Commuting - Bike Purchase Final Choice

After much research, I have narrowed down my choices to two: Bianchi Volpe or Surly Cross Check. Any comments on which bike is better. I am looking for a comfortable, fast, strong, steel road bicycle that will be good for daily commutes (about 10 miles) and longer weekend rides.

Both should be great. I hear lots of love for the volpe and for the cross check, so I say whichever you like better...looks, components whatever, go with that one.

Both are good. Buy the one that feels the best. Tie breaker is your choice of color schemes.

Ride them both and see which one feels best for frame geometry. If they both feel great, and you're happy with the components on each one, then go for the one that looks cooler (or matches your jacket, etc.)

In order of importance on how *I* pick gear:
Fit > Function > Appearance
It's gotta fit right. It should perform well. I'm least concerned on looks.

Both are awesome choices. I personally prefer the Volpe, and am planning to buy one for my commuter, but I know everyone has different preferences.

I echo the fit. If it fits you, buy it. If it's equal there, take a 10 mile ride on each. Buy the one that feels the best.

Pretty similar setups really. The Cross Check has a prettier fork and more tire clearance and the Volpe has brifters instead of the Cross Check's bar end shifters. Of the two I would personally go Cross Check for the extra tire/fender clearance, but some people really like brifters and they are not cheap as an upgrade.

also consider how many hills you'll be riding. cross-check comes standard with a double chainring, while the volpe has a triple.

Did you reject the Jamis Aurora? I can't see a huge difference between that and the Volpe. I like the chainrings better on the Volpe (48/38/28 vs 52/42/30). And I do like the Volpe's leopard-print seat. In town here, on the other hand, I like the Jamis dealer better than the Bianchi one.

I just think Bianchi is so classy. If all other things were equal, I'd take the Bianchi.

Bianchi any day. What material is the Volpe anyhow?

Rode both and liked the Crosscheck better--not sure why. The Bianchi just felt more sluggish to me.

I have ridden neither but was considering a cross check. I found this place which seem to be selling kast years model cross check , cheap. (relatively) http://edinabike.com/

I tried them both and personally preferred the Volpe. You don't mention if you've actually ridden these bikes. You should take both on at least a 15 min ride -- don't just tool around a parking lot -- and decide which one you like better. Both are good choices.

If the bianchi is made of a better material than the crosscheck's low end steel, then get that.

I, like many other Cross Check owners, only got the Surly because we were sucked in by the slick advertising campaign featuring the Cross Check model guy.

I was sold on the Cross Check but am now debating the Volpe. Similar components plus STI shifters, a suspension seatpost (not a big deal), triple chain ring, and I can find one in stock locally and won't have to put it together myself. I can find a Cross Check Complete for about $750 shipped, though. I think I could bargain with a local shop on the Volpe and try to get a similar price. Hmmm. Decisions decisions.

What's the functional difference of Surly's low-end steel vs whatever Bianchi or whoever might use? Are we talking 5 yrs to failure vs 20, or 20 yrs to failure vs lifetime (w/ proper care)?