I Bought My First Road Bike!!! (long)

I had a 1975 Schwinn Le Tour 10 speed back when I was about 13 to 20 years old & rode it everywhere (I'm 47 now). I've not been on a dropped bar bike since then! I currently have a 2011 Trek 7.3 FX hybrid that I bought in October and have ridden it more than I've ridden in the last 27 years! As my confidence grew I decided I wanted to try "drop bars" and a different geometry. I live near Portland, OR & if you live around here you know that we're famous for riding all manner of bike and doing "alternative" customizations to them! lol. So I decided, for that reason, but mostly just for something "different" to get a steel "classic" looking bike with some personality. After test riding several drop bar bikes, going to different shops, talking with bike folks I narrowed it down to the Kona Honky Inc (it looks great on paper) and the Surly Cross Check ("lesser" componentry than the Kona).
So yesterday I re-test rode the Kona & felt disappointed. I just wasn't in love with it. It lacked personality & wasn't pretty, although it had nice components. I also noticed that the sales person wasn't as outgoing/enthusiastic with me. Maybe it's because I've been in a couple of times, asked questions, test rode once and didn't purchase anything.
Then I went to a place I didn't know existed called Citybikes near downtown Portland. It's an employee-owned coop & has been in business 21 years. They're located on a bike boulevard and they sell primarily to the commuter type.
I called first to see if they had a Cross Check in Robin's Egg blue since I really didn't like the black, and NOBODY in town had the blue. I walked in and the first thing I noticed is that they had different tires on the bike. They took off the 'cross tires and put on Panaracer Pasela TourGaurd tires with tan sidewalls. Next I noticed is that the steer tube was very tall! I've test ridden this bike elsewhere and the steer tube was about 2-3" above the top of the head tube, but these steer tubes were like 5" taller! The sales person said that they come that way & that most shops cut them down! He said that "most commuters around here don't want to be bent over so much". I knew from my measurements and hours of research that I should test ride the 50 & the 52, which I did (I test rode these before). Not much difference in the frame size, although I LOVED the shorter stem on the size 50.
So...(drum roll please) I bought a 52 Robin's Egg Blue Cross Check! It's the only one in my size and in a box, so I've made changes. It already has the Panaracer Pasaela tires, replace the Tektro RL340 brake levers with Tektro compact brake levers. I bought Velo Orange Touring Pedals, and they will replace the black seat tube, add a shorter stem, and spacers on the steer tube with silver. They will use "natural" cork handlebar wrap.I will leave the steer tube long and as I ride the bike I can always either ask them to cut it down or, as they did on a LHT, they move the stem down by rearranging the steer tube spacers, but didn't cut the steer tube.
I felt great test riding this bike and don't recall feeling that way when I test rode them about a month ago. Maybe the different height on the steering tube? It shifted more "tightly" than the higher end components on the Kona, so not sure why. I felt comfortable in the drops even!
Now I've got to figure out how to "accessorize" her. Maybe leaning to "Rivendell-esque" look. VO fenders or Hanjo hammered fenders???
Ideas? I'm SOOOOO excited! I pick it up on or after the 17th.

Oh, this sounds HOT! Promise you will post photos once you have them! I can't wait to see!

I rode a friend's Cross Check this past Spring. But hers is black and boring...yours sounds like it will be so much more appealing to the eye.

Thanks! I was so excited that after the test rides, I drove back to our town to discuss with DH, then ended up driving back to the bike shop with him in rush hour traffic! I didn't eat all day until I finally ate dinner around 8:00 p.m. and I couldn't get to sleep until after 3:00 a.m. due to excitement and looking up all sorts of goodies for my new steed. Now for a name??? hahaha

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Originally Posted by Velocivixen

Thanks! I was so excited that after the test rides, I drove back to our town to discuss with DH, then ended up driving back to the bike shop with him in rush hour traffic! I didn't eat all day until I finally ate dinner around 8:00 p.m. and I couldn't get to sleep until after 3:00 a.m. due to excitement and looking up all sorts of goodies for my new steed. Now for a name??? hahaha

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It's just like being in love for the first time! :D

Yes, it is as a matter of fact! I think with this bike I've done a ton of research, asked many questions, thought long and hard about what I want/don't want, I even read that book called Every Woman's Guide to Cycling by Selene Yeager, which was recommended by my buddies here on TE! I purchased this bike with *intention* vs my current bike, which I purchased more spur of the moment after about 5 test rides. I went into this with knowledge.
I also forgot to mention a huge factor was cost. The Kona was $1575 and the Surly is $1025. My DH is "financing" this purchase but I've got to pay him back!

