Touring - Surly Crosscheck

I'm currently looking at the "Surly Crosscheck" (complete bike, as opposed to frame only). There seems to be very little user feedback out there.

My uses for it are to replace my current "Schwinn Crisscross" hybrid for everyday commuting (rear panniers, seatbag) and occasional light touring (sometimes adding front rack and panniers) . And, from what I see, it is perfect; i.e., price (I've seen it for $765-$945), components and quality steel frame. I flirted with buying the frame and outfitting it myself, until I totaled the cost of same and realized that it would be cost-prohibitive; so decided to just add a 24 granny to the stock 48t-36t chainring.

I've searched this and other forums, but have not seen any input on it. So, are there any "Surly" riders out there; or is everyone locked into paying $1000-$1500 plus for a good everyday bike?

Feedback, por favor?

It's a nice frame. I have that fork (the old 1" version) on my Airborne, and it's a good one. No low-rider braze-ons, but you could get clamp-on racks.

The bike is spec'd to be inexpensive (what is it, about $900?) but all the parts are reasonably well chosen for the price. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, although I'd want to closely compare a Bianchi Volpe and a Jamis Aurora first. The Bianchi in particular.

I think you may not see as many of the complete bikes out there because it's such a nice frame to build up custom, and from what I've heard it might deserve better parts than the complete version has. Not that there's anything really wrong with Tektro brakes and Alex rims.

I don't know that everyone's "locked into" paying more. I do think that some of the bikes the cost more are also worth more. My personal opinion is that once you're in this price range, you can start to expect every part on your bike to be something you'd choose yourself if you were building the bike.

RichC

for about the same price as a cross-check frame, you could pick up a double-cross from soma fabrications. it's a similar ride, but has low-rider braze-ons, as well as a few others that the surly lacks.

i've got a soma, and i love it. choosing between the two was a rough decision, but i'm happy with the choice i made.

oh. the website is http://www.somafab.com

Like Rich, I have the fork on my bridgestone and like it a lot, as rich said, it's missing low rider braze ons, I've been looking at the frame set too and have decided that it's going to be next years winter project. It's a great, well built frame and worthy of a good build. I like the spec versatility witht he 132.5mm rear drops. I also think the Jamis aurora is a bang for the buck, at between $500 and $600 how can you miss.

I know quite a few riders with the crosscheck and a couple toured the C&O Canal with me. Can't beat the bike for the money. Makes a good commuter too. Check the Single Speed forum on MTBR.com for some feedback, quite a few riders have them over there. Also, the cyclocross forum on RoadbikeReview.com has a good bit of feedback.

I own a Surly 1x1 and am in the process of deciding on getting their Crosscheck or Karate Monkey to replace my beater fixed gear. They make sensible products for reasonable $$$.

Thanks a lot for your input, fellas. I have followed up on your suggestions, which elicited a lot of info I would not normally have gotten. Oh have I said recently just how great this board is? I had not even heard of Soma or knew that Bianchi made a competitor in this category. Earlier this year I discovered the Rivendell site from reading a thread on this board. What a treasury of info there.

Anywho, I'm presently bidding on an item on Ebay that will definitley do the trick.

Thanks loads, again.

David

Btw, got my present road bike: custom drawn cro-moly Peugeot w/Ultegra throughout, Reynolds Ouzo fork, Ritchey pro wheels, etc. last year on Ebay. Didn't know my a$$ from the proverbial hole in the ground; but, as I've since learned, mainly from the discussions on this booard, I got a quality bike for a steal of a price.