My lady's Surly Cross Check:
I know that I posted this bike a few pages ago, but I really wanted to show it off again, especially now that it features The Most Tedious Bike Accessory I've Ever Installed That Didn't Require A Dremel Tool:
Serious PITA, that chain guard, but it sure is pretty; and solid as well, now that it's on.
It's an odd build, partially because the guy that I bought the bike from had built it up with an SRAM mountain group, including disc compatible hubs for some unfathomable reason. I'd like to eventually put some drop bars on it, because I think that my lady would like to go fast (she's skeptical, but I remain hopeful) but that'd involve changing out the v-brakes and SRAM mountain derailleur as well as buying new levers and handlebars, which just isn't in the budget right now. So, for now, I set it up with some Nitto Albatross bars, because they are awesome, and they fit MTB levers and bar end shifters, but mostly because they are awesome. Sure, they turn like a shopping cart pulling a trailer carrying a refrigerator, but they're as comfortable as a warm kitten purring in your lap. You might ride a little slower, but dude, warm kitten! I've ridden these bars on three different bikes now, and they are just so amazingly pleasant to ride, regardless of the frame.
The rest of the weirdness is all me, in that I put cross levers on it. I love those handlebars for their comfort, but if you want to go faster or get out of the wind, riding forward in the bends is the best place to be. It takes your hands away from the brake levers, which wasn't an issue until that one time that I rear ended my wife (we both saw a moose, and she though 'moose, I should stop' and I thought 'moose, better speed up'; unfortunately I was behind her at the time, and too busy watching the moose to notice my wife's braking maneuver). And now she insists on brake levers where ever her hands might be. Which, as the guy who hit her, and her husband to boot, I have a hard time arguing with.
Originally Posted by
bconneraz
Ran into Herbie on my way home from work the other day.
That's a cute car, but not nearly as good looking as the bike in front of it. That looks like a really well thought out build.
Originally Posted by
bmontgomery87
Not sure how it'll do over 50 miles or more, but it handles 20 miles per day well and I've done some 40ish mile days .
Even 20 miles a day on a single speed is impressive, in this the age of the ever-expanding cassette, so 50 miles on a single speed is downright amazing. Hats off to you, sir, and socks as well if that ride is fixed.