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New Cross Check Build (yawn)...

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New Cross Check Build (yawn)...

Old 02-18-11, 05:24 AM
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I don't think I could bring myself to put a decal on that. Looks nice as is. Happy riding.

All that coin on the frame mods and paint, I was expecting a Tubus rack.
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Old 02-18-11, 08:32 AM
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Thanks. I didn't spend as much as you might think. After selling an old mtb and other bike parts, then buying the severely discounted Salsa, taking the components and selling the frame, I will have spent less than the cost of a new complete Cross Check from Surly.
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Old 02-19-11, 06:17 AM
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I was only talking about the mods & paint.

I thought the Salsa was going to work its way into your heart and join the stable. Oh well. Someone will love it.

If we do want to count pennies, yes, a donor bike can be a very economical way to build up and I grant you the frame salvage credit. But its some Freakonomics if you're going to count your other miscellaneous CL/yard sale-ing off the top line of this build. However, I am not one to confirm or deny thriftiness. Whether one's particular pleasure is the thrill of miserly success, the joy of squander, or magnificent cost-spec acquisition optimization, this is a recreational activity (at least partly). Again, enjoy! You've deftly assembled quite a steed. Ride well, cowboy.
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Old 02-19-11, 08:11 AM
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Originally Posted by crdean1
So here is a belt compatible, disc specific (Dimension front fork), Surly Cross Check.
Very, very nice!! I love the color and build. And, the changes you made are very cool -- you've made an incredibly versatile frame even more so.

I just completed a mod / new powder coat of my own Cross Check, but the modifications were less ambitious -- I mainly had stuff removed because mine is now dedicated to fixed gear riding. I posted some details in the stickied commuter bike picture thread, so I won't repost here. Uh oh.... I can't seem to resist at least reposting a picture of the completed project (apparently I feel a need for validation after my non-biking buddy told me the end result looked like a bike he'd "expect to see at a garage sale"!):


Last edited by Derailed; 02-19-11 at 08:18 AM.
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Old 02-19-11, 11:53 AM
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Are you the King James version of Bike Forums posters? Haha. No, I understand, I just don't want to create a false perception that I had an endless amount of money to spend. Im not saying the bike cost less, just that I was able to build to my preference by getting creative. As much as I want to keep the Salsa, because the frame only comes in Ti now, I've had a very nice offer for it.

Love the bike (above). Nice job. Still thinking about a Brooks, but have you guys had trouble with them bleeding?
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Old 02-19-11, 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by crdean1
Still thinking about a Brooks, but have you guys had trouble with them bleeding?
The brown one shown above was never too bad, and now that it has well over 10,000 miles it seems to be totally colorfast. But I have two newer black ones on other bikes that have caused problems. You definitely wouldn't want to ride on them in white pants on a hot day!
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Old 02-21-11, 08:27 PM
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So how was the disc brake tab set up? Do you need to place the wheel in the rear-most part of the drop outs to keep the disc brake aligned? I have a disc brake cross bike that is fairly similar to yours now, but I have a standard vertical drop out. I'm curious as if I did what you had done, I'd probably just set it up to have the wheel all the way in the drop outs for ease of installation and lengthen the wheelbase.
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Old 02-21-11, 09:10 PM
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Derailed, that looks great, where did you get the chainguard?
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Old 02-22-11, 11:41 AM
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Originally Posted by sjt78
So how was the disc brake tab set up? snip...
The axle is right in the middle of the dropout and it seems to be working fine. Everything lines up well.

Hey guys, thinking about Panniers now. What do you think about the Timbuk2 Shift Pannier/Messenger Bag? Anyone used this or anything similar.

https://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/...nier-messenger

Last edited by crdean1; 02-22-11 at 12:19 PM.
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Old 02-22-11, 12:04 PM
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Originally Posted by LeeG
Derailed, that looks great, where did you get the chainguard?
It is from Velo Orange ($25). I also added a guard ring in the outer position, and I got the idea for that from a post by Alan Barnard on the EcoVelo blog. He actually just ground the teeth off of a large chainring, but I bought a Salsa Crossing Guard. It makes for a very clean look, and it covers the chain so well that I usually don't even bother with a leg strap any more.

Here's a close up shot, but without the chain:

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Old 02-22-11, 04:37 PM
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Originally Posted by crdean1
The axle is right in the middle of the dropout and it seems to be working fine. Everything lines up well.

Hey guys, thinking about Panniers now. What do you think about the Timbuk2 Shift Pannier/Messenger Bag? Anyone used this or anything similar.

https://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/...nier-messenger
Thats pretty cool!
Wonder why it took so long for somebody to do that. Only thing I see that might be a problem is the length might make for some heel strike issues on bikes with short chain stays.
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Old 02-22-11, 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Grim
Only thing I see that might be a problem is the length might make for some heel strike issues on bikes with short chain stays.
That's my concern as well. Note how high the top of the rack is in the photos, and how high the bag is mounted even with respect to that. I love the idea, I'd be nervous unless someone posts with a positive personal experience or link to a positive review.
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Old 02-23-11, 05:58 AM
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It's a floor wax AND a dessert topping!

