Old School Steel

So I have enough parts to build another bike.....except the frame...so I have been researching frames and several stand out Salsa,Soma,Gunnar, and Surly. I have been holding out in the hopes that Airborne introduces a steel frame but the itch to build is overtaking patience,

So I decided I will go with a Surly Cross Check...the ability to run 700x23-700x45 tires..the ability to set it up as a single speed..drop bar..flat bar..rack mounts..run a mountain or road crank and mountain or road hubs...and it is steel.

I had a few steel bikes in the past and one thing always stuck out in my younger mind of riding...they where all heavy. Enter the world of the weight weenie and the search for the lightest and greatest latest bling...fell for it hook line a sinker...nothing wrong with that as a dedicated racer a full zoot carbon rig is hard to beat.light..fast..responsive..eye candy heaven..same with the mountain bike world...as a friend often reminds me..."right tool for the job" to steal the words of John The Wrench.

As I have aged over the decades of riding I have found my riding style and desires have changed. I ride for fun...seldom worry about speed or distance..a lot of this I owe to my wife who recently picked up the itch to ride...being less than athletic she just loves to ride her bike...and I love to ride with her when she is on her bike...the bike in her words has opened up parts of the world around her she has never seen...she has lived her in the DFW area her entire life. Recently I introduced her to the Trinity Trail..she was like a giddy little girl riding her bike down the trail to the down town area..she saw Fort Worth from views she had never seen.

Another thing that stuck out to me about a steel frame...the ride..smooth..compliant..classic..so I will be getting this frame and building her up..another adventure at hand!