Congratulations!!! I can't wait to see pictures.

@Orange utopia, thanks. I'm looking up stuff already. Now how to figure out how to size a Brooks saddle???

I found a video which confirming what the bike shop guy said about removing the decals. Use duct tape or gorilla tape, press it over the decals (Surly does not use a clear coat over their decals), and pull off! Voila! No more decals.

So....who still has their Surly decals? Why or why not?

I can't wait to see pictures!

Can't wait to see the pics

Oh yes, there will be pictures. I see that VO sells colored derailleur cable housing in white. Now I'd have to find white brake cable housing.

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Originally Posted by Velocivixen

I found a video which confirming what the bike shop guy said about removing the decals. Use duct tape or gorilla tape, press it over the decals (Surly does not use a clear coat over their decals), and pull off! Voila! No more decals.

So....who still has their Surly decals? Why or why not?

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Congratulations!

Oh, I'm so excited for you! :p:p:p:p:p:p

I'm really pleased that you found a shop which didn't cut the steerer tube. I love having my (new) fork with just enough extra length in the steerer to make it really great for commuting. I can see over cars, and I hope you can, too! My stem is placed so that there are still 2 spacers above it - so I can move the stem up another cm if I feel the need. Not sure I'll need to, but I don't think I'll get the tube cut. It doesn't look bad.

I did not know you could remove the decals. Thank you for the info! I might try removing the "FFF" decal from my chain stay. If that works well, I might take off the "Cross x Check." I might even take off the "Surly" from the downtube. I'd leave the "Surly" on the fork, though. I quite like that. And the head badge.

There is a woman who makes sterling silver and enamel headbadges. She does a Surly, let me see if I can find it...

ETA: Ah-HA!!! HERE IT IS! http://www.headbadges.com/catalog/i5.html
She makes people-jewelry as well as bike-jewelry. I have one of her chainring necklaces. It's great!

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Originally Posted by Velocivixen

Oh yes, there will be pictures. I see that VO sells colored derailleur cable housing in white. Now I'd have to find white brake cable housing.

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I guess I'm dense, I thought they were the same cables and housing whether used for brakes or for derailleurs.

I can't WAIT to see it!! Congrats!!!! You will post pics when you get it in, right?
My LBS has a cross check that the owner built up for himself, but doesn't have enough time to ride it. It's robin's egg blue and all decked out as a commuter. Gorgeous!! I'm so excited for you!!!!

Now you'll be addicted. It's why I have two instead of one!

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Originally Posted by Velocivixen

I found a video which confirming what the bike shop guy said about removing the decals. Use duct tape or gorilla tape, press it over the decals (Surly does not use a clear coat over their decals), and pull off! Voila! No more decals.

So....who still has their Surly decals? Why or why not?

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I like my Surly decals on my LHT, I kept them :)

The non-Jamis decals on my mountain bike are going away though. These are the ones that say "Made in China", "Read the manual to prevent certain death" (paraphrase there). Surly doesn't put all of those extra decals on the bike, at least not the LHT.

Congratulations on your new steed, and looking forward to seeing the pictures!

Oh congratulations! a friend of mine test rode one of these bikes (with me watching) it is one GREAT looking bike

PHOTOS !!!

@Knottedyet, yes on the Surly website under "blog" if you look to the right at the bottom it will say "Removing and applying decals on our frames" and will explain why they don't clear coat. They suggest using a credit card or a plastic spoon to "flake the decals off", then using adhesive remover to remove any remaining adhesive. I might just try to soften them with a hair dryer then use something called a fingernail to gently pull it off.

So Citybikes celebrated it's 21st anniversary with a block party (still happening right now). I went in and added things to the order: white cable housing which will cost about $10 or so. Also a stainless silver seatpost clamp which surly lists under build specs, but shows as black on the bike. I test rode a bike with a Brooks B17 seat which felt relatively fine (I know there are many long posts on her which I plan to read). I also looked at VO metal fenders, Carradice seat bags and bells which fit on the steer tube spacers.

