Ok, ready to pull the trigger!

[bluegirl]

The problem is, I'm still waffling! I had my heart settled on a Cross Check, but then got all distracted looking at the pretty Jamis Aurora pictures.

Considering not a single bike shop in a 300 mile radius has either one of these bikes in stock, I have to go just on feeling. I'm going to order one or the other this weekend. The bike will be used primarily for commuting and fun riding.

ACK! Help!

[KnottedYet]

I've ridden and loved both. I was all ready to buy a Jamis Aurora, and then I rode a Surly Cross Check.

The Cross Check stole my heart.

I felt like I was flying, that I could ride forever, that the bike was meant for me. Yeah, the saddle was a horrible pain, and the bars were too low and too wide... but the bike meshed with me like magic.

Here's the deal: I have ridiculously long arms and broad shoulders. Stretching out over the longish cockpit of the Cross Check was heavenly. It meshed with the way I tend to work my body. Even with the bars and saddle wrong, it still felt so very very right. (I changed them after I bought her.)

If you have any inkling that your arms or torso might be longer than average, I'd try the CC. Otherwise, the Aurora. Either way, I really don't think you will go wrong.

Are you ordering through a bike shop? What is their policy on special orders? If you ride the bike and hate it, can you return it?

Edit To Add: several folks on here have Auroras, and several have CCs. They are both great bikes!

[bluegirl]

Haha, Knotted, I'm sitting here going "Do I have crazy long monkey arms?" Hm, I'm thinking I don't, as I do tend to be more comfortable on the WSD bikes.

Man, I want to put my butt on one!! I think I will do another round of "call every bike shop in a 300 miles radius" in the next few days, just to double check. I know, like you, I would just know in my heart what was right. Blargh!

The only place I found that did a guaranteed return was a tri-shop, and the dude kind of creeped me out, so I'd rather not order from there. I suppose I can always Ebay.

Or, it might come down to getting a better deal. I'm wondering if by the time I switch out the bar ends on the Cross Check for STI's and get slicker tires, I might as well just get the Aurora with the 105 components and the tires I want.

Maybe I'm just agonizing too much.

Hey, if anyone lives in a town with a 42cm cross check, let me know and I'll hop on a plane!

[tulip]

Do any of the shops have other models in your size to try out to get broad fit-feel? They are both great bikes, so it really does come down to fit.

[bluegirl]

OOOOOH! I just called a bike shop about 2 hours away and they have both Aurora's (53) and Surly's (CC (50) & LHT (52)) IN STOCK. The sizes they have are a size or two bigger than what I would probably ride, but somewhat close. Considering I've not seen a single Aurora (except for my old *** one) and only a 56cm Cross Check, this is promising news!

So, ROAD TRIP this weekend. YES!

[Biciclista]

if you're thinking you fit a 42, there's no way you're going to be able to pedal and reach the brakes on a 50 or a 52!