolt, and a couple dozen washers of 2 different sizes, but thought better of it, and took the frame and races to my LBS.

D*Alex,
Yeah, I'm pretty brave about trying to do a lot of stuff myself, but when it comes to making an irreversible cut or modification to fit a new whatever, I prefer to let the vendor do it. That way if something gets screwed up, it's their problem.

By the way, I assume you meant fork rather than fender. I scratched my head for a minute trying to figure out the connection between a headset and a fender.
Regards,
Raymond

sorry, fork it is!
(whew! this is one time the edit feature will come in handy!!)

Park tool makes a tool for cutting a fork. Its just a sleeve that goes over the steertube. And it has a slot in it for your hacksaw so you can make a nice cut. And you can also use spacers if the steertube is too long. I have like 10 spacers on one of my forks, because i dont want to cut it.

KleinMP99,
Knowing my LBS, they probably have and used that tool. I wasn't watching, but I heard the distinctive "music" of a hacksaw in use. Next time I get a new fork, I will have to check on it. I'm like you; I will use something for a while with extra length until I am REALLY, REALLY sure where I want to cut it. Better that than "Oops! Should have left it 5mm longer."
Regards,
Raymond

....as long as you didn't hear a sawz-all, I'm sure they did a good job!

I actually have a SUPER Sawzall! Bike work - bad; house demolition - GOOD!

What is FOBGOB?

Fantastic Original Bicycling Guru On the Bayou.

Actually

Fat Old Balding/Bearded Guy/Geezer On a Bike!

Far out, bud. Get outta boogietown!

Frequently outlisteningto Bee Gee's on bike ....hehehe:dance: ah ah ah ah stayin' alive stayin alive !!