I have a Karate Monkey and I’ve had a 1×1 and a crosscheck. I choose my bikes on merit not on brand or coolness.
Surly make great no nonsense bikes for riding. They are not flash, they are not race bikes they are bikes that last and represent good value for money.
I think some of what they do is lost in translation over here and particularly on STW. They are bikes that are made to be ridden without pretense.
As for the cross check I’d look at it more as a cross bike platform on which you can build a monster cross, tourer, Audax, SS/Fixed or even a 29er MTB. That is why they are liked. If you want an out and out Cross racer then a crosscheck is not for you.

A set of old XTR M960s with a home done Jones conversion are my SS cranks of choice.

I have a pair of the Timberland earth keepers, with a recycled sole. They are the best boots I have ever had.
Fairly pricey,but I have an older pair that I have had for over ten years, so really only £15 a year.

While it may not add value, I think it will make it more sellable.

Around here (Norfolk) most houses have log burners and those that don’t seem to stagnate on the market.

Allow me to add my two pence.

As a Father who often works away. I would go wuith the working away on the proviso that on those four days you are home you give yourself to your wife and bambino. That way you have a very happy balance.

Its also the known and you need that stability while you are in the early stages of family life.

fatladridesbikes – Member

Currently being stripped before selling the frame!

I’d be interested in the frame Simon. Drop me an email (address in profile).

Cheers

Not too close to Diss, but the Peddars Way from Swaffham to the coast is good. Get up to sunny hunny for an ice cream and then a nice ride back

I’m
191cm
6’3

Don’t waste your money on proofide, which is expensive for small quantities. Buy some saddle soap from a horse tack shop. Much cheaper and intended for maintaining much more expensive saddles. I use it on my Brooks saddles and on my leather sofa. £5 buys you a massive tub.
Then al you need is a cloth and a little bit of water and bob’s your uncle.

One of the greatest bands of all time and seemingly unappreciated now. Inspiration for so many other great bands.

I have one of these. Really very good for the money.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/iaMOutdoor-Lumen-Rechargeable-Waterproof-Torch/dp/B006RHB41Y/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1368088309&sr=8-19&keywords=lumens

I’ll get another for my helmet come the winter. Been running it on the lower setting most of the time, as the brightest was too bright even for this dark winter.

I go out at 5am on a Saturday or Sunday. Gives me a few hours in the dark first thing and allows me to do around 50km.

I can get back by about 10am and spend the day with the family.

Best of both worlds.

Sell them both.
Buy the Salsa and run it SS or with an Alfine 11. Boom!

+1 for Ferris Bueller

Cheers Ramsey, tht is what I hav been doing, but riding with the brakes on becomes a bit of a drag!!!

I have two pairs of the Northface. They are ace, really warm, but do start to smell after a bit (but I have put them through the washing machine a few times and they are fine).Get the hard soled ones if you can rather than the soft ones.

I picked up a brand new XTR OEM BB from an ebay shop the other day. Not as cheap as Rose, but arrived in two days.

Anyone else notice the letter is dated 3rd March 2009?

I’ll give you £15 for them.
As long as they are in working condition etc

Stuff the bike. Less blurry pictures of Mrs C please!

I bought a saint BB from Rose. The only minor draw back was delivery times, but for £13 all in, you will not hear me complain.

Surly forks 1×1 or Troll?

I run 33×17. Works out nice for most things, but I do live in Norfolk… Although I have ridden hills in Wales and the Peaks with it.

I have both a Crosscheck and a KM (Oh check me out).

I love them both. The Crosscheck has been built up in every guise going from Fixed gear town bike to Monster cross, but I do find it a bit long.
The KM is my first 29er and I have to say I love it. I could never go back to a 26″. I don’t pay much attention to geometry its all about what suits, I find it quick, a lot more nimble than my old 1×1 or infact any of my 26s. I was scepticle of the high front end, but actually love it (that maybe because I am getting old).

If I had to own just one of the two it would be the KM. Its versatile in terms of what you can kit it out with, disc, cantis, racks, geas, ss, Alfine…

Saab 93!

