Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Surly Travelers Check vs Co-Motion Norwester Tour copilot

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thomaswclarke
01-02-10, 06:24 PM
Considering a coupled frame that may be employed sometimes as a brevet bike and
possibly at some point be used with front/rear racks to do some touring....asking for
your collective opinions as to some pros/cons. I realize the Surly frame is about a pound
heavier, and costs about half as much..I do know these are quite different tasks to ask of
a single bike and that there will be some trade offs..thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Barrettscv
01-02-10, 07:54 PM
You will have a low weight limit on the Travelers Check. It will be able to carry enough for Brevits and CC touring, but not enough for extended unsupported touring.
nahh
01-02-10, 09:32 PM
i just don't like the foldable frame thing....that's just me. if you need it, then I guess it's great.

i'd get a Surly Cross Check, if it were me. It's a steel frame with brazeons for racks, you can tour with it just fine, and it's nice steel, great for Brevets.

penexpers
01-04-10, 06:07 AM
+ 1 for a CC. I think the 2010 models have braze ons for a front rack too now.
bugly64
01-10-10, 08:08 PM
I just visited the Surly website and the Cross check didn't have front braze-ons. I had to put 700c forks from a Lht for my Cross Check.
Bacciagalupe
01-11-10, 08:15 AM
I say go for the Traveler's or Cross Check.

The TC can definitely carry weight. People have done plenty of extensive tours on the CC and similar cross frames; same goes for bikes that use the S&S couplers. For what it's worth, I'd only really go for the couplers if you plan to do a ton of flying with the bike, as that adds about $1000 to the price of the frame.

1 pound makes absolutely no difference, especially in a touring context. The Traveler's Check is "frame only," so you will have no problems building it up the way you want, and pretty much everything you need for a LD bike is fully applicable for touring. You might want lower gearing for touring, but that won't present a problem at all for LD riding.

Front braze-ons are handy, but it's easy to get a rack that attaches to the brake bosses (e.g. Old Man Mountain).