Commuting - Surly Cross Check question

I'm getting ready to get a CC frame and was just wondering if most folks here went down one size on their CC? I ride a 56cm Specialized Tarmac and wonder if I should get a 54cm Cross Check.

Can anyone tell me what the stand over height is on their 56cm and 54cm CC?

Also, is there any place to get the Surly Cross Check frame in the Misty Gray color or are most of them gone since it was last year’s color? I don't want the beef brown color and was thinking about something different than the traditional black.

Anyone know when Surly announces their new colors?

I ride a 54cm CAAD9 and a 54cm Crosscheck.

I ride a 54cm CAAD9 and a 54cm Crosscheck.

Thanks bdcheung, can you tell me what the stand over height is on your 54? How tall are you?

Thanks bdcheung, can you tell me what the stand over height is on your 54? How tall are you?

I'm 5'10" with a 33" actual (not clothing) inseam.

I don't know what the standover is but I suppose I could go downstairs and measure it.

Not sure when they announce the new colors, but from a quick googling, looks like the 2009's were hitting the shelves in December 2008, so you have awhile to wait before anything new comes out.

I ride a 56 Cannondale Synapse and a 56 CC. I could comfortably ride a 54 CC. It's really personal preference at that point. FYI, cycling inseam is 33.5".

Standover is about 30.5" on my 54cm with 23c tires

(unsolicited opinion... standover is not the best way to determine appropriate frame size)

Standover is about 30.5" on my 54cm with 23c tires

(unsolicited opinion... standover is not the best way to determine appropriate frame size)

Thanks bdcheung, I was using the standover as a starting point, but what would you say is the most effective way to judge proper frame size? There's no place around here that has the CC in stock so a test ride is out unfortunately, unless someone in Atlanta wants let me test ride their CC. :D

I'm getting ready to get a CC frame and was just wondering if most folks here went down one size on their CC? I ride a 56cm Specialized Tarmac and wonder if I should get a 54cm Cross Check.

Compare the effective top-tube lengths, not the standover

I look at seat tube length first, then top tube (horizontal) length. Both are equally important in my book.

How about contact Surly and get all your questions answered in one place. Send them an e-mail, I have in the past. They respond.

How about contact Surly and get all your questions answered in one place. Send them an e-mail, I have in the past. They respond.

Great idea, thanks. I didn't know they'd be that responsive.

Cross-Checks are widely said to run one size smaller than your normal measure and I found that to be true with mine. I'm 6-1 and would ride a 60 in most similar frames but the 58 fits me perfectly in the X-C. There's no real way of knowing, though, except to ride one, which is obviously a challenge with a bike that isn't stocked in a lot of shops.

I have the grey frame. It's discontinued and my sense is it's hard to find partly because lots of people don't like the new brown and want something other than black, like you. Not long ago someone was trying to flip a new grey X-C frame on our local Craigslist for like $75 over the regular price.

I have the grey frame. It's discontinued and my sense is it's hard to find partly because lots of people don't like the new brown and want something other than black, like you. Not long ago someone was trying to flip a new grey X-C frame on our local Craigslist for like $75 over the regular price.

Unfortunately I missed out on a grey 54cm frame just the other day on eBay because I thought the price was too high at $360+ and I thought they could still be purchased as overstock. I guess the 54cm black frame will be the one, unless Surly announces the new colors sometime soon. Thanks for the info on your sizing.

Cross-Checks are widely said to run one size smaller than your normal measure and I found that to be true with mine. I'm 6-1 and would ride a 60 in most similar frames but the 58 fits me perfectly in the X-C. There's no real way of knowing, though, except to ride one, which is obviously a challenge with a bike that isn't stocked in a lot of shops.

CrossChecks tend to run longer top tubes for a given seat tube size. I generally ride 54s and have a 54 Check, but could have just as easily gone with a 52 and been satisfied.

I received a reply from the Surly rep (good customer service so far) and he suggested that I go with a 54cm in the Cross Check because the 54cm seat tube in the CC is very similar in length to the 56cm seat tube in the Specialized Tarmac.

I know that Missoula Bicycle Works in Missoula, MT has a 54cm Misty Mtn. Grey Cross Check on their floor built up with full 105 groupset that they built up for someone that never showed back up to get it. You might give them a call if your that interested in getting a grey one.

