Just ordered my Surly Cross Check!

[andtckrtoo]

I wanted a bike for commuting, and some light touring. After months of debate and going back and forth, etc. I bit the bullet and bought my Surly. She's black. She'll be called "La Chatte Noir" - Cat for short. :D

Yes - I'll post pics of her when I get her and "pink" her out!

[Blueberry]

Congratulations!! My pink Cross Check says hi!

[andtckrtoo]

I LOVE your bike - she was one of my inspirations to go with the Cross Check. How'd you get the rims pink - is that reflective tape? I'm super excited.

[sundial]

Did ya get the brown gravy colored one? :)

Can't wait to see it. I love how TE'ers doll up their Surly. :cool: :cool:

CA_IN_NC, where did you get the pink rims?

[andtckrtoo]

Nah, she's black. I'm going to pink her up, though. Just ordered pink handle bar tape, water bottles and cages as well as a pink Bento Box and a pink saddle bag. :rolleyes:

[Blueberry]

I'll try to take a more up to date picture of her soon.

Her wheels are Velocity Deep V's - they come in a variety of colors. She came with the wheels, but not the bottle cages, etc. She is not a stock build - she also has a Riv lugged stem, and noodle bars:) I purchased her off ebay from the manager of a shop in TX. Somewhat funny story - I was in Wilmington NC, and stopped in a new bike shop. Was talking about her, and the owner realized he was the one who sold her to me. He relocated to NC with his family when they had kids. He was glad to know that she has a good home and is ridden.

I'm thinking of pink bar tape - or some other kind of bar taps. This is the canvas - which I like - in theory - but don't love after 80 miles.

CA

[jobob]

Bar end shifters & noodle bars, you're a woman after my own heart. :)

Love those wheels.

[kimdburns]

I just today was thinking about a Surly Cross Check and wondered how many other women rode them. This was great post to find.

CA_IN_NC, I was wondering, did the seller tell you who built the rims? Great bike. You're inspiring everyone!

[jillm]

The black and pink combo is gooood lookin!

I got a barely used Cross Check this winter (ebay, Christmas) and LOVE it! I've only been out on it a few times but the ride is smoooooth!

Mine is the gray color. I've ordered orange bar tape. Trying to decide where/if I should add these--http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFR_002.html.

[Blueberry]

I just today was thinking about a Surly Cross Check and wondered how many other women rode them. This was great post to find.

CA_IN_NC, I was wondering, did the seller tell you who built the rims? Great bike. You're inspiring everyone!

There are actually more ladies on TE who ride them - who haven't chimed in here. Knottedyet is one...

The seller built the wheels himself (and now that's a large part of his business since he owns his own shop). Here's his still under construction website: http://longleafbicycles.com/ I've also had a second front wheel built my by my local shop - it came with a generator hub, and - though I adore it - I wanted a second wheel for long rides. Generator hubs don't have much drag, but some. And this isn't the super expensive Schmidt with really low drag.

CA

[Blueberry]

Nah, she's black. I'm going to pink her up, though. Just ordered pink handle bar tape, water bottles and cages as well as a pink Bento Box and a pink saddle bag. :rolleyes:

Where did you find a pink bento box???

[andtckrtoo]

Where did you find a pink bento box???

Here - on TE - http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFB_840200.html

I'm eyeing the Basil Panniers, too. :D "Cat" will be all decked out.

[sfa]

Wow. I'm not a huge fan of pink normally, but I think I'm in love with your bike!

Sarah

[Blueberry]

Here - on TE - http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFB_840200.html

I'm eyeing the Basil Panniers, too. :D "Cat" will be all decked out.

Hee hee - I should have guessed:)

I think one might jump in the cart on my next order!

[uforgot]

I ride a Surly too. I love it. I have two sets of wheels, one with skinny road tires and touring wheels with fatter road tires. My lbs made the touring set. Here it is at the Tour de Pumpkin in Arkansas last October.

[sgtiger]

Congrats on the new bike. Those Surley Cross Checks are very nice.:cool: I can't wait to see pics.

[kimdburns]

I have perfectly good road bike, nothing fancy, but it's nice enough for me. I love riding it on the bike trails around Fort Worth but would like something a little more road worthy for commuting. One thing thought I thought I'd really like is disc brakes but Cross Check does not accommodate them, correct? How far do you any of you commute on your Cross Check.

[Blueberry]

I haven't had a commute friendly job, so can't answer directly. But I've done 80 mile rides on my cross check. I was tired, but it wasn't the bike's fault:)

I don't believe there is a disk option - if I wanted disk brakes on a similar bike, I would look at the disk specific SOMA double cross.

CA

[kimdburns]

I like Soma frames too. I'd really like to build a MTB with their blue Groove frame.

http://www.somafab.com/groove_bblue06.jpg

Yummm. Love it. But, I need a commuter first. Need to stay focused. :D

[eofelis]

I love the Cross Check, but the smallest size is still too big for me :( I can't quite deal with the 72cm standover. Ouch!

I have a Pacer, which I am very happy with. It's my sport touring bike. And I have a Long Haul Trucker, which is a work horse!

[kimdburns]

I'm pretty tall, 5' 10", and long legged. The Dolce Elite I have is their largest frame, 56cm but the Cross Check I briefly road, was 54cm and seemed fine.

The LBS I use builds great bikes and have both Surly and SOMA. I don't know why, but I'm really stuck on wanting the disc brakes. I love the way feel on my husbands MTB and I think I would feel safer and more in control with them.

[andtckrtoo]

Uforgot - NICE bike! Love the Brooks saddle. I'm still debating the saddle for my Surly. I wanted pink, but the only pink saddle I've found is a racing saddle, and not what I think I need for a commute/touring bike. As my first few rides will be 30-40 miles I'm not too worries about the saddle yet. I can take my time.

I'm 5'10, too and have the 54" on order. My CAAD 9 is also a 54". I like the short top tube. I had a Klien Stage that was the 56" and the reach was just a little long. I got my Surly for commuting, light touring and to have something to ride with DH who is not really a cyclist. He can ride my CAAD9 and I'll ride the Surly - I figure the extra weight will give me a decent workout even at the slower pace. :D