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

[Catrin]

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 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!

[Biciclista]

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

PHOTOS !!!

[Velocivixen]

@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).

[KatzPajamas]

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!

[laura*]

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

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

[Bike Writer]

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

[blue_angel]

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.

[pll]

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.

[Velocivixen]

@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!

[pll]

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

[KnottedYet]

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)

[Velocivixen]

@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!

[pll]

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

[Atlas]

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!

[Velocivixen]

@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.