Advise

[AsaG]

Hi there
My name is Asa and I have been a lurker on these forums for quite some time, and learned a great deal from you ladies.
I live in Iceland and the weather even in summer can be pretty horrid and I am looking to get a good commuter/bad weather bike. I have been looking at the Surly Cross Check frame and was wondering if that would be a good choice?
I furthermore was wandering if it would be a good idea to try campagnola components on it ( rode a racer in Italy with campagnola and really liked the reach of the break levers and the shifters) however I don't know much about campagnola and was wondering what grade of components would be compatible to Shimano 105?
I appriciate your feedback.
Best regards Asa

[Biciclista]

Campagnolo components are expensive, but I have them on my bike (bought them used!) and I love them. So if you can afford it, they are long lasting and wonderful. Veloce is an excellent gruppo; the more expensive ones are better, of course but what you are getting is parts that are lighter by Grams!!
About your horrid weather, to what are you referring? Rain? snow? Ice? that matters a lot. If it's just rain, get a bike with fenders, that will make a huge difference in your comfort, as will good rain gear. Even with icy conditions, if you get the right tires, you can stil ride.
And welcome to TE!!!!!

[skhill]

No advice on the bike choice, but I was wondering what volcanic ash is like to ride in? Sounds like things are a little too interesting (geologically, at least) in Iceland these days...

[AsaG]

Thanks Biciclista, I will look into the veloce gruppo the horrid weather mostly refers to rain and wind so I will definitely get fenders, however in the winter there is often icy conditions and then I will need to have studded tires.
Things are intersting in Iceland now in the geological sense, if this continues summer might be pretty short. The ash has forutunatly not affected us here in Reykjavik, however if the wind changes that might change.

[shootingstar]

Hope you will have a reasonable summer AsaG. Volcano looks like something to go down in history books.

I understand that some people can be allergic to volcanic ash. At least based on people I've heard from Hawaii.

What is riding around in Iceland like as you know so far? Do you experience a certain amount of wind alot of the time?

[MommyBird]

No advice on the bike choice, but I was wondering what volcanic ash is like to ride in? Sounds like things are a little too interesting (geologically, at least) in Iceland these days...

It is extremely abrasive and corrosive. I would not ride my bike in it.
I was a freshman at Washington State University when Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980. The ash floated over much of the state and dropped close to the WA/ID boarder. Our campus looked like a moonscape. It was a very surreal experience. They canceled finals and sent us home early.