I pick up the bike after the 17th, so I'll have time to think about things. One thing is that if I buy a different seat the day I pick up the bike I'll get an $18 credit toward something else (maybe I'd use it for a Brooks).

Velocivixen~Sounds like it is going to be beautiful! I, like everyone else, can't wait to see the pictures of this lovely new steed of yours!

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

I guess I'm dense, I thought they were the same cables and housing whether used for brakes or for derailleurs.

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That was true once upon a time (before indexed shifting) ...

Velocivixen, congratulations! Your new bike sounds wonderful and I can't wait to see photos either.

Congrats on your new bike! There's nothing better than being excited about a new bike and all the fun things you can do to it/with it/on it!

I'm not sure what you mean by "sizing a Brooks"? Do you mean selecting which model you want?

Also, be careful of leaving your steerer tube too long. I don't know what the vertical rise is that you're riding with, but if you ever get into an accident that pitches you forward, the steerer tube is in exactly the right spot to punch a hole through your chest. That's typically why shops like to cut them down ASAP.

Congratulations on the new bike! I'll join the choir hoping to see pictures soon.

The VO hammered metal fenders are gorgeous, but I will make a plug for SKS plastic fenders (they also have them in silver) because they are more rugged than aluminum ones. If you will be locking the bike outside, it will get knocked against the post. A long, long time ago, I had a bike with aluminum fenders and those got plenty of dings. Drove me crazy.

@blue Angel, regarding "sizing" some saddles, for example, Bontrager market seats in different widths. I suppose they want you to have your ischeal tuberosity measurements (sits bones) and buy a saddle in the correct "size". Based on my riding position, etc a Brooks B 17 is the best candidate. Thanks for the info on the steer tube too. I know I'll have a learning curve and as I get more confident and perhaps comfortable I might have them cut it down some.

@pll, I love my SKS chromoplastic fenders on my current bike. They onlymcome in silver with thin black racing stripes though, but I'm actually leaning away from metal. SKS makes Longboard fenders in beige, but I take my bike on the light rail trains and often hang it up, so super long fenders in the rear may end up getting squished when I flip my bike up to hang the front wheel on the hook. So before I buy fenders, I'm taking the new bike on the train to see what's what. My SKS fenders have been squished on the train and still are perfect!

Planet Bike and Zefal have some plastic silver fenders, too:
Planet Bike Cascadia Hybrid - http://ecom1.planetbike.com/7056.html
Zefal Para gon - http://www.zefal.com/zefal/produit.php?key=220

Love my Planet Bike fenders, added Buddy Flaps. They are really really REALLY fabulous in the rainy PNW, and look great on my Cross Check.
www.buddyflaps.com

I have these: http://www.buddyflaps.com/mudflapgirl.htm My bike enjoys the sarcasm (and even the touch of irony)... ;)

Used a punch to poke a hole into the "mini flaps" on my fenders, and attached the Buddy Flaps to them. (from underneath, so the mini-flaps end up overlapping the Buddy Flaps)

@pll, I really like the looks of the Zefal, but not sure they'd fit 700x32c tires. Not sure also where to buy them in Portland. I'll do some research on that.

Planet Bike fenders seem to be popular too.

@knottedyet, those mudflaps with the lady on them are a trip! very funny.

Hopefully it will stay dry for awhile so I can think about fenders some more.

I want my bike NOW!

SKS also makes Longboard fenders in silver, according to Amazon, at least!

Congrats! I sometimes feel like a broken record since all I do is rave about how much I love my Cross Check. I hope you love yours as much.

I have the stickers on mine and will keep them on. I will definitely keep the Cross Check one since my friend at the bike shop blacked out part of the 'e' in check so it is now a Cross Chick. I wouldn't be against taking off the 'fatties fit fine' someday though.

Just to echo, pictures!

