Cupcakes' Surly Cross Check

I'm not a huge fan of the tektro hoods.

I remember saying something about marmite on your thread!

I'm not a huge fan of the tektro hoods.

Really? Damn, I just ordered some of them :-(

having said that, they were fine on the Great Escape (coupled with padded gloves)

they're just made for smaller hands I guess.

Hmm, it was them or the cane creek, as they're being used with BB7 mountain.

Anyway... not my thread.

Although I will say, that I've just fitted a Hope headset and it feels really smooth.

I shall elaborate on pedals.

I am going with shimano SPD. I have just bought some giro terraduros for the full Prolly effect and have fitted spd cleats; also I have 2.5 spare sets of them in my parts bin.

Can someone chime in on decaleur racks? I have some un-answered questions.

1. Are they called decaleur racks or did I make that up.
   
2. I think the bike posted above has a nitto rack. Should I buy one of them or the much much cheaper one from SJS (as seen on Psee's Rychtarski)?
   

And also: people keep offering me stuff which is great and appreciated (albeit I didn't start the thread as a fishing trip). Since it's going that way can someone please offer me a 155mm Romin. Much obliged.

Hmm, it was them or the cane creek, as they're being used with BB7 mountain.

Anyway... not my thread.

Although I will say, that I've just fitted a Hope headset and it feels really smooth.

Hurrah, someone has finally mentioned Hope! I like the idea that they're made in the UK and I did my first ever proper long-distance road ride starting close to Barnoldswick. Worth the money do you think?

King Cages are just light, look great, hold up to lots of abuse, grip the bottle incredibly well and it just feels nice to hold something so well made in your hands.

I'm really excited for you - I really like the build concept. I can't stop looking at Oregon Outback builds. Interested to hear how you get on with the Giro's.

Hurrah, someone has finally mentioned Hope! I like the idea that they're made in the UK and I did my first ever proper long-distance road ride starting close to Barnoldswick. Worth the money do you think?

Hard to tell with a headset until you've been using it for a while, but the stainless bearings are supposed to be good quality and it's a popular Chris King alternative on a few mtb forums. The seals seem good and all the parts are available individually.

I bought top and bottom cups separately out of Hope's pick n mix as I was using a star nut instead of the head doctor expander bung. This worked out cheaper than buying the whole headset.

Finally, Hope use a split crown race for super easy fitting and removal. I'm a big fan of those.

A big part of what I like about my King cages is that they're steel so don't grind up into a black mess if my bottles are muddy/sandy/shitty etc.

There are other steel cages about and probably cheaper but Kings can be had for £15 and I liked the Isis design over a std cage so why not?

Edit: on the decaleur thing, as I understand it you can have just a decaleur or a rack with an integrated decaleur which I presume is what you're calling a decaleur rack?

King Cages are just light, look great, hold up to lots of abuse, grip the bottle incredibly well and it just feels nice to hold something so well made in your hands.

I'm really excited for you - I really like the build concept. I can't stop looking at Oregon Outback builds. Interested to hear how you get on with the Giro's.

I've ridden the giros for a day, but am impressed so far.

I actually got them because I was so keen on the fit of my giro road shoes (trans HV). Sadly buying the same size shoes in a MTB incarnation was a no-go; they were the best part of a centimetre shorter! Weird.

A big part of what I like about my King cages is that they're steel so don't grind up into a black mess if my bottles are muddy/sandy/shitty etc.

There are other steel cages about and probably cheaper but Kings can be had for £15 and I liked the Isis design over a std cage so why not?

Edit: on the decaleur thing, as I understand it you can have just a decaleur or a rack with an integrated decaleur which I presume is what you're calling a decaleur rack?

Rack-wise, I mean these: http://www.kinokocycles.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/400x300/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/n/i/nitto_m12_front_rack_thumb_.jpg

(Nitto M12)

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/images/products/medium/14021.jpg

(Something much cheaper from SJS)

King Cages are just light, look great, hold up to lots of abuse, grip the bottle incredibly well and it just feels nice to hold something so well made in your hands.

I'm really excited for you - I really like the build concept. I can't stop looking at Oregon Outback builds. Interested to hear how you get on with the Giro's.

Cheers, I'm super excited too. Part of the plan of this bike is that if I were to move away from London and could only keep one bike, it'd be this one. So versatile. But I want to avoid the bike-for-life cliches :-)

I'll trade you a go on this for a go on your ECR!

Yeah for sure! The ECR is so much fun, I really need to take it out - am hoping to on Sunday.

I've got Privateer's and am really impressed with them - I want some Giro road shoes when I can afford. Much, much nicer to wear than Sidi's.

Im super happy with the sjs rack and bigtop bag...would buy again.

I feel like posting a few more of the inspirations for this build. Try to ignore the disc brakes.

Spotter's Croix de Fer:

Skinny's Croix de Fer:

Mystery Surly Straggler (belongs to someone on here but I forget whom - sorry):

Lolo, I think?

Actually no, Lolo's is 650b and that looks like 700c.

How about JB's CdF? :-)

It's funny how they all have disc brakes. That's because they are far superior, Rich ;-)

ah yeah I forgot about yours (or should I say Ed's?).

I'm adamant that I willbe building this all myself, and doing all maintenance too. Discs are beyond my capability (road ones, anyway) - and beyond my financial means as well. And I am light so cantis are fine. And because I have a beard cantilevers are mandatory anyway, so whatever.

Was Ed's, then mine, now Ok123's! Yeah that's fair enough, on my Cannondale I am really appreciating how easy the brakes are to play with! I've no idea how to set up discs.

Totally missed out on your Cdf. Perfect size too.
Big fan of the front rack/panniers look. I imagine a slack-ish geometry is required for it to be balanced non?

I'm trusting that Surly have got it right after years and years of cross checks, we'll see next week though I guess.

Discs are beyond my capability

I've no idea how to set up discs.

It's not really that hard! As mr Scoble keeps saying in various CP threads, TRP spyres are good. I found them easy to set up and low maintenance. Plus they work really well.