Surly 2001 Cross-Check

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Campagnolo Veloce 9-Speed.

Summary:
Real Steel Feeling! Retro looks and superb handling.

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

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

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
ultegra with profile-design carbon stuff.

Summary:
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.

Strengths:
Nice geo. Tons of features. Cheap!

Weaknesses:
heavy.

Similar Products Used:
Bianchi cross project.

Price Paid:  $360.00 at Bike Zoo

Favorite Ride:
Today's

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.

Summary:
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.

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.

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

Price Paid:  $389.00 at The Downtube

Favorite Ride:
Rist Canyon

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

Summary:
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.

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.

Similar Products Used:
Redline Conquest XL

Price Paid:  $1100.00 at eBay

Favorite Ride:
Skaggs Springs

Summary:
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.

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.