I ride a 56cm Trek 1500 and a 54cm Surly Cross Check. Don't have the bike here to measure the stand over but my inseam is 30 inches.

Unfortunately I missed out on a grey 54cm frame just the other day on eBay because I thought the price was too high at $360+ and I thought they could still be purchased as overstock. I guess the 54cm black frame will be the one, unless Surly announces the new colors sometime soon. Thanks for the info on your sizing.

I don't think there will be a new Cross-Check color for quite a while. Black is constant and the beef gravy brown IS the new color - it's basically just out. Plus they don't necessarily follow model years or anything like that. They are quirky about colors. On their blog it says, "We don't conduct market research, run focus groups, or particularly worry about what colors are hot, acceptable, or otherwise sexy. If you have an opinion about what our colors should be, that's great. Write it in your journal next to some hearts and ponies."

I happen to think the brown is nice but I'm half color-blind. The original Cross-Checks were an awesome deep blue and the collapsible Travelers Check is still in that color.

My road bikes have a 56.5 and 57 cm top tubes. Based on this I went for the closest TT that Surly offered. This translated to a 56cm x-check. So yes, I did step down. I generally ride 58 cm frames.

The original Cross-Checks were an awesome deep blue and the collapsible Travelers Check is still in that color.

I fear they're switching the TCs to a new 'brownlow' which I suspect is a pretty descriptive name.

On the bright side, buying a frame, you're ready to bring it right to the powder coater's should your needs be that specific.

Standover height is NOT how you size a frame. Effective top tube (cockpit length) is.

Your first step in sizing is whether or not you can achieve the reach you desire with the top tube combined with available stems and handlebars.

The next step is determining your saddle to bar drop; if you want more, take the smaller frame with the longer stem. Less? Bigger frame (usually equates to taller headtube) with a shorter stem. Try not to go less than 80mm on your stem though.

Then, when all is said and done, check standover. As long as it's not just stupid then it's fine.

Standover height is NOT how you size a frame. Effective top tube (cockpit length) is.

Your first step in sizing is whether or not you can achieve the reach you desire with the top tube combined with available stems and handlebars.

The next step is determining your saddle to bar drop; if you want more, take the smaller frame with the longer stem. Less? Bigger frame (usually equates to taller headtube) with a shorter stem. Try not to go less than 80mm on your stem though.

Then, when all is said and done, check standover. As long as it's not just stupid then it's fine.

Thanks Banzai, this is great information. I've been looking at the websites for Surly and Soma and some others and they all seem to use different identifiers for their measurements, I'm having a difficult time lining them all up to make a comparison. I’m using my Specialized Tarmac as a guide since I like the feel setup, but comparing the specs from that to Soma or Surly is a bit confusing.

Here’s what I’ve found:
Tarmac 54cm 56cm
Seat Tube Length, Center to Top 510mm 530mm
Seat Tube Length, Center to Center 460mm 480mm
Top Tube Length (Horizontal) 548mm 565mm
Front Center 583mm 591mm
Wheel Base 978mm 986mm
Standover Height 763mm 784mm
Head Tube Length 130mm 155mm
Stem Length 100mm 100mm
Seatpost Length 350mm 350mm

Surly Cross Check
54 cm 56 cm
ST (C-T)Inches/mm 20.5/520.0 21.3/540.0
TT (C-C) Inches/mm 21.5/545.0 22.0/560.0
TT (Effec.) Inches/mm 21.5/547.1 22.0/560.0
CS Length Inches/mm 16.7/425.0 16.7/425.0
S.O. Height* Inches/mm 30.6/778.4 31.2/793.0
FK Length Inches/mm 15.7/400.0 15.7/400.0


Many of these dimensions just don't seem to line up on the two bikes and two different sizes; or perhaps I'm just not reading it correctly.

'horizontal' TT approximates 'effective' TT; the 56 CC is a 5mm shorter than 56 Tarmac, but the 54s are about equivalent.

If you're wondering how/why tube lengths do/don't line up, you would also want to look at changes in headtube or seat tube angle across sizes of each frame.

'horizontal' TT approximates 'effective' TT; the 56 CC is a 5mm shorter than 56 Tarmac, but the 54s are about equivalent.

If you're wondering how/why tube lengths do/don't line up, you would also want to look at changes in headtube or seat tube angle across sizes of each frame.

Thanks so much, I just wonder how people get the correct frame when they order online and don't have a chance to ride the bike; it really takes time to compare frame dimensions. Are most folks as cautious as I am or do a good many folks just buy a frame then hope it fits correctly?

