Surly Cross Check Lovefest
 

OK, I realize that this thread on this board is practically redundant, but I suggested it and one person encouraged me, so here it is. :)

Post pictures of your Cross Checks and tell us what you love about them.

I'll start off with a couple if pictures and maybe add my comments (and more pictures) later.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/...e50d796e_z.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2661/...bf50c127_z.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2781/...40e39c47_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/...c4a8e0c3_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/...6ac09ea7_b.jpg

Sold it. It was nice but i wanted something lighter at the time. Perhaps with different components I would have been happier. I've had two really nice cross bikes. This cross check and a Curtlo True Temper OX platinum tubing cross bike. Neither really floated my boat. Guess cross geometry just isn't for me.

My wife's
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j4...e/IMG_4551.jpg

Just built up this 2011 CC. Very agile and love the big tires (42s) - might try some Big Apples one day, still plenty of frame clearance left!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/...c9c7027c2d.jpg

Are you riding 42s is that single speed or an IGH? I tried 40s (maybe 42) FG and it was a centimeter too far (or a tooth or two too short)

Am I the only person in the world who has a Cross Check without a Brooks saddle?

I'll play;

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=206835


But as far as love it. nope!
It's a good bike, but it's HEAVY, and the stock stuff it come on it, well it works.
Not great, but it does work.
I put a campy drive train on this, changed the brakes, and pads, the seat had to go, brooks went on. The wheels are DT240's laced 3x to Velocity dyads.

As soon as my Davidson touring bike gets done, I'll be selling this CC, with the stock stuff.

Like I said, It's a ok to good bike, that works.
I guess for the $$ it could be great!

To each their own.

I took my brooks off but I am thinking of putting it back possibly as soon as tonight

I'll play

http://gallery.me.com/aaronshort1/10...13032734640001


http://gallery.me.com/aaronshort1/10...12938264900001


http://gallery.me.com/aaronshort1/10...12938172200001

It's a Nashbar flip-flop hub in the rear. The tires are Continental Contact Extralights, 700 x 42.

My girlfriend has a Cross Check without a Brooks saddle ... but she's been thinking of getting one.

It gets the job done (touring, commuting, hauling, riding, even raced it a couple of times), but let's be honest: there's a lot to _like_, but not much to _love_.

No Brooks.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5RyCPiv-PA4/TF...0/DSC_5572.JPG

Hey Andy_K, how many CX bikes do you have? And how does the Cross Check compare to your Jake?

I'm not complaining about the number of bikes, I'm envious :)

Right now, I've got three: the Jake and the Cross Check and a a Major Jake.

I know it seems a bit ridiculous. I got the Jake first to be my fair-weather commuter/road bike. Then I got into CX racing, which was also a great use for the Jake. My wife got me the Cross Check frame as a birthday present to upgrade my old fixed gear conversion, but then we moved and the new topography isn't singlespeed friendly so I put gears on the Cross Check. Honestly, at this point it wasn't getting much use because it was essentially the same as the Jake except for a few components. But it's always nice to have a back up bike, especially during CX racing season. Then I got the Major Jake as a race bike, put a disc brake on the fron of the Jake and declared it to be a full time rain commuter and set the Cross Check up as a road bike.

For CX racing, I definitely prefer the Jake over the Cross Check. For commuting and road use, honestly the components I put on either bike makes more difference than the frame itself. Whichever one has the triple crank and race tires (currently the Cross Check) is my preference for long road rides. For commuting, I've got rack and fenders on the Jake and am keeping the Cross Check bare, so it depends on the weather.

This, BTW, sums up what I love about the Cross Check. It isn't necessarily the best bike for anything, but it can do practically everything. Fixed gear city bike/CX racer/long disctance road bike/commuter? Yeah. I've been toying with the idea of building up an IGH wheel for it. It's particularly good for someone like me who likes to tinker with things.

Drat tried to upload my photo but it didn't work

Not as keen on it as I was when I first got it but I like it. It never feels overly restricting and by the same token I suppose it never feels perfect. Getting it professionally fitted soon.

My sentiments exactly. Currently mine is fixed, but I like the idea of giving an IGH a try. Shouldn't even take much to set it up, and I wonder how easily I can switch between IGH and fixed.

I think this is the truth. The CC is a great do all bike, ok to good in many forms, but not great in any.

The IGH sounds like something cool to do. Maybe if I don't sell mine, thats what I'll do with it.

Have you considered the Sturmey-Archer SX3?

Yeah, I've thought about it. Though the wheelset is $300 and the whole bike (kilo SX3) is only $80 more. Kind of turns me off, or makes me want to buy the kilo, but I don't need another bike. I guess I could build my own wheels....just have to learn that skill first.

Cross Check in winter -

Thanks. Obviously there is lots of Cross Check love on here, but it's good to hear this from someone who also really likes his Jake.

Here's a blast from the past for you.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-Jake-lovefest

That is one of my favorite threads :)

Ill have to post a picture when it stops raining.
I also dont have a brooks as they are too heavy and big for me