Surly 2001 Cross-Check Older Cyclocross Bike

Average Rating: 4.47/5
MSRP: $ 389.00
# of Reviews: 17

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Product Description

Tubing: 100% Surly 4130 Cro-moly steel. Double-butted main triangle. TIG welded.

Rear Dropouts: Long horizontal dropouts with adjusters feature single-speed compatibility, wheelbase adjustability and our exclusive Gnot-rite™ 132.5mm spacing to easily fit 130mm road or 135mm MTB hubs.

Tire Clearance: Proprietary FFF™ (Fatties Fit Fine) chainstays and our custom fork give room for tires up to 700x45c with mud and fender clearance left over.

Chainring Clearance: Though we haven't yet tried a '56', we manipulated the chainstays heavily so you can fit whatever size rings you want.

Weight w/ fork (56cm): 6.59 lbs

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Reviews 1 - 5 (17 Reviews Total)

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User Reviews

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by wohlin a Commuter from

Date Reviewed: August 27, 2004

Strengths:    Ride, looks, quality, you name it.

Weaknesses:    The weight of the fork is to high. Consider replace it if you are to race.

Bottom Line:

Real Steel Feeling! Retro looks and superb handling.

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Bike Setup: Campagnolo Veloce 9-Speed.

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by jh_on_the_cape a Commuter from

Date Reviewed: July 26, 2004

Strengths:    Nice geo. Tons of features. Cheap!

Weaknesses:    heavy.

Bottom Line:

Cheap and good. not too heavy. way better than I thought it would be. I thought I would get this to tide me over until I saved up for a fancier frame. I just don't see the need anymore, and I am a total bike snob. Yes, an IF or Seven might ride a little nicer, but at what cost??? an extra $1000! A great value frame loaded with features like the headtube extension that make this a great ride. Save your money and set it up with nice parts. The frame is a pound or so heavier, but I dropped a pound off the bike for way cheaper than $1k by using some carbon parts and taking a dump.

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Similar Products Used: Bianchi cross project.

Bike Setup: ultegra with profile-design carbon stuff.

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Value Rating:

Submitted by a Road Racer from Knoxville, Tennessee

Date Reviewed: October 15, 2003

Strengths:    Price and versatility. You won't break the bank, and you end up with a bike that will handle almost any type of ride.

Weaknesses:    Weight, but at this price point, who cares.

Bottom Line:

This is the perfect bike for its intended purpose: a jack-of-all-trades, no-nonsense ride with a sense of style. I bought it to be a rainy day/winter/occasional commuter bike so I can save my nice bike for pretty days, races, and group rides. The Surly is built up with a mix of leftover parts from my garage, so the price was right. The ride is nice and smooth, it handles well, and its comfortable.

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Favorite Ride:   Today's

Price Paid:    $360.00

Purchased At:   Bike Zoo

Similar Products Used:   No other cross bikes. Litespeed mountain bike, Seven road bike.

Bike Setup:   Frankenbike. Dura Ace cranks. 105 brake levers (right is STI). Kelly Take-Off left shifter. Avid brakes. Campy seatpost and front hub. 105 rear hub. Old Vetta seat. No name bars from my wife's Bianchi. Ritchie pedals. Mavic Reflex rims, Michelin 32c city tires.

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Submitted by shane a Recreational Rider from

Date Reviewed: August 14, 2003

Strengths:    Price. Laid back geometry. Handles great in technical terrain, take it anywhere you'd take a mountain bike.

Weaknesses:    It's really quite heavy, for a low-end cross bike it's not bad, but when you start getting into the larger sizes like mine, which is a 56cm, it's a tank.

Bottom Line:

Not a bad bike. It's got an attitude, whic is nice. The feel of steel is great, especially if you race west coast cross. Replaced an aluminum fram and fork which really beats you up on single-track or rough roads. Can't beat the price.

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Favorite Ride:   Rist Canyon

Price Paid:    $389.00

Purchased At:   The Downtube

Similar Products Used:   Redline Conquest XL

Bike Setup:   Frankenbike!
A bunch of 105, an 8 year old DX front deraileur, egg beaters, salsa, Michelin Sprints.

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Submitted by KestrelDave a Recreational Rider from Santa Rosa

Date Reviewed: June 25, 2003

Strengths:    Great value.
Bomb proof.

Weaknesses:    Spokes in the rear wheel were constantly loosening. Applied blue Loc Tite and seems to have solved the problem.

Bottom Line:

Surly executed the perfect all around bike. I used the bike for commuting, and long, fun (non-leisure) rides. Comfortable ride. The geometry/handling is laid back. Bike seems bomb proof. The eyelets for racks and fenders are great. Bike handles well even when load with groceries or clothes for work. Paid $850 (including shipping) on eBay--bike had at most 200 miles on it. Price came to $1100 after I swapped a few parts, purchased a set of slicks, light and rack. Bike is kinda heavy. After riding the Surly, I'm reminded of how wonderful my Kestrel 200 EMS is. But that is not to say that the Surly is a bad ride--it's a great ride for what it is.