Complete

I've always loved bicycles. I don't know what it is about them... It's like my fixation with legos as a child was morphed into an adult fixation of velocipedes. I've had some of the best, and worst, times of my life while saddle-bound. The best always involved beautiful trails, good people, and an inner need to go head-to-head with gravity. The worst involved being thrown over the handlebars and fracturing my left collarbone. Regardless of the outcome, I will forever be infatuated with two-wheelers.

For a very, very long time it has been a goal of mine to build a bicycle. To pick a frame. To hunt down each and every component. To be picky. To be patient. To devise a color scheme and stick to it. To build my bike. My goal has come to fruition.

A year ago I purchased a Surly Cross-Check frame from a local bike shop in Seattle. Surly is a company based in Minnesota that produces some of the most wonderful bicycles on the market. Each feature is carefully planned and has years of testing to back up its inclusion. I chose the Cross-Check because of its reputation, its simplicity, and its versatility.

The next step of the process was deciding exactly what purpose this pony would serve. When I thought of all of the possible options I finally settled on "commuter". Having been recently accepted into graduate school, why not build a bike I would ride nearly every day. And, while I'm at it, let's make it a single speed.

Since making those key decisions, it's been a process. I've added parts, changed parts, broken parts, and finally, settled on parts. Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington have contributed through local pedal houses and open roads.

Without further adieu...







Here's to projects and the joy they bring.

Riley