Surly Cross Check and Effective Tube Top questions!

[Jewell]

I ride a cross check, and I loved her, at first. Now though after using her for a year and a half as my daily commuter I'm finding that my set-up isn't right for my body. It felt really comfortable the first time I tried her out, and only in the past few months have I felt strained to the point of not wanting to ride. I'm stretched out, so I'm going to try to find a shorter stem, and my handlebars are too wide for my shoulders, so I'm going to find narrower ones.

My advice to you, get sized by the most knowledgeable individual at your lbs and also get as much input from us as you can on your choice. The single best advice I can give you though is to listen to your body and tweak that baby like crazy when you get her. You may find it takes a long time to get all the components just right.

[Cataboo]

Effective top tube length is more important on a sloping geometry - if your top tube slopes, then comparing the length of it to a bike with a top tube that's flat, doesn't make any sense... so effective top tube is more the distance from the seatpost straight over to the stem of the fork, whether or not the actual top tube follows that path.

I actually base ordering a frame on the seat tube angle & length & the top tube length... but then I know what works for me measurement wise.

[bluegirl]

Thanks you for the responses! It sounds like I'll be developing a good relationship with a bike shop! Luckily, I have met alot of really nice dudes in some really nice shops, so I just need to decide where to start!

Thank you! I think I will have a new bike soon, yay!!