Opinions on the Surly Cross Check?

[KelOnWheels]

@Certifried 21509 wrote:

Was it bamboo?

Don’t think so. I didn’t see any guard pandas.

[Dirt]

I really like the new Disc Trucker. Disc brakes are pretty nice to have on a bike that can carry lots of stuff.

I will also put in a vote for how wonderful my Surly Troll is. It is designed as a 26″-wheeled MTB touring bike and is based on the 1×1 geometry. They added special dropouts with fittings and braze-ons for racks, fenders and Surly’s trailer. Mine is built up with 700c wheels, 40mm tires and full fenders. It rides like a dream.

[creadinger]

I think I’m coming to realize that my 61cm Fuji cross bike is too small for me. A few miles on it and I have significant left knee pain, whereas after riding my custom touring bike for 100 miles my joints still feel like I’m riding a cloud. The seat is already jacked WAY up and I just moved it back a smidge yesterday. The knee still hurt a bit this morning. I’m not sure how much higher the seat post can safely go.

I saw that for standard size offerings the Surly LHT is the only one that comes with a 64cm option. Are there any tall people that can recommend it? While I realize that Surly’s are highly regarded, this bike would mostly be used for commuting and relatively short trips (<20 miles) around the area.

Also, I’d likely just get the frame and have my LBS transfer at least some of my components from my Fuji for me. I’m assuming they won’t have a 64cm frame in stock so how would I do a test ride on something that I’m not 100% sure will solve my problem?

[creadinger]

Posting again so this thread moves back up to the top and that maybe will someone will pay attention to my post directly above….

Today was a perfect example of why I think I may need bike. One that fits me. After two tough days commuting on my Fuji, my left knee hurt quite a bit. It’s a hilly commute with lots of stoplights and stop signs, so there’s a lot of opportunity for hurting knees. Anyway, I had today off and had planned a 120mile route, but because of my knee I thought about cutting it short. The Knee didn’t feel great as I started out, but once I got going on the W&OD past Vienna I felt better and better. By the time I got to Purcellville I felt great. Good enough to tackle those hills over by Taylorstown and Stumptown for the first time. It was just amazing to feel that riding a good bike made my knee feel actually better than not riding at all! It was a great feeling.

[Jason]

Back to the Cross Check. Whats with the Bar End Shifters?!?!?! I know tourers like them because they need less adjustment, but seriously, I would love that bike if it wasnt for those.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Jason 27152 wrote:

Back to the Cross Check. Whats with the Bar End Shifters?!?!?! I know tourers like them because they need less adjustment, but seriously, I would love that bike if it wasnt for those.

I like the bar end shifters, but I don’t like how the cables of Surley’s shifters route outside of the bars instead of through the bars like most. It seems like you’d snag the cables whenever you moved your hands along the drops.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Jason 27152 wrote:

Back to the Cross Check. Whats with the Bar End Shifters?!?!?! I know tourers like them because they need less adjustment, but seriously, I would love that bike if it wasnt for those.

Reason numero uno I didn’t go with a CrossCheck. Went with a Bianchi Volpe instead. The Bianchi came with STI shifters and was the same price as a CC with barcons, so I don’t think it’s a cost-cutting issue…and I certainly can’t imagine that brifters would be preferable in cyclocross racing (even if the CC is only nominally a CX bike), so I’m also a bit mystified by Surly’s choice (putting barcons on an LHT makes sense though). But CCs are extremely popular, so I guess there’s not much reason for them to change it.

[DismalScientist]

@ShawnoftheDread 27157 wrote:

I like the bar end shifters, but I don’t like how the cables of Surley’s shifters route outside of the bars instead of through the bars like most. It seems like you’d snag the cables whenever you moved your hands along the drops.

It looks to me that Surly has standard cable routing for bar ends. You can adjust the amount of the housing that is under the tape. I’ve never had problems with snagging my hands, but I generally don’t use the drops when riding.

Tourers prefer bar-ends for the mechanical simplicity, not difference in the need to make adjustments. Bar ends do, however, require moving hands more to shift than do brifters. Also, they are cheaper. It’s all a matter of preference.

[DaveK]

@TwoWheelsDC 27172 wrote:

Reason numero uno I didn’t go with a CrossCheck. Went with a Bianchi Volpe instead. The Bianchi came with STI shifters and was the same price as a CC with barcons, so I don’t think it’s a cost-cutting issue…and I certainly can’t imagine that brifters would be preferable in cyclocross racing (even if the CC is only nominally a CX bike), so I’m also a bit mystified by Surly’s choice (putting barcons on an LHT makes sense though). But CCs are extremely popular, so I guess there’s not much reason for them to change it.

I can’t remember if I replied earlier in this thread but I put STI levers on my old Cross Check. If it weren’t that the geometry of that frame just didn’t fit me well, I’d still have it. I have a CAADX now which fits much better but doesn’t ride nearly as smooth as the CC. I also don’t get the approving comments from coworkers and friends on the CAAD like I did with the CC. Actually, after I sold the CC I got a lot of “where’s the green bike? I liked that one” from people in the office.

[Jason]

I have a feeling that most people who ride a CC or LHT dont actually do any “touring” but instead ride around their town for the most part. As a result, I feel 90% of the CC and LHT owners would be better served by the brifters anyway.

[mstone]

@Jason 27719 wrote:

I have a feeling that most people who ride a CC or LHT dont actually do any “touring” but instead ride around their town for the most part. As a result, I feel 90% of the CC and LHT owners would be better served by the brifters anyway.

So would 99% of tourers; unless you’re touring internationally in third world countries, it’s pretty hard to screw up an sti to the point that you can’t limp to a place that visa and mastercard can’t bail you out. It’s more a matter of custom than necessity.

[OneEighth]

My Surly Steamroller never gives me any gear-related problems.

[jopamora]

@Jason 27152 wrote:

Back to the Cross Check. Whats with the Bar End Shifters?!?!?! I know tourers like them because they need less adjustment, but seriously, I would love that bike if it wasnt for those.

I ended up with the Motobecane CXX because of cost, not crazily located shifters.

[dbb]

@OneEighth 27726 wrote:

My Surly Steamroller never gives me any gear-related problems.

No gloating, thank you.

[OneEighth]

@dbb 27733 wrote:

No gloating, thank you.

Don’t worry—a very nice guy with a couple of years (?) and definitely a couple of gears on me (not to mention the lovely disk rear wheel and the aerobars) took my lunch money this morning at Hains.
It was fun.

[Author]

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