Sweet.

I just ordered a Cross Check frame yesterday for my own singlespeed mutt commuter project. As nice as a custom frame would have been I couldn't justify the cost or the wait. I've been collecting parts as deals pop up for a few months now.

love everything but the bars. why did you pick those?

Funny, I'd been eyeing those bars as a replacement for the stock bars on my Novara Fusion. I wanted bar ends because I need more positions, but there's not enough room on the stock bars to move the grips and everything else inboard to make room, and there don't seem to be any wedge type bar ends around anymore. These pictures convinced me. I just ordered these bars (for $10, worth checking out).

It was these, or flat bars, and these have more hand positions.

A couple of other people have mentioned the Cross Check, which is also what I would love to build up if I ever have the time, money, and convenient geographical location. Any particular reason you went with the Karate Monkey? I'm curious.

Beautiful bike my friend. You did one hell of a job on it!!!

hi man,

that's a great setup. I am setting up one with a On-one inbred frame.
I have the same premium hub + the drum brake. I am not sure if I should use the drum or Vees??
How does the drum brake feel so far for you?
I was also thinking of putting knobbies & bring it off-road for a try. I think if GT can put this hub on a Dh bikes.......should not be any problem doing off road.

The bike shop had the CC and KM built up, so I got to ride both. I liked the way the KM handled (a little)better, it seemed a bit more "stable" than the CC, kind of like an older touring frame, so I bought the KM frame. Also, the KM has mounts for disc brakes, and I really wanted to try them.

Otherwise, I think the CC is a nicer looking frame.

The roller brake feels fine. i.e. smooth, strong and linear. It is kind of a PIA to change the rear tube though. There is a "quick connect" on the cable, but you still have to unbolt the anti-rotation lever from the frame. I really wish the Sturmey-Archer disc hub would have been available.

IMHO, for practicality, either the SA disc hub or vees would be a better choice. It will also be interesting to see how the roller brake holds up to time, weather and dirt. Vees have thier limitations, but we know what they are and they are reasonably predictable.

can some explain how the roller brake works and do you have to have it with the shimano rear hub? also how does does the hub feel and do you prefer it to the standerd derailer system besides the fact that it doesnt get banged up when on a bike rack?

I removed my drum brake because it made changing a flat too difficult in the best of conditions. But it did work and it's perofrmance wasn't effected by rain. So in dry conditions a vee worked a little better, in wet the drum worked a little better.

FCDrifter,

I'm not exactly sure how the roller brake works, but it must involve friction somewhere. That big silver disk has cooling vanes because it does get hot. I think you can also get one for the front hub. But I got to warn you that they make changing a tire very difficult.

What I come to like best about the internal hub is when in city/frequent stop areas you can down shift when not moving. Also onlyh need one hand to shift the entire gear range. Derailer gears you might have to start in a way to high gear range. With the Nexus you just shift down and you are ready to go. It's an advantage mainy in the city. Less maintenence and cleaning is another plus for commuting.

Dead Extra you do have an option for drop bars. The hubbub shifter adapter from Harris Cyclery.:D I run a very similar set up on my Cannodale 50/50 (front disc, nexus 8 hub, brooks saddle, mine is sprung Champion flyer, SKS fenders Schmidt Dyno hub w/ headlight & tailight,and Conti town & Country tires) I have nitto moustache bars w/ Dia Compe 287 road levers which work w/ mechaical disc v brake rear and the hubbub adapter which inserts into the bar end. The nexus shifter slips on to the adapter. It can be used w/ drops as well. I originaly had a straight bar which even when I swithched to a carbon bar gave me wrist pain. The moustache bars w/ a layer of cork and cloth work great and give a number of hand positions. They look good too. I also installed a stem riser to make the bars level w/ my saddle. FYI

@Fender

Do the Dia Compe levers work well with the disc?

Sweeet!

I got to see this bike tonight.

Very nice. He let me take it for a short ride. Very very nice.
It's one of those things, the more you look at it, the more you see, and the more you go, "yeah, that's how it ought to be done." Actually, I kind of liked the bars too, but I've put a bunch of city miles on North Roads bars lately, so my judgement may be off.

Dead extra,

The Dia Compe work very well w/ the disc. I was able to adjust so the brake does not feel squishy at all. In fact it feels better that the rear v-brake it is designed for. The nice thing is I can switch to drops or to moustache and since I saved the other flat bar gear I have that as an option as well. Always nice to have options!:)

What size and brand are the tires? Kewl.

Kenda Kwest- 700x35. They are OK, but I'm not sure I love them or anything.

I would have guessed they were wider than that. Looks good though.

FYI
BLACK ALUMINUM WATER BOTTLES ON SALE ... $8

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...&estore_ID=749

Good find! Thank you zori.

Beautifully done! This is my dream winter bike.

I must say I'm impressed. I test-rode a KM at the bike shop and it rides great. I would love to unload a few of my bikes to get one. They are the ultimate do-anything bikes!

I have a bike with Kenda Kwest 700 x 35 tires. They ride nice but they're kinda heavy.

BTW, after looking at you bike, i thought to my self i gota try out this internal hub stuff... so i got me a comuter... shimano 4 spd nexus... what i dont like is that the brake lever is atached to the shifter, i might look in to taking it apart or finding a new shifter. also, i dont understand that rear brake you got going (its a brake right) does it activate the nexus drum brake (i got a back pedal brake thing, pretty sure its drum styled)... and 4 spd is just right of daily riding... but i hate this pedal brake! i always fall off at stop light cause when i dissmount i slam the rear and the bike dosnt flow with me, and then i cant start off to well either. i was thinking of slaping on a new rear hub (nexus somthing) but im not sure its worth if on this bike...