Beginning to build

My attempts to build up the Surly Travers Check on a budget have led me to scrounging through the bins of components left over from other projects, parts taken in trade,  various craigslist impulse  buys, and eying the other bikes in my stable with cannibalistic intentions . 
In looking at the hodgepodge of parts, a vision of the build begins to form.   This Travelers Check is a unique and rare frame (now out of production), easily packable into a suitcase for hassle free air travel thanks to the S&S couplers; and with 132.5mm spaced horrizontal rear dropouts, it has the ability to be built as a singlespeed or geared; with road or mountain hubs.  Equally at home happy road riding on narrow slicks or tearing up muddly trails, Fatties Fit Fine. This particular dark blue Travelers Check will serve as the foundation of a mini-29er of sorts, a MonsterCross bike, with the largest tires possible crammed  into the frame and fork.  The bike will need to serve duty as reliable transportation for commuting,   conquering the muddy rooted local singletrack, weekend bike packing missions, the occasional cyclocross race next fall, and extended backcountry touring in Iceland and Spain come July.  beginning stages of the build: Shimano Triple will turn a vintage XTR titanium 8 speed cassette.   XTR brakes for low weight,  reliability,  and maximum stopping power. Titanium railed Saddle to mellow harsh vibes.  Silver Thomson Elite for strengh and style to color match the S&S Couplers.  Stay tuned for dynamo hub wheel build.

Missing the Sun

My special lady is down in New Mexico waiting out the dark frigid weeks of mid-December, filling her days with sunshine, spicy food, lazy bike rides in the Gila Wilderness, and quality time with family and friends.

Along with the requisite 5 pounds of green chilli and fresh made tamales, she will be returning to Alaska with a lovely dark blue 43 cm Surly Traveler's Check frameset. The venerable Cross Check frame with the addition of S and S couplers allowing easy air travel sans oversize luggage fees. 

Surly Travelers Check Bicycle Frame with S and ... - S and S Machine

This will serve as great winter build project to piece together a trusty steed for commuting, fall cyclocross races, light bike-packing, and bike touring.  First tentative trip will be through France, Spain, and possibly Portugal as time allows  with a route focused on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.