Cupcakes' Surly Cross Check

Good news (I think): I've been given the medical go-ahead to ride again, as long as it doesn't hurt too much. Shoulder surgery looms in the future but my Scotland tour seems to be back on.

This means I really do need to move very fast and get this bike finished over the next 48 hours, so I can go for a test ride over the weekend. There's only 8 days until I leave on a train for the highlands.

where will you be heading? I'd sincerely recommend going to Skye if it isn't on the agenda.

with the LHT's you cannot fit a an axle mounted strut like on a Wald or Soma/VO porteur rack.

I dont see why not?

http://www.pedalonline.com/images/library/Zoom/surly_fk7550_12_z.jpg

^ LHT forks are lugged ends, CC are not

You can bolt a Soma Rack to the LHT forks front-facing eyelet. Just pop the height-adjuster-fork-slotty bit with the fork-slotty bit pointing up.

I can pop mine on my GFs LHT tonight and take a picture if that's confusing...

where will you be heading? I'd sincerely recommend going to Skye if it isn't on the agenda.

Here's the route:

Voila. Skye is excellent I agree - had a grand time there a few years ago but just on foot/ in a car. I'd love to go back with the bikes some time.

Andytk yep sure a photo would be swell as I don't see how you can fit it otherwise

Andytk yep sure a photo would be swell as I don't see how you can fit it otherwise

I will try and get that sorted this evening (providing I do not fall into a pub, in which case it'll be Sunday). Here's a photo of someone else's LHT+VO Porteur for now... https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5221/5831022170_41ae563c01_b.jpg

just got back from the highlands/outer Hebrides. Skye is great and Mull is fantastic for a day trip (nice hill passes with switchbacks, puffins, golden eagles etc) as a return is only £14 and there are ferry's at the port every 2 hours as well as there being a fantastic camp-site 300m from the port and a great hostel in tobermory.

Feeling under the weather today, so to cheer myself up -- and to stop dithering -- I have just ordered all the necessary kit to make this bike 2x9 speed:

*Shimano DA downtube shifters
*11-32 cassette
*KMC chain
*Sora double front mech
*Deore long cage MTB rear mech

I also ordered a couple of stainless cages (I went for Blackburn Chicanes, just to be different) and a couple of these interesting things with a view to adding a third bottle cage mounting option:

just got back from the highlands/outer Hebrides. Skye is great and Mull is fantastic for a day trip (nice hill passes with switchbacks, puffins, golden eagles etc) as a return is only £14 and there are ferry's at the port every 2 hours as well as there being a fantastic camp-site 300m from the port and a great hostel in tobermory.

I completely agree - I've cycled and wild camped on Mull in the past and it was excellent.

I cut the steerer down this afternoon too. Also I've managed to collect the racks and other bits and bobs from work now. So by Tuesday/ Wednesday evening I should be finally ready to build.

I admit I'm cutting it a bit fine since we leave for the tour at 9pm on Friday evening :-/

Your drivetrain is almost identical to how I have it on my old Genesis beside the bar end shifter.

I'm planning on building up a crosscheck soon, once I've got my head around the sizing!
Hope your tour goes well.

Final bits just arrived at work so I will be building this evening. And I packed my panniers and saddle bag last night. Soooooooon....

Wife's gonna pick mine up from powdercoaters tomorrow, wheels should be done for Friday ( fingers crossed).I feel a Saturday of tdf on telly, westons and bike building.

Well I'm on here, I'll ask a stupid question, which position in the dropouts do you place the rear axle? Somewhere in the middle, or as far back as poss? Cheers in advance.

As far forward as I can while retaining tyre / mudguard clearance and making sure the skewer is fat enough into the dropouts to clamp safely.

Cheers. Can't wait to see your finished build. And have a great trip.

I guess all-black functional bikes are on trend today. Ah well...

I switched out the front wheel for something more robust, and added slick tyres (paselas) and mudguards after this shot was taken. Off to Scotland in less than 24 hours - let's see what breaks. :-)

Just watch out for the locals ;)

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Looking good cupcake. Got mine back from powdercoaters, fookin idiots coated about an inch of the inside of the seattube! Out with the file tonight, an old seatpost and a hammer.
Have a good trip.

Looking good.. should have mine built up in the next week or so..

whats the saddle? Charge spoon?

http://oi60.tinypic.com/2cz7ss2.jpg

Here we are all loaded up and ready to go !

Saddle is a spoon, yes. I'll replace with a ronin when I can tolerate the expense...

Looks great-hope you get some good weather-been a wee bit grim today but at least that takes the midges out the equation!

Looks great Rich. Very similar to the inspirational Cross Check. Have fun in Scotland!

having a meths bottle on the bottom is inspired!

looks awesome, just built up my own crosscheck, lovely bikes.