Review: Surly CrossCheck "Complete"

[KnottedYet]

http://www.surlybikes.com/crosscheck_comp.html

Oh, girls.... sigh.

Remember how enthralled I was with the Jamis Aurora? The Surly Crosscheck has surpassed the Jamis.

Now, what I rode today was the "complete" bike, which comes as a package deal for a whole lot cheaper than doing a build-up. But it means you don't get a choice in components.
However, your LBS would probably be willing to switch out a few things.

When/if I get this gorgeous gloss black 52 cm beauty, I will have them switch the knobbies for 32mm reflective Vittoria Randonneurs, put on a taller stem, and drop the small ring from a 36t to a 34t. (and I'll add my fenders, rack, bell, lights, etc.

The Look: ooh, she's pretty! The paint is lovely, the black and silver chainrings are nice. Love the Surly logo, decals, and headbadge. The welds on the steel are smooth and nicely finished.

The Components: Ok, not top of the line here, but not total cr@p either. Mostly Shimano: Deore and Tiagra. Enough to get you started and upgrade when they wear out. The seat is narrow and sexy-looking, but not all that comfy. (I have a wide butt, and a black Brooks B67 that would look just fiiiiine on the Surly.) The Salsa Bell Lap bar looked crazy-wide to me, but after riding I found I really liked the flare in the drops. The bar end shifters can be switched from index to friction, so if you do upgrade there is no issue with compatiblity. No fear. I really liked the bar-end shifters. A lot. A lot a lot a lot. (did I mention I like the bar end shifters?) I really liked having brake levers that are JUST brake levers. And I really liked the nice narrow hoods on the brake levers. Very comfy.

The Price: Component collection kept it down to $930 for the one at my LBS. They'll give me a very nice trade-in on my Kona Dew, which just makes the whole thing more tempting. Plus I get a Team Survivor discount, which makes it even MORE tempting!

The Ride: This is what made me swoon, and has me searching for change in the sofa cushions and swearing off beer to save money. It was love. Even with the bars a bit lower than the saddle (I would want them up about an inch) it felt like it was made for me. I didn't have to think, I didn't have to "get used" to it, it was instantly made for me. Even without the bars higher, I could still play piano on the flats and ride one handed/no handed. Cyclocross geometry seems to suit me anyway, but this bike was just sensual in it's instant fit.

[Thorn]

Hmmmm...I've been toying with replacing my hybrid with a cross bike, but I don't want to spend $1300 (usual entry level price). We have a shop in town that sells the Bianchi Volpe, but it is on the other side of town and not very convenient.

My favorite shop sells Surly, but I would have to have them special order in the Crosscheck to test ride. With such a review, I'm going to have to seriously consider this. Thanks...

[dex]

Nice! :D I admire Surly bikes from a distance whenever I see them.

The only one I've ridden is the Long Haul Trucker, and I fell in love with it almost instantly. But since I was really looking for a city bike with flat bars at the time (my road bike was in the shop) I managed to hold my bike lust at bay. But I still think about that lovely, smooth ride often...and the truth is, I'll probably get one eventually. (There's absolutely no way I can reasonably justify yet another bike purchase for myself this quickly.)

[KnottedYet]

Thorn: It is a VERY nice bike. Even if your shop special ordered one for you to try and you didn't want it, I'm sure they could sell it pretty quickly.

The compact double could be more compact, but for most riders I bet they'd be fine with 36t. I'm a wimp, and not ashamed to admit I'd rather have a 34t.

I really want this bike...

My LBS doesn't have a Long Haul Trucker at the moment. It's another of the Surlies I was considering. But oh, the Crosscheck just felt so good and spry! (and it is a little cheaper than the LHT)

[eofelis]

I'd love to have a Cross check, but the smallest model is still to big for me. My bf has one, in a lovely dark green color. He built it up as his tourer. He likes it a lot, and he's a picky rider.

I do have two other Surlys that I love! My 42cm Pacer road bike is pretty sweet. It's not as light and fast as most road bikes out there, but it's a smooth and sturdy all-day ride.

I really like my 42cm LHT too. It's like a tank, but climbs pretty well and descends like a rock. I hope to get it out on a real tour in a few weeks.

The 42cm Crosscheck is quite a lot bigger than the 42cm Pacer and LHT. Some of it may be due to the Crosscheck fork having A LOT of tire clearance (longer fork.) If anyone is looking to order a Crosscheck frame, check those measurements carefully: the Crosscheck runs big.

