I upgraded just about everything on my Surly cross check over time, just because its something I like to do. I have the small 42. I put on Salsa short and shallow handlebars, upgraded to Ultegra 9 speed triple, changed the gearing. STI brake levers. I put a tubus rack on it and a winwood carbon fork on the front. I ride it on the trainer in the winter and its my beater for the spring till they clean the roads. I've run 23 and 28 tires on it so I put avid canti brakes since I like to run both. Its a great all around bike and since I'm only 5 feet tall it fit me pretty well.