Took the plunge last weekend and bought a 54cm Surly Cross Check. I had to drive 2 hours to take it for a test ride and was sold within a few minutes of rolling around the parking lot. I'm glad I took my Brooks saddle and had them put it on before going for the ride. Very comfortable. That's the good news...

The bad news: the company I work for shipped me to Mexico for two weeks and I didn't get a chance to ride it yet. I wish I could have brought it along because it's been 75 to 80 and sunny every day this past week. Bah!

I've been in contact with Joe Young and he gave me a price on building up some wheels. I'm looking at some Phil Wood chrome hubs, black DT spokes, black Mavic A719 rims and silver nipples. That would look fairly sharp with the black frame, and be a solid wheelset to boot. Might be considered overkill, but that's what I want. I definitely need to work on the brakes at some point as well, but I'll deal with that after I figure out the wheels. Can't do much about it until I get back.

Anyway, I'm off to use the four most useful words that I was taught before flying down: Dos cervezas, por favor!

¡Felicitación de México!