[Surlygirl]

Another Surly cross-check owner here too. My main ride these days is my Orbea Dama but I couldn't bear to let my Surly go. I have the lovely green bean color in 42. I bought mine from AEbike.com and upgraded pretty much everything on the bike myself. I love the fact you can run fat tires on it and I put a nice tubus rack on it for touring. It loves to go downhill. Steel is just so cushy. It spends most of its time on the trainer during the winter but I have had it out when I can't bear to get my Dama dirty and wet. Great bike for the money. Surlypacer, you must be a wee bit of a thing. I'm 5 feet and the 42 fit me great.

[KnottedYet]

I put the 52 cm Crosscheck on hold at the LBS.

First I rode her for an hour. We did a little bike trail, we did a little road, we did some gravel, we did a little lawn-riding. We did a LOT of dodging weekend warriors who weren't quite sure of how to behave on a busy bike trail.

The Surly handled it all just fine, she's so spry and perky!

When I (finally) took her back to the LBS they had her leaned up against a wall as they filled out the hold-slip. A dude walking in said "wow, sweet bike!"

(and I'm sure she'll look even sweeter with my springy Brooks saddle and fenders and rack!:p )

[eofelis]

Surlypacer, you must be a wee bit of a thing. I'm 5 feet and the 42 fit me great.

I'm 5'2" and a 70cm standover is all I can handle, which is what the Pacer and LHT are. The 42cm CC is a 72cm standover.

[eofelis]

I put the 52 cm Crosscheck on hold at the LBS.

First I rode her for an hour. We did a little bike trail, we did a little road, we did some gravel, we did a little lawn-riding. We did a LOT of dodging weekend warriors who weren't quite sure of how to behave on a busy bike trail.

The Surly handled it all just fine, she's so spry and perky!

When I (finally) took her back to the LBS they had her leaned up against a wall as they filled out the hold-slip. A dude walking in said "wow, sweet bike!"

(and I'm sure she'll look even sweeter with my springy Brooks saddle and fenders and rack!:p )

must.see.pictures!

[KnottedYet]

must.see.pictures!

If everything works out, I hope to bring her home tomorrow. (gotta get some more batteries for my camera so I can take LOTS of pictures!)

[KnottedYet]

Got her. Pictures on the way.

[KnottedYet]

Ta-DA!!!!!

Meet "Crow Carmelita Crosscheck the Disco Queen"! "Crow" for short. Someday she'll have a crow on her seat tube.

Here she is, fresh from the LBS.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/KnottedYet/DSCN0466.jpg

And here she is after getting naughty with Knot. (Note the bottle cage, fender, rack, Brooks saddle, pannier. Front fender bolt got lost somewhere, will get that fender on soon.)
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/KnottedYet/DSCN0467.jpg

It's raining, of course, but I'll probably take her out for a ride soon anyway. I don't think I'll damage her going for a couple wet rides without a front fender.

(Those aren't whitewall tires, they're reflective Vittoria Randonneurs glowing in the camera flash.)

[MM_QFC!]

Hey there - congrats and welcome to the new bike in yer fleet! Looks like a great ride and yeah, your inaugural ride may well be a sloppy one, but that shouldn't stop you!
You're in the Seattle area, right? Me too - so I'm wimping out today and planning for a dry ride tomorrow. Tailwinds to you and Crow for the start of many great adventures together!
Mary

[cosc]

Knotted, your Disco Queen looks like she can handle anything you throw at her. Enjoy those miles.:cool:

[RoseC]

Woo-hoo! Congratulations! She's beautiful!

So...tell me about these Randonneurs...they handle commuting well?

Just thinking ahead to when my stock knobbies wear out on the Volpe...

[KnottedYet]

I have 28mm Randonneurs on my Waterford, and 32mm Randonneurs on my Surly.

I really like these tires, they are tough (I run over broken glass and other sharp junk all the time, hit potholes and cracked pavement full on, just kinda clumsy that way). They are very smooth riding, and their max pressure is low enough that they absorb bumps, but they don't feel slow and mushy. The tread sheds water well and they are nice and stable on wet pavement. Cornering is smooth. (Surly came with knobbies, which I traded for Randonneurs before I took her out of the LBS.)

If you do commuting in the dusk or dark, I highly recommend spending the extra $4 for the reflective sidewalls. Those puppies are BRIGHT, and if you see a pair in your headlights, man, you know there's a bike in front of you! (I caught a bike with reflective sidewalls in my headlights, dunno if they were Vittorias, but they were sure obvious!)

[RoseC]

You wouldn't happen to know of any mail order type places that sell Randonneurs, would you?

I still haven't discussed tires with my new favorite LBS...I should see what they carry. I don't think they have a huge selection, though.

[KnottedYet]

I get mine at my LBS.

