Jordan's Bike Blog

 A few years ago I found a Surly CrossCheck on for sale on Pinkbike in Calgary, Alberta. The bike itself was nothing to write home about - a hacked 1x9 drivetrain using Shimano Sora brifters, alongside a slough of other stock parts. Having spent the past few years slowing building up a Surly Karate Monkey, I was aware of the potential for Surly bikes to take on many different lives. They are easy to work with, so I was quick to find a way to get this bike to Edmonton.  CrossCheck in its original state The build itself was slow, but I was excited about the platform the CrossCheck offered. Defined as a "lazy cross" bike, I felt it would provide good platform for urban riding, paved and gravel paths, and the odd gravel ride outside the Edmonton city limits. There are already a wealth of resources online praising the CrossChecks versatility, so I will use this space merely as a place to summarize and profile my current build, highlighting some of the key considerations.  Fina...

Hello, and welcome to my blog.  I will use this space to summarize some of my exploits in cycling. Be it mountain biking, bike building, or racing. Over the past few years I have spent more time thinking about bikes, tinkering with bikes, and riding bikes. These experiences have brought me all over the internet, scouring for information about cross-compatibility, frame specifications, and tips and "hacks" in the field of cycling.  So, I thought it would be useful to summarize these findings and contribute to the collective knowledge available on the internet. Perhaps someone might be trying to find the same solution, and will find this information useful. Please be kind and enjoy! Conglomerate Cliffs, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park