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.