Just one of the many editorial issues I notice each month (I am such a geek).
I blame Chipps… :lol:

I love them, so easy to set up and maintain. Ok not as powerful as hydros, but they are just so easy to live with.

My constant mastubating

DoctorRad – Member
I have both On-One Marys and Jones / Titec J-bars. The hand position is very similar on both. If you don’t get on with Marys, I’d hazard that you won’t get on with J-/H-bars.

I’d have to disagree. I have Marys and Jones loops and old school cut H bars. Marys feel narrow and short, Jones give a much better hand position and greater off road control.

I would personally always go with a set of thumbies, but with loops you’ll have no shortage of space to put a poploc etc.

A set of old school shimano LX!

What is a fixie style frame?
Any frame with horizontal drop outs will work with a fixed wheel. What about a Surly 1×1?

£250-300ish. Depends. What have similar sold on ebay for lately.

Its a business transaction, you should just make an offer, at worse they can turn it down.

I’m always cheeky with my offers, but I work in sales and negotiate deals of all sizes. You shouldn’t worry about offending them.

In there like swim wear. Charlie and ssuk go hand in hand, bring it on.

munrobiker, what I failed to mention is that my nearest trails are Thetford.

Ok sounds like your standard sterile trail centre. It’ll serve my needs for a few days and the boys that I am with will enjoy it (as will I).

Yes Charlie, do it… I’m in. Will there be a T shirt to comemerate the weekend? Will there be a Clunker Classic element included?

I’m heart broken, I love SSUK. Its a proper git, but I understand it is a ball ache to arrange.

I would love to organise it if I had the time, I plan on doing it in the next few years in Thetford, once I have sorted all of the infrastructure and logistics with the different groups.

The email copied below

Bad news I’m afraid.

Thanks for your support and entry to the race, it means a lot to know people out there get what you’re trying to do. The postcard entries have been inventive, artistic and at times obscene; everything we hoped they would be.

And so it’s only fair you get this before the general mail out.

This week hasn’t been a good one.

First off the access track to Lee Quarry has sustained a lot of damage due to the amount of rain we’ve been getting all summer. We were hoping that either the track would be repaired in time or we’d be allowed to repair it. In it’s present condition I wouldn’t want to take my van up there, which means the upper car park area is out of bounds. This has the knock on effect of meaning we need security to cover the lower car park and with only one firm available for us to use would add £1000 to the race costs. This would be the largest single cost of the race.

Secondly I’ve just found out I’m being made redundant from my proper job, the one that pays the bills. This means I can’t afford to lose more than the money I’ve already put into the race so far.

I’m sure you can see where this is going.

At this point we’ve got three options.

1) Pay for security and plow on ahead.

2) Scale down the race, reduce entry fee and let people sort their own accomodation

3) Cancel SSUK2012

After a lot of soulsearching and taking advice from friends, we’ve had to choose 3

We wanted to organise a race where everyone camped, rode and raced together. Where everything happened in ashared space, we wanted it to feel inclusive. we wanted everyone to go away feeling good about the whole weekend. That was the original reason we moved the event from Gisburn where everything would have been spread out. That was the reason we invested time to organise the event.

We’re still a way off covering costs.
Paying an extra £1000 to park cars feels inherently wrong.
To reduce the race compromises what we set out to achieve.

To be fair to you guys we feel the only thing to do at this point is cancel.

But.

We’ve a weekend put aside to ride bikes and we fully intend to do so. If you’re committed to heading up/down still and want a weekend riding one speed bikes shout now.

Hebden and the best the South Pennines has to offer? http://www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/accommodation/index.html
(Unfortunately the bunkhouse is booked, we’ve already checked)

Everyone will be getting refunded tonight.

I’ve always used Surly hubs and White Industries freewheels, but as much as I love them, I think I would go with a set of Hope Pro 2 SS hubs (or similar) as it makes sprocket changing easier and means that you don’t have to replace bearings and service your freewheel every six months. Or just pick up a standard set of wheels and go with a colourful velo solo spacing kit and a surly sprocket.

When I worked in the trade the typical margin for the shop was around 30-35% on most things. When you put this next to say something like coffee that has a 90% margin, you’ll see that its by no means great and you’d question which is truely effected by the marketing hype.