Surly Cross-Check

Price Paid:  $900.00 at B Heaven

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Nice Rough Roads?

Bike Setup:
Wheels, handlebars and a seat.


Oh, dont forget a chain and pedals, its faster that way.

Summary:
This is a great bike. It is so great I built another for a SS rider. It works great on and off road as well as all dayers and touring. Wow is all I can say. What a versatile bike.

Strengths:
Ride, comfort and fit.

Weaknesses:
Weight, although you dont really notice it.

Similar Products Used:
Old Trek 520

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Bicycle Pedaler

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
gravel roads

Summary:
Bought the Cross Check Complete through the LBS. I ride it mostly on gravel roads (I grew tired of close calls on the pavement with my road bike) and love the stable, supple, and stiff feel of the Surly steel. I could not be more happy with the frame. My LBS did a great job fitting me and I have found this bike to be more comfortable than my custom steel Serotta road bike. I am, however, not sure I'd go with the "Complete" again. I swapped out the seat (size-specific Spec. Avatar) and the stem (also for fit reasons) at delivery. After a couple of hundred miles I concluded that while I was not in love with the barcons, I could live with them. What I could not live with were the hand cramps that riding on the small (brake lever only) hoods gave me. I acquired some Tiagra integrated brake/shifters off of Craigs List and have been very happy since. I'll admit a few of my swap-outs are size driven (I'm 6-5, 245), so the complete bike may work better for more typical riders. On the plus side for the complete bike, the wheel and tire set-up has been great.

Strengths:
Fantastic Frame.

Weaknesses:
Some of the value of the complete bike is lost if upgrades are needed for fit reasons.

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at Cycle Sports, Oaklan

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Three Bears

Bike Setup:
v-brakes (later cantis), 105/Deore LX component mix, CX cranks by FSA, bar-end shifters, 32-spoke wheels - mavinc rims on Deore hubs. Rack and fenders

Summary:
I bought this bike to replace a commuter bike I built-up on an aluminum KHS frame. It was stolen less than a month after I finished my build. Heartbroken, I went to CS in Oakland to have them build-up a similarly spec'ed bike to replace it. Overall, it seems like a good product for the price, but left a lot to be desired for me. Break squeal was horrible even on two different sets of rims and three different sets of calipers (one v-brake, two low-profile cantis). This is either a problem with the stock fork, or with the brakes I was using, but really annoying. Also, the fork I recieved with the frame had uneven dropouts. One side needed to be ground-down to make the wheel sit vertical in the fork. Even though I hear this frame is powdercoated, I found it very easy to scratch (although, I admit I was riding in urban conditions, and locking it to public racks). I found the reverse horizontal dropouts to be a pain when using quick-release skewers - really, you should use a bolt here. I guess this is a good feature if you are going to run fixed-gear. I think the bike would be best suited to fixed-gear use (i.e. not for me). I wear a size 47 shoe. I had real trouble mounting panniers without hitting them with my heals.

Strengths:
price, low-profile graphics, well-suited to fixed-gear use, ability to run big tires, fender and racks (all at the same time, if you wish).

Weaknesses:
paint, build quality (of at least my fork), chainstays too short for really large panniers, very heavy (SOMA makes a lighter steel frame at a similar price)

Similar Products Used:
I just sold it to buy the SOMA Doublecross

Price Paid:  $600.00 at Baker St Bikes Brigh

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
too many to answer

Bike Setup:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38607223@N08/3544913733/in/pool-417924@N22

Summary:
Let me start by saying that I rarely feel compelled to write reviews on a purchase, however, in this instance I actually owe my (unseen) bike choice on so many other’s advice, that I thought I prudent to return the favour; this is for anybody else in the Surly Cross Check “buy or not to buy” predicament.

I used to be an avid 20 mile a day all weather commuter, “used to” being the operative phrase(!), well I haven’t ridden in anger for 7 odd years - the overwhelming urge to get back in the saddle for my commute, including nursery run with my little person on the back, weekend jaunts, and hopefully a little light touring; well that was the remit, it therefore has to be strong, it has to last, and has to be comfortable – I was previously obsessed with the best groups set’s & components, and saving weight was more important than comfort; with this being much less significant now (maybe I’m getting old), several weeks of research later, I narrowed my choice down to the wonderfully engineered and cost effective Surly CC

My brilliant LBS (Baker.St Bikes in Brighton) ordered me the 58cm Cross-Check in Beef Gravy Brown, I spanked most of the build on the beautiful British made ‘Hope Hubs’ “tic tic tic tic” with Mavic rims, the bike is built with a miss-match of old XT parts (brake/levers etc) with new Deore chain set, and the O’So lovely Brooks B17. I thought I’d get the wheels and the saddle right from the start, with the rest being upgradeable when the cash or need allows.

I seriously had a sleepless night over the sizing e.g. 56 or 58 – it’s hard to advice, but I’m 6ft with a rough 87cm PBH and the 58cm is just perfect for me on the road, really comfortable, don’t get me wrong there’s not allot top-tube distance from the ‘money makers’ when flat footed, but with a slightly higher saddle to bar, I could stay on the Brooks all day long, I never truly realised a bike could be so comfortable. I’m also amazed and delighted at how quickly I got back into that lovely rhythm where you and the bike become one. This bike will certainly allow me to get fit again as it just works so well.

If you appreciate engineering, want something that lasts, is comfortable, handles delightfully, can basically do anything you ask of it … well you catch my drift... it’s the most endearing (slightly quirky) all rounder, and I really couldn’t be happier.

Strengths:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38607223@N08/3544913733/in/pool-417924@N22

Weaknesses:
None - I mean it is heavy(ish) but the postives out weigh (no pun intended) the negative's....

Similar Products Used:
Many mountain/road bikes - Most recently M1000 Cannondale hybrid(ish)

Price Paid:  $308.00 at Universalcycles

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Surly Cross Check

Bike Setup:
105 10 speed cranks, bb, and cassette
Ultegra brifters, f/r derailleurs
Brooks B-17, Thomson 45mm x4 stem, Bobo shimano deepv wheelset. IRC Urbanmaster street 700c x 35 tires

Summary:
I am really enjoying the bombproof feeling of this steel commuter jugernaut. I

Strengths:
It's designed for limited touring, commuting, and of course fat mud tire cyclocross. I am looking for some good 45's. I keep hearing about the weight, but I it still lighter than I thought it would

Weaknesses:
Nada.

Similar Products Used:
Old Schwinn Varsity, Puegeot touring