Versatile little piece of gear? OTOH, seems like a small quirky pannier and/or a messenger bag with a bunch of hardware that I don't want rubbing on my back, my jacket, etc. Tough call. Unless it fits a real specific need for you, I'd think hard about which you really want / need and commit to one side or the other. There are plenty of panniers with carry straps and messenger bags that can lash on to your rack under a cargo net.
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Old 02-23-11, 06:29 AM
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Originally Posted by slcbob
It's a floor wax AND a dessert topping!
LOL! That's pretty much how I feel about it. If only there were such a thing (floor wax / dessert topping)!
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Old 02-23-11, 08:29 PM
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I've ordered the Timbuk2 Shift, referenced a couple of posts above. The company convinced me that because of their liberal return policy, that I could try it out and if it didn't work for me, I could return it. So, I'll post a full review.

As mentioned earlier, I was also looking for a simple grocery 'go getter', for errands to the local grocery store when my wife forgot/needed something. Today in Dallas, I came across a Topeak MTX compatible basket, which affixes to any rack or links to a Topeak MTX system compatible rack. I had read that if your seat was low, that this would not be a good option. Because it was on sale, I decided to try it. It fits very well, minimal noise, and easily detachable (with MTX compatible rack). Overall, this is a very nice basket with a cutout for the seat. Here are some pics.









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Old 02-25-11, 01:21 PM
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Review II:

The Timbuk2 Shift Pannier/Messenger Bag

I ordered this bag from Timbuk2 because of their good return policy. Basically, if I don't like it, send it back for a full refund, no questions asked. The messenger bag/pannier came in a plastic bag with a note that said "This is not a plastic bag, it is a bike map of San Francisco". Sure enough, it was a bike map of San Fran. I love this company's casual attitude. Even in the email communications for order confirmation and shipping, they seemed to have rid themselves of the corporate jargon that usually fills your inbox.

I will edit this post once I've ridden with the bag a few times, but I wanted to go ahead and post pics and initial 'out of the box' thoughts. The bag looks bigger in pics than it is in person, so I will have to see what I can fit inside. I have a 13" laptop, and the 'sleeve' included in the bag is said to fit a 15". It is not a padded sleeve, just a divider. I like the quick attachment of the bag to the rack. It has two hooks with velcro on the back that hook over the top of the rack, and one bungee hook that hooks to the bottom. So far, it's pretty snug. I'll have to see how it handles in climbing, etc. The bungee looks like it could lose elasticity over time.

Anyway, here are some pics if you would like to see. I'll post more info next week after I've ridden with it a few times both as a messenger bag and a pannier.

EDIT: So it's been a few weeks, and I have commuted with this bag about 2x per week, 42 miles round trip. I will start by saying that I love the bag and might keep it, but it isn't big enough for a commute in which you have to carry clothes and a laptop. I have a job where I have to wear nice pants/shoes and a dress shirt. Those are my commuting days, which are the days I don't have to wear a suit and drive to appointments.

In the bag, I can "barely" fit dress shoes, nice shirt/pants, socks, , small golf towel, 13" MacBook Pro laptop (pretty thin, no power cord). The bag is straining even with those items, and I cannot fit a lunch, and it has totally scratched up my rear rack because the hooks are also metal. Not sure if this is common with other panniers. I think this bag would be perfect for a student commuter as it would hold 3 or 4 text books and a computer, then strap over your shoulder once you arrive to school. You would have to buy the strap as the bag doesn't come with it, the primary reason I am thinking of returning it and just getting a sale messenger bag off ebay or something.

If I keep this bag, it will be to go to my parents or brother-in-law's house and take my laptop and couple of other items, or I may still use it to commute with a pannier on the other side for clothes and a lunch, but it simply doesn't have enough space as my sole transporter. So what do I like about it? The bag is very well made, and I like the fact that the bag is canvas "ballistic" on the outside with a waterproof liner on the inside, unlike some panniers. This gives the bag a nice stylish look without compromising quality. As you can see in the pictures, the bag also has reflective material on both sides and loops for blinkies.

The back of the bag is tough, and there is a 'board like' surface that backs up to the rack, keeping the bag very stable. My bike even fell over this morning and the bag didn't budge. There are also several pockets under the front flap for keys, phone and such. I do wonder over time how the velcro will hold up, but I guess velcro is pretty commonly used on these types of bags. I wish I could review the messenger part of the bag, but alas, no strap. I have heard that the hooks can be uncomfortable against your back, but the bag is meant to be carried at waist level when being used as a messenger off the bike, minimizing the hook to clothing contact.

Edit II: I just wrote the edit above this morning, and lo and behold, a hook on the bag broke on the way home. I only had a laptop and some clothes in it. I'm sending it back and wouldn't recommend it at all, even for a student.











Last edited by crdean1; 03-17-11 at 06:46 PM. Reason: Review Update
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Old 02-26-11, 05:33 AM
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^ Hey, cool bag and looking forward to the review. But what kind of bike is that you've got it mounted on? !! Looks almost like a Cross-Check but it's got disc brakes.
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Old 02-26-11, 04:44 PM
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Good one. haha.

So this is the last post, I will come back and update/edit the reviews in a week or so. I decided to only add decals to the down tube and apply the head badge. Also, I love this saddle on this bike more than on my road bike, so I'm keeping it, along with the orange bar tape. Bike is now completely done. Thanks for letting me bore you with this process, it has definitely been fun.





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Old 03-17-11, 09:07 AM
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Updated post #116 for those that were asking about the Timbuk2 Shift Messenger/Pannier.
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