Opinions on the Surly Cross Check?

[HillCycle]

Hello, I’ve decided to upgrade from my current bike, an entry level hybrid to something a little faster. I’d keep the old bike for commuting and use the new bike for longer/faster rides. I’ve been primarily focused on a Trek 1 or 2, Giant Defy Series, etc. but am starting to get interested in the Surly Cross Check.

Can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks!

Topic

[CCrew]

Good bike, hard to go wrong with it.. Cross bikes also make awesome commuters BTW.

[RideTheWomble]

Tough as nails, you can put almost any tire on it, it has eyelets for all the racks and fenders you need, etc. It’s a great bike. It’s a good value, too.

[skreaminquadz]

I’ve had my CC for about 2 years and have really enjoyed it. It makes a great commuter, as CCrew mentioned, and good touring bike. It’s a bit on the heavy side but I’m not worried about it on this bike. It’s a very smooth ride and I really like the flexibility to mount just about any width tire on it that I can get my hands on. Two thumbs up from me!

[Brock]

I’ve got their (very similar) touring bike, the Long Haul Trucker, and love it. My only complaint is the bar-end shifters that both models come with standard. I occasionally bump into them with my knees when mounting/dismounting at stop lights, or bump them into things when leaning the bike against a rack to lock up. I think I’m going to stick with regular shifters in the future, but other than that, big fan.

[DaveK]

@Brock 3667 wrote:

I’ve got their (very similar) touring bike, the Long Haul Trucker, and love it. My only complaint is the bar-end shifters that both models come with standard. I occasionally bump into them with my knees when mounting/dismounting at stop lights, or bump them into things when leaning the bike against a rack to lock up. I think I’m going to stick with regular shifters in the future, but other than that, big fan.

That’s why my CC is under the knife right now getting new integrated shifters. If I ever finish it (sorry honey, I’ll give the living room back soon).

The CC is a Swiss Army knife of bikes, you can do anything with it. It’ll be faster than your entry-level hybrid but every time I get on my road bike from the CC I feel like I’ve strapped on rocket boosters. I look at it as improving my climbing skills. If you are looking for something to go on longer, faster rides I would keep looking at road bikes unless “longer and faster” includes places like the C&O towpath. You’ll be happier on the road with a road bike.

[eminva]

All good advice, and make sure you have the sales staff in the bike shop check the fit and go for a test ride on all the finalists.

You might also seek the advice of the sales staff — when I bought my last bike, I made a list of what I needed the bike for. I’d give that to the salesperson as well as my budget. I never specified what type of bike I was looking for. Various shops had me try everything from townie type bikes to touring bikes to road bikes. It helped the decision making process, made me consider some things I hadn’t thought of and was fun to boot.

Good luck.

Liz

[HillCycle]

This is great. Thanks for the advice everyone. @Brock, I was concerned about the shifters as well. I was thinking about upgrading from the standard Tiagra to potentially 105s.

[Dirt]

I’ll add to the chorus here. In general, Surly makes some quite amazing bikes at reasonable prices. They are not fancy. They are not light. They will likely survive the apocalypse. (Please don’t let the world ending this Saturday night diminish my love of all things Surly.) I’ve owned 7 Surlys over the years, including a cross check. I love them.

[DaveK]

@Dirt 3706 wrote:

(Please don’t let the world ending this Saturday night diminish my love of all things Surly.)

In heaven there will be Cross Checks. Satan rides carbon.

[Dirt]

@DaveK 3708 wrote:

In heaven there will be Cross Checks. Satan rides carbon.

Hahaha…. I guess that has me firmly planted in limbo. I love steel, ti, aluminum, scandium, carbon and bamboo. I’ve ridden and enjoyed them all. I currently own each except for bamboo. I need to fix that.

[OneEighth]

You realize that acquiring a bamboo bike puts you at risk for endless panda-inflicted purgatory beginning very early on Sunday…

[DaveK]

@Dirt 3709 wrote:

Hahaha…. I guess that has me firmly planted in limbo. I love steel, ti, aluminum, scandium, carbon and bamboo. I’ve ridden and enjoyed them all. I currently own each except for bamboo. I need to fix that.

There’s plenty of carbon in my house, but I’m just saying, if the Devil took one less car to his fiddle duel he’d show up on a carbon bike.

[Mark Blacknell]

@OneEighth 3710 wrote:

You realize that acquiring a bamboo bike puts you at risk for endless panda-inflicted purgatory beginning very early on Sunday…

That and a splinter in the @ss . . .

~

If anyone reading this would like to sell me a 58cm Traveler’s Check for cheap . . .

[JimF22003]

@DaveK 3711 wrote:

There’s plenty of carbon in my house, but I’m just saying, if the Devil took one less car to his fiddle duel he’d show up on a carbon bike.

Hmm, he’d probably be playing one of these carbon fiber violins: http://www.luisandclark.com/shop/violin/
[IMG]http://www.luisandclark.com/shop/images/17[/IMG]

[brendan]

@Mark Blacknell 3714 wrote:

If anyone reading this would like to sell me a 58cm Traveler’s Check for cheap . . .

…for cheap! ha!

They are oh so pretty. And oh so versatile…

Brendan

[Author]

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