Picture of New Surly CC (Hopefully)

[Velocivixen]

Okay, I bought this 2011 Surly Cross Check in Robin's Egg Blue a month ago and was unable, for some reason, to upload photos. I have now resized it and will try again. It's a size 52, has a Brooks B17S saddle in Honey, Panaracer Pasela tires (700x32c) and natural color cork bar tape. Here it is on the Portland waterfront.

[Sardine]

Nice bike. I really like the colour. I want one too but must desist. How are you finding the bar end shifters?

[Biciclista]

congrats on the new bike!!

[goldfinch]

Oh is that one pretty bike!

[ultraviolet]

So pretty! I've been admiring that bike for a while. I love the robin's egg blue paint! Every time I see it in the shop I have to remind myself that I already have a steel around-towner/all-purpose bike in my Bridgestone. Getting rid of the RB-2 would be the only way I could justify adding a CrossCheck...but it still tempts me every time.

[Owlie]

It's very pretty!

[Velocivixen]

Thanks for your compliments. I bought a Crane copper striker bell and eggplant Neubaum's cloth tape that I may wrap around the cork, but not sure. I will likely buy the SKS Longboard fenders in "Beige" (I call them "Creme") and a Carradice Barley seat bag. Going for more of a "modern-vintage" bike. ;)

[gbunker]

Pretty! ;)

[OakLeaf]

Yay!

[smilingcat]

Very classy and very classic in looks. Beautiful!!

[Antaresia]

That is a sweet looking ride! Congrats ;)

[Velocivixen]

@Sardine, sorry it's taken me awhile to answer. Regarding the bar end shifters. The only bike that I have ever had with drop handle bars was a 1975 Schwinn Le Tour 10 speed that had the shifters up by the head tube (friction) & I rode that bike from about 1977-1984. Skip to now. I have not ridden a drop bar bike in 27 years and have only used the brake/shifter combo "brifters" while test riding bikes recently, so it's not like I had any experience with them. So my system is when I'm shifting in the back and I have to let go with my right hand (assuming I'm on the hoods), I stop pedaling for a second, move my right hand down and wrap the little finger & ring fingers around the bar end shifter (other fingers holding onto the handle bar normally), start "light" pedaling and shift. I have the option of using either indexed shifting (click, click), or friction where there are no "indexes" so you don't hear or feel the "click" as the shifter lever changes gears. With friction shifting, which I prefer, you simply move the lever and you hear the rear gears shift and you feel in your pedaling it gets easier/harder. Sort of like the difference between a manual and an automatic car. For the two front chain rings there is no option - it's friction only. I ride mostly in the large gear (48 teeth) in front and rarely change it.

UPDATE: I attempted to mount my copper Crane striker bell and it does NOT fit around my handle bar! I'd have to go buy a much longer screw to make it fit, so I returned it. VeloOrange sells a spacer that is tapped (or the bike shop can tap one of my spacers on the steer tube) and I can buy a different bell, remove the bell from it's original mount and screw it onto the spacer. I've seen that a lot.

ALSO-I removed the final evidence of "branding" the "Surly" headbadge. So now there is nothing that tells the name of my bike.

[twin]

Very pretty color and the Brooks looks great. Good luck with your bell. Please put a picture up after you put your fenders on.

[Sky King]

I am so used to my bar end shifters I have a hard time riding anything else. If you haven't purchased your carradice already, take a look at Zimbale - (shameless plug as we are the North American Distributor :) )
On another note, we are coming over to Portland for the Oregon Manifest in September, DH is going to ride over but I am flying. Perhaps we can see you!

PS, have the SKS cream colored longboards in our store - they are so pretty, trying to convince my girlfriend to put them on her Surly long haul trucker but I think she is going with the VO hammered, also pretty.

[Velocivixen]

@Sky King, Hi neighbor! I would sure meet you. I will have to look online to see what Oregon Manifest is. Lol. I have co sidered the Zimbale 7 liter bag in green, but nobody around here sells then and I am a "touchy-feely" when I buy something. CityBikes in Portland is an authorized Carradice dealer, although they are out of stock on the 7 liter "Barley" bag. I tried the "Pendle" and it's too big.
Regarding the Longboard fenders. One LBS sells them for $46, however Portland is one of the warehouse sites (has a retail shop too) for Universalcycles, so I can either go or call there and have the fenders sent to them and not pay for shipping for $38, and I would have to drive over and pick them up. I have considered the VeloOrange hammered metal fenders but all that silver would look too "metallic" for me. For some reason creme doesn't make me think of metal.