chiefhoser

So I've decided to purchase a Surly Cross Check frame and build it up myself. The issue I'm having is selecting the frame size, I have to order by mail so I don't have the opportunity to test drive it here. I've narrowed down the size choice to the 54cm or the 56cm frames. The issue is that I have relatively short legs for my size. I'm a hair over 6feet with an inseam of 32". I've currently got a 60cm 2006 Kona Dew that feels too large, and a 2007 L(arge) Giant Bowery which feels pretty much perfect. The issue is that both the Dew and the Bowery have sloping top tubes, and the bowery is compact road geometry. So comparing measurements are not exactly straight forward.

The 54 and 56cm cross-checks have stand over heights of 31.2 and 31.9 respectively, my bowery fits soley between these two values. The top tube (effective) lengths of the 2 surly frames are slightly smaller than the bowery, but that can be addressed with stem length. I hate using a bike that I can't stand comfortably in on shoes, ie. too small of a stand over, which given the above measurements, may be an issue with certain tire size choices. The results that bike fit calcs (Zinn, competitive cycles, and wrench science) all fit either the 54cm or 56cm frame. I like a semi-aggressive stance, which is probably part of why the Kona Dew feels a little "off", it is fairly upright. My fit for the bowery felt amazing as I drove the bike out of the shop and still does after close to 2000km (possibly more).

I'm hoping (long shot) that somebody has ridden a Large giant compact road frame and a surly cross check frame of either size and can comment on similarities and/or differences. Secondly, from the searching I've done there seems to be little consensus on whether to err on the small or large side, but a lot of what I've found is slightly older, so I'm wondering if anybody has any new thoughts on this.

Other than that, any general advice is also welcome, thanks.

Links:
Giant Bowery
Surly Crosscheck
Kona Dew

caloso

I can't help you with the Giant v. Surly comparison, but based on the info you've given, I'd go with the 54. You can always go with a little more seatpost and a little longer stem, but you can't shrink a too-big frame.

idcruiserman

I'm 6' and rode a 54cm SCC for a while, but it never felt right. I've got short arms and the top tube was too long. I mostly ride 56 in other bikes (sometimes 58).

MrCjolsen

I'm a hair over 6' and I ride a 60cm Surly Crosscheck. I've had to compensate a little with a shorter stem.

Take a level, and measure the from the center of the seatpost to the center of the stem or headtube along a level plane.

Get the Surly that has the same measurment.

MrCjolsen

The large Bowery has a effective top tube length of 58.6. The 58cm Crosscheck is 58.0 I'd get the 58, and tweak it with bars and stem. I don't think you'd have to tweak it too much.

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/...le/1274/29363/

https://www.surlybikes.com/crosscheck.html

One thing I did notice was the your Bowery has a steeper seat tube than the Surly. That means on the Surly, you will find yourself moving your seat forward a bit to have it positioned exactly like your Bowery in relationship to your bottom bracket. That will move you closer to the bars. How much closer, I'm not sure (measure from the top of your saddle to the center of your bottom bracket. Then use trigonometry to see how much further one degree moves your saddle.)

chiefhoser

The problem with the 58, is that the stand over is too high, I want to be able to straddle the bike with both feet on the ground. This is key for me when I have to stop and start in traffic.

Falkon 

From my experience, "large" in oem road bikes usually translates to 56cm. Medium is 54cm and small is 52cm.

MrCjolsen

The effective TT length of a 56 crosscheck is 57cm. You might need a longer stem, but not freakishly long.