Back in October of 2005 – the 31st to be exact, I still have the email – my unbeknownst-to-me new lifetime friend, Jason A. posted an ad on Craigslist to sell his brand new Surly Cross Check frame. I was short on cash but had been jonesing for one for years – he let me have it on payments and even let me take the frame before I’d made ’em all. He also met me and let me test ride his Surly (which was a different size) to help me figure out if the frame was the right size for me. His place in the halls of bike legend is cemented.
At long last, here it is. I have built it entirely myself – even the wheels – my first set. I’ve handpicked the components and cobbled them together (thanks nature for the hubs and rims) over the past 3 years – including some graphic design swap work for Mike at Revolution Cycles for the drivetrain – and finally got the whole thing together. I got to ride it today from the garage to the end of the gravel driveway and back in the dark and it’s already my new favourite bike. Of course tomorrow for the ride to work they’re calling for rain.
Component highlights (for the 3 bike geek readers I have) include: A complete Ultegra drivetrain including STI shifters, except for the Ritchey Double Crank; King headset, Specialized saddle, LX hubs, Alex Rims, and Kenda Small Block Eight Cross tires.
I’m going to go ride it again right now.