Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

Get one, they're awesome. I love mine!

If you're going to have a dedicated SSCX, does going for something a bit more roadie not make sense for a new bike?

Track bike for summer, SSCX for occasional canal-path jaunts (or are you planning on racing?) then road bike with mudguards for fast/long and winter (imagine it's quite easy to pop your rack on/off)...

Decent group sets on functional commuters usually ends up being quite expensive too... although I suppose it depends how bothered you are about the weight...

That coming from someone who bought a Cross Check for the versatility and now after selling a whole bunch of stuff still has a porteur rack, 3 pairs of "CX" tyres (including a set of unused Knards) and a winter-fixed wheel (also unused) sat in a cupboard unlikely to see daylight for a long while...

buys a massive stem
gets bars with massive sweep back
watches haters hate

Despite Surly being a massive racist, their Cross Check are awesome bicycles.

I missed mine that's slammed with a steel positive rise 140mm stem and sweep back bar, hilariously fun to ride, even with Doc Marten.

I don't mean to sound like I dislike my Cross Check, I think I was trying to point out that there's a difference between a functional jack-of-all-trades bike (compromising bits from each discipline be it road, CX or touring) and a functional road bike where it's got a bit of extra clearance and maybe some rack mounts but is still essentially designed for road-riding and it's worth thinking about what functionality you need more than just trying to get cover every eventuality.

It's only another 12 months until your next cycletowork voucher after all...

hilariously fun to ride, even with Doc Marten.

Hah, almost posted that.

I've a Surly Nice front rack that's doing nothing, anyone want it for £55 posted?

@Hulsroy maybe

My old Cross check before it got stolen;

Broke my mudguard due to toe overlap, Marathon Plus work a treat.

^ ace mudguard hack.

Where can I get a compressionless brake cable kit for not silly money? Yokozuna and Jagwire Road Pro XL are sold out everywhere I can find. I need the cable outer to run all the way along the top tube and rear stay.

I am also in the same boat.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-performance-brake-and-gear-cable-set/

In the disc thread, somebody mentioned using compressionless BMX brake cable which is much, much cheaper than Yokozuna and Jagwire. Good if it does the job.

http://www.gussetbikes.com/products-information.php?id=CBGUWMP

Jagwire's £6 here

only the shifter cables are compressionless.

They look like they could do the trick, reviews aren't great though, have you used them?

Yep for last 4k miles but on a road bike with caliper brakes; work flawlessly

I read that about bmx cables too, I was looking at Odyssey (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/odyssey-linear-sls-slic-kable/rp-prod63260) but it would be £30 for the cables then I assume I'd need new inners to run them with levers (unless the spherical gyro end would work?) then gear cables on top.

thanks, I'll probably give them a try then. Cheaper and easier than dicking around with load of different separate parts.

My parts bin have more if you fuck up ..

Crazy money, cheap at Evans http://www.evanscycles.com/products/odyssey/linear-slic-kable-brake-cable-with-k-shield-housing-ec042515

Goodridge housing is compressionless too I think and available by the metre http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/goodridge-brake-cable-outer/rp-prod23407

What's the advantage of compressionless housing and how does it work? I've never used it.