I just don’t want to spend the money on a frame, spend the time building it up (this will be my first build so it may take me a while, kinda’ of a hobby/labor of love) then find it doesn’t fit properly.

Thanks so much, I just wonder how people get the correct frame when they order online and don't have a chance to ride the bike; it really takes time to compare frame dimensions. Are most folks as cautious as I am or do a good many folks just buy a frame then hope it fits correctly?

I don't know, man. On the one hand, that's why the LBS gets the big bucks, to reassure you that the frame you choose will fit you like the a) the bike you're used to or b) like the bike you're used to *should*.

On the other hand, when I had done all the same research you're talking about, comparing lengths and angles and stems and tire sizes, they just asked me my height and looked at a chart listing frame sizes for height ranges and led to the larger of the 2 frames I was considering (2cm apart)

They said they could smooth off any deviation from the chart w/ seatpost and stem selection. Maybe I just have an off-the-rack body, but in my case they were right.


I just don’t want to spend the money on a frame, spend the time building it up (this will be my first build so it may take me a while, kinda’ of a hobby/labor of love) then find it doesn’t fit properly.

If you do run into a frame size problem, you could try to sell the frame once you decide it's the wrong size and swap in a new frame of what you determine to be the right size. You'd take a loss somewhere on frictional costs (shipping, reduced resale value of the 1st frame) but you'd get to build the bike up twice!

Thanks so much, I just wonder how people get the correct frame when they order online and don't have a chance to ride the bike; it really takes time to compare frame dimensions. Are most folks as cautious as I am or do a good many folks just buy a frame then hope it fits correctly?

I just don’t want to spend the money on a frame, spend the time building it up (this will be my first build so it may take me a while, kinda’ of a hobby/labor of love) then find it doesn’t fit properly.

Three things:
1) You can always compare the frame measurements with other bikes you have ridden in the past to ensure it is comparable.
2) Not sure if it's the same for other bikes, but the Surly google group had a cool spreadsheet that showed what frame size people used compared to their height and inseam and a comment on how it fit them.
3) I think most people wouldn't have any issue riding on a bike that is one size off of their "optimal" size. If you are two sizes off that'd be a big problem, but if you do your research thats kind of unlikely.

Just have to do your homework and it should work out fine, same as buying it in person.

If I were buying a Cross Check, here's how my logic would run.

I know that I like a TT + stem of 620-630, give or take a little based on saddle to bar drop. In that range that gives me the 46, 50, 52...reasonably. I'll rule out the 52 right now, since it would also require me to run an 80mm stem, which is shorter than I want to go.

Ok. Now I'm down to the 46 and 50. I can achieve the reach I want with either a 110mm or a 90mm stem. So...what's the headtube length? I want a saddle to bar drop of around 1.5" we'll say. Well, the headtube lengths are identical. That makes that choice easy. If the 50 had a taller headtube, that would be the outright winner right there.

In this case then, I'd choose the 50 for two reasons. First, because I think having a mile of exposed seatpost looks a bit silly; I'm not a pro racer. Second, I believe that you can't go less than a 50cm frame and still run 700c wheels without compromising the geometry on some level.

Nowhere in that decision was standover a factor. I never got that far. If I hadn't been hung up on the considerations above, maybe I would have considered it.

This, by the way, was the same process I went through when purchasing my Six13. In that case both the 50 and 52 were easily do-able, but the 52 (with a 535 ETT) also had a taller headtube. Decision made: 52 with a 90mm stem, and many happy miles since.

Edit: All things being equal, I go with the bigger or two sizes that will work, as long as I'm not going stupid short on the stem. Then I don't have a ridiculous stack of spacers, and I have more room on the frame for accessories. (Bottles, pump, etc.)

I have a 58CC my buddy had a 56CC, the 56 hit me nicely, but since i have large feet i ran into issues with the toes clipping the fenders.....then again size 48 cycling shoes are big.

I have a 56cm Fuji road bike, and have also had 56cm trek road bikes, but I got a 54cm Surly CC.
It fits perfect. I would not have wanted a 56cm Surly CC, it would have felt too big and stretched out for me.

Al:

I have a 54 cm LHT if you'd like to test ride that. The caveat is that I am all the way up in Acworth.

BTW - I was watching that ebay auction too.