Vittoria is a pretty popular brand of tire, I would expect your LBS to have an acct with a distributor, so special ordering a pair if they don't have the tires in stock shouldn't be an issue for the LBS.

I really try to buy my goodies at the independent LBS, "shop locally" and all that. If they know you want something, they'll generally order it for you. (and if you know an online price, they might be able to match it) I'm ordering my 2nd Brooks thru my LBS, and they will match Wallingford's price.

[mimitabby]

what model Brooks you buying, Knott?

[KnottedYet]

another B67, in honey for Flossie. Crow has the black one now.

[mimitabby]

excellent choice!

[KnottedYet]

AAAAAAAHH!!!!! I'm so SLOW-brained! I only JUST NOW realized that the "compact double" crankset on my Surly Cross Check will accept a 3rd (granny) chainring! Holy toledo! And with the bar end shifter, all I'd need to do is adjust the limiter screw and finagle the spacing and I'd have a TRIPLE. (already has a long-cage rear der to handle the chain)

WOW!!!!!!

duuuuuude, what an awesome utility bike!:eek:

[madscot13]

Don't you love those moments when everything comes together better than if you had planned it?

[KnottedYet]

It's official, Crow Carmelita Cross Check is now a bone fide member of the family: she's got my underwear hanging on her bars to dry.

[pooks]

And she's steel, right?

How do your tires compare to Armadillos?

Maybe I need to test ride some crosses. I know where they sell Surleys, I think!

[KnottedYet]

Yup, she's all steel! (I hang my underwear on the aluminum bars, no fear!)

I don't know how Randonneurs compare to Armadillos. I've never used Armadillos.

If you can test ride a Surly Cross Check, please do! The geometry is just grand (for me) even though I need to get the bars up about 1 1/2 inches for complete happiness. (rode 45 miles with the bars "too low" and it was still grand!)

Surly Long Haul Truckers are supposed to be fab-o, too. I loved the Cross Check so much that I had to have her, didn't even wait for my LBS to get a Long Haul Trucker in for me to test ride. If there's a LHT at your LBS, give that a try, too. Trek420 is thinking of getting a Surly LHT. (that would be her 4th steel bike in her stable... but who's counting?)

[eofelis]

Yup, she's all steel!
Surly Long Haul Truckers are supposed to be fab-o, too. I loved the Cross Check so much that I had to have her, didn't even wait for my LBS to get a Long Haul Trucker in for me to test ride. If there's a LHT at your LBS, give that a try, too. Trek420 is thinking of getting a Surly LHT. (that would be her 4th steel bike in her stable... but who's counting?)

I sure love my LHT, and my Pacer is pretty darn sweet too. I recently did the Little Red Riding Hood 100 ride in Utah on the Pacer and it was a great ride right to the end.

I have 4 steel bikes too and I love 'em!:D

[KnottedYet]

Into the Belly of the Beast: shopping at Costco with my Surly Cross Check.

Ok, she looks a bit different than she did a year ago. Now with a triple, moustache bars, and Ortliebs. Oh, and "mud flap girlie" mud flaps, and heart spokees. And Crank Bro 50/50 BMX pedals. And probably a couple other things I forgot already.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/KnottedYet/DSCN0522.jpg

Costco was fun. They have a wimpy old slot-style bike rack, which you can only use sideways or at the ends. I'll probably ask them if they'd consider another style of rack. There are often bikes locked to signposts and the "smoker's shelter", so a more functional rack really would come in handy.

I loaded my panniers into a cart, and bravely ventured forth! Costco on a weekend is a frightening place. I was grateful for my helmet and my day-glo vest. Scary people being aggressive with scary large carts full of stuff and wielding far too much momentum with their "shoppers' rage." And my glasses mirror was very handy for watching those folks who like to ram you in the butt with their carts. (why are they almost always short women in their 60's?)

Bought my stuff, took the cart out to the bike rack, and loaded the panniers and the bike. I could have bought the 3-pack of Oregon Chai after all, there was still room in one pannier. But I wasn't going *back* in there!

The CC handled the weight surprisingly well. No squirrelly steering or awkwardness at all. Steady as she goes, and spry as always. I've carried stuff in both panniers before (usually I use one) but this is the most stuff I've ever carried.

The moustache bars might have helped with the steadiness, I don't know. I'm just loving those bars, let me tell you! Folks talk about how a good saddle "disappears" and I think the same thing happens with good bars.

[twin]

a Crosscheck in light grey...Surly number two...After reading your review who could refuse a Crosscheck?

[Blueberry]

Twin -

You know you have to post pictures now:D:D

Love my cross check too:)

CA

[Rebecca19804]

Just discovered this thread. :D

(new Surly CC owner... UTTERLY SMITTEN)