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

[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.

[KnottedYet]

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.

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.

[Atlas]

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.

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.

[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.

@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