@Atlas, yes well it's good to hear about all Cross Check and Surly love on this forum. I fretted so much about it being a 9 speed, and having to learn bar end shifters, and it not having Shimano 105, etc. Honestly, though, and I'm not sure why, I felt the shifting on the CC was tighter, smoother, something...I'm not sure what vs the Kona that I rode that had Shimano STI shifters with 105 everything and an Ultegra rear derailleur. I really like the CC, especially now that I've test ridden it with the risers higher up on the steer tube.
Is your steer tube cut down? I imagine that as I ride it and time will tell, I may want them to either cut down the steer tube a bit or something. I have decided not to remove any stickers right away. I'll be too busy practicing how to ride on a drop bar bike and shifting gears to be fussing with sticker removal! I want to get some miles and practice in before the rain comes.
Do you have the original saddle that comes with it? It's a WTB SST and they've gotten decent reviews, although I realize that saddles are highly individual. What have you done to yours regarding accessories or changes? Do you ride it in hilly areas? I'm wondering if I'll still be able to get up the hills I do on occasion around here. I'll be losing some of my lower gears as compared to my current bike, but I don't use them anyway, so it doesn't matter.

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Originally Posted by Velocivixen

I'm wondering if I'll still be able to get up the hills I do on occasion around here. I'll be losing some of my lower gears as compared to my current bike, but I don't use them anyway, so it doesn't matter.

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If you need lower gears you can add a 3rd chainring. There are bolt-holes on the spider that will accept a 3rd. Cost me $19 to add a granny up front.

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Originally Posted by Velocivixen

Is your steer tube cut down? I imagine that as I ride it and time will tell, I may want them to either cut down the steer tube a bit or something. I have decided not to remove any stickers right away. I'll be too busy practicing how to ride on a drop bar bike and shifting gears to be fussing with sticker removal! I want to get some miles and practice in before the rain comes.
Do you have the original saddle that comes with it? It's a WTB SST and they've gotten decent reviews, although I realize that saddles are highly individual. What have you done to yours regarding accessories or changes? Do you ride it in hilly areas? I'm wondering if I'll still be able to get up the hills I do on occasion around here. I'll be losing some of my lower gears as compared to my current bike, but I don't use them anyway, so it doesn't matter.

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I have not cut my steer tube. I've played around with moving it so much and know I'll probably move it again so it's still got lots of spacers on it. Luckily I have my bars high enough that there isn't a lot of excess tube at the top.

I had the original saddle far too long. It was wretched. I'm still trying to find the perfect saddle, but it definitely wasn't the original one. My bike is still pretty stock other than visual additions. I might swap the bars in the future to ones with a more shallow reach. There are a few hills around here but nothing crazy that I haven't been able to climb. However, I am going to add a third chainring when we go on tour this fall.

@KnottedYet, did you also have to get a wider bottom bracket something or another? I think it's cool that it's designed to add another if needed.

@Atlas, good luck on your saddle search. I've decided to just keep the saddle it comes with vs trading it in right away for a Brooks or whatever, and see how it goes.

I will say, on a slightly different topic, that I have a Cateye Strada wireless computer for my current bike and I just ordered the parts kit for it (sensor, magnet, mounting hardware), so I can use the computer on the new bike. I also found bike shop in town that sells the handlebar mount only for my Niterider MiNewt 250 cordless headlight! This is amazing because NO bike shop around sells just the mount and NiteRider wanted to charge me $11.99 for ground shipping on a $15 part. I totally scored.

No...what to name her? I should have a contest, once I actually receive her, and post her photos and let you all help me with a name. hahaha

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Originally Posted by Velocivixen

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No...what to name her? I should have a contest, once I actually receive her, and post her photos and let you all help me with a name. hahaha

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Give her a chance and she will tell you her name :)

@Catrin, I totally agree. When I least expect it the name will come to me. I went to college with a woman named Margo Falcon, which is a very strong, yet sexy name in my opinion. Hmmm

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Originally Posted by Velocivixen

@KnottedYet, did you also have to get a wider bottom bracket something or another? I think it's cool that it's designed to add another if needed.

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Nope. Just bought the chainring ($19) and the shop slapped it on free of charge. Took 'em just a couple minutes.

@Knotted, I'll definitely ask about it when I pick up my bike. Good to know. I don't do too many hills and when I do on my Trek, the lowest I typically go is 2 in the front and 1 in the back. I think I've used the smallest ring in the front one time in 10 months. It's just too exhausting for me to pedal that fast and not get anywhere fast.