Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Thoughts on this bike - Surly Cross Check

http://surlybikes.com/bikes/cross_check_complete/

Can you experienced clydes give me thoughts on this bike - with the standard components? I ride lots of 30-50 mile loops - and am considering a few credit card overnighters. . . .

The 32 spoke wheels give me pause - but being a Surly, well - let me know. I ordered it today, but could cancel with the local store early Monday if it turns out this was a bad idea. . .

My weight is in the ticker, and I'm still dropping if that makes a difference.

It's a fine bike. I think you'll enjoy it.

Search for it here at BF. Lots of past discussions.

I'm 255 and ride a 32 spoker. No problems here.

I rode a 32 spoker at 275 no problems. Tune it up after 50-100 miles.

For road or casual trail (MUP) riding, a decent set of 32s should be considered pretty heavy duty, and I would think you'd really need to be 350+ to consider more than that.

(I'm excluding mountain biking, jumping anything, or curb hopping, things I don't do on a road bike.)

I got back into riding at ~330, and the road bike is 20/24, spoke-wise. 3 years into it, I needed a minor truing of the rear wheel, which took the LBS around a minute.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/25848_386107806763_519101763_3793907_1040861_n.jpg

Gee, twist my arm for another reason to post a pic of my X-Check.
It started life as a Cross-Check Complete that I put my B-17 and some Conti Gatorskins onto.
Then it got the fenders and a rack. And I built a new front wheel with the SON28. Eventually I replaced the cassette and rd, and the cranks, new seatpost, front rack, canvas luggage, new lamps, etc. But it all started as that stocker X-Check and I was 250 pounds at the time.

I'm building a CX race bike now, and if I can't find the singlespeed frame I want in my size, my backup plan is to get another X-Check frame.

That bike will be quite alright, good choice :thumb:

The only think you will need to keep in mind is that due to the relatively short length of the chainstays, you might have problems with heel-strike on larger pannier bags. Mid to small panniers shouldn't be an issue.

The CC is nearly legendary in the commuter forums.

If you're looking for an all-around bike, a CX, especially the Surly CC, is hard to beat. When you start directing your cycling to more specific riding (e.g. road racing, randonneuring, hardcore unsupported full touring), you might want to eventually get something that's tailored to your addiction of choice... but the CC will get you well started down any of those paths.

The CC is considered an excellent all-arounder. Like RichardGlover said "its legendary" in the Commuting forum.

<Since CliftonGK1 has one i'm sure he would let you borrow it :-). Isn't the Clyde/Athena Forum a friendly place.>

<Since CliftonGK1 has one i'm sure he would let you borrow it :-). Isn't the Clyde/Athena Forum a friendly place.>

If you're in town and want to take one for a test ride, sure you can take mine for a spin. Try not to crunch your marbles on the top tube... It's a 62cm frame rolling on 32mm tires so it's a little bit tall-ish. I think I measured the saddle height at 42" from the ground.
Although, I ride a kiddie-size bike compared to some of the really tall dudes on the forum!
CGK1 == The Smallest Giant