DVC45

Good specs? Fair price?
' am not a shill, just curious if its a good deal.
Thanks!

cyclotoine

give us some details, a link to the bike you are thinking of.. etc... but this isn't really a classic and vintage topic, you might try the cyclocross or commuters forum.

DVC45

Oops! ' meant to ask it at the Cyclocross board. Moderator please move. Sorry!

xiamsammyx

its worth it.

Brian

Help him out and explain why.

DVC45

Will it make a good all around bike (commuting, touring, weekend group ride)?
TIA!

Brian

I'd like a triple for touring, if it was me. The spec isn't bad, it just depends on your primary usage.

DVC45

Well, I want to get rid of my other two bikes (a hybrid turned commuter and a vintage road bike) because I need space in the garage. The Surly at BD got me thinking as a viable replacement, all-arounder. I have a folding bike as a back-up.

Brian

That's not really answering the question. Are you looking specifically for a steel bike? What will it mostly be used for?

xiamsammyx

the cross check is a spectacular all around commuting bike. its not the best in the world for cyclocross racing as it is a bit heavy but if you dont plan on racing with it its hard to find a better bike for a better price. and yes the componentry on the ones sold on BD is a pretty solid line up.
I'd say there is very little chance of you being disapointed if you buy it.

DVC45

Steel bike, yes. It will be used for things I mentioned above. No racing.

cs1

I was kind of blown away to see Surly's, that's Steamroller and Crosscheck, both at Bikesdirect. QBP must think he's mainstream.

Tim

dirtyphotons

as noted in another thread, all you need to get a qbp account is a brick and mortar bike shop. i'm not sure exactly the definition of "bike shop" but presumably bikes direct has a storefront somewhere. the prices on these are pretty much in line with what everybody else sells them for.

sfcrossrider

What they said. I love mine.

dpr

How would you guys rate the cross check as a winter training bike for purely the road? Im after a bike which will accept mudguards, hence my considering cross bikes.

dirtyphotons

a plus, just throw some slicks on there. the chainstays are short enough that you might have to carefully position your panniers to avoid heel strike, but it shouldn't be a major issue.

you can get racks that sit further back on the bike as well as bags that have cutouts for your heel if necessary. but in my experience it hasnt come to that.

dpr

How did you know that I would want to carry panniers? Did you see my other recent threads where I stated I was looking for a winter / touring bike?

Specifically, does any one know how the Cross - Check handles on tarmac with 23/25c tires?

dirtyphotons

i just figured if you'd be commuting on it you'd want panniers.

i have two wheelsets on mine, one with 23c road tires. with them on it feels just like a road bike, hope that heps.

dpr

I didnt say I would be commuting either, but thanks all the same! I will occasionally be doing short touring trips on it, but 95% of its use will be for rainy day training rides.

el-cid

That's the standard built-bike Crosscheck from Surly. If you have a local bike shop they should be able to get you the same built bike for the same price.

Brian

I looked at the Surly, but chose a different bike instead. My Fantom Cross arrived today.

slopvehicle

At the risk of sounding like an anti-capitalist, free-market hating snob, I can't help but feel like this cheapens Surly's brand. Yeah, the Motobecanes / Windsors / etc are decent enough budget frames. But there's no real company behind those designs-- they're the average stuff from China / Taiwan manufacturer catalogs.

While it's true that Surly's stuff is made in Asia (and, from what I've gathered, under ethically accountable conditions... is that also true for BikesDirect?), the designs aren't generic crap. They're the work of riders, of people actually spending time with the products and trying to push the envelope to make a little money go a long way in terms of functionality. Look at the Pugsley, the Karate Monkey, the Steamroller... all pioneers, more-or-less, in their class. Is putting those frames on the same page as a bunch of generic BikesDirect crud really doing justice to their designs? The hard work of those that designed and spec'd the frames?

I bet many times more heart and soul went into a Surly design than a neo-Motobecane / Windsor / etc. Thankfully BikesDirect can't undersell your LBS, or less-shady online retailers that sell Surly.

Brian

That's rather ridiculous. What brands do you own?

nowheels

Ouch !!!!! yes the illusion has been shattered

Vespa

If they were sold through LBS at a big premium to the BikesDirect price then that would be a dilution to the brand. As they are sold at the same price it just gives you a choice of where to source -I bought my CC w/o riding largely on its reputation.

Brand dilution would require same bike at variety of pricepoints or a cut-rate inferior bike badged as a Surly sold through a discounter - neither of these is happening.