Surly Traveler's Check
10-22-07, 02:13 PM
#1
this bike is an aqueduct
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Surly Traveler's Check
Anyone else excited about this lil fella?
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Villin custom touring | Raleigh XXIX | Medici Pro Pista | 1978 Schwinn Stingray
Villin custom touring | Raleigh XXIX | Medici Pro Pista | 1978 Schwinn Stingray
Last edited by Matthew A Brown; 10-22-07 at 02:19 PM.
10-22-07, 02:29 PM
#2
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Yep! I travel a lot for my job - usually 12 days at a stretch, then a weekend home - so it really interferes with my cycling. I looked at bringing a full-size bike along, but the airline baggage charges would be excessive. Now, if I can actually fit that sucker in a Samsonite suitcase, we'd be talkin'.
10-22-07, 03:53 PM
#3
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I had a 58cm Co-Motion with S&S Works couplings and could never get the thing packed into the hardshell case that came with it.
10-22-07, 03:55 PM
#4
Professional Fuss-Budget
I just bought a regular Surly CC, so meh. 
Seriously, I'm a little surprised by them doing it on the CC. Seems like the LHT would be a more logical choice.
Seriously, I'm a little surprised by them doing it on the CC. Seems like the LHT would be a more logical choice.
10-22-07, 04:04 PM
#5
Professional Fuss-Budget
Aha, official word from the horse's mouth....
So that's $600 extra for the couplers, maybe $100-200 less than a retrofit. In theory if they do a "Complete" version, that's a $1600 bike - might be more if you had to put all-new parts on it. Not bad, but more expensive than some decent-quality folding bikes (like a Swift or possibly even a low-end Bike Friday).
I personally don't like the color, so I'm OK with missing out on it.
Originally Posted by Surly Blog
- Travelers-Check
This a Cross-Check frameset with S & S machined couplers installed so you can disassemble the bike in half and carry it in a luggage case. The couplers are beautifully machined stainless steel and they've been on the market for years with an excellent track record. The Travelers-Check will be available as a frameset only in Deep Water Blue color, similar to the original Cross-Check if anybody recalls that far back. MSRP for the frameset is $1075 and they should be available around January/Febraury 2008. The cost does not include the luggage case, but there are a couple options available directly through S & S and also through our distributor. I spent $160 roundtrip getting my standard Karate Monkey on the plane to/from Vegas, so we estimate the upcharge of the coupled frame and cost of a case will pay itself off in 4-5 trips.
In addition to cost, if you took a stock Cross-Check and sent it to a framebuilder to have couplers installed, it would cost you more money than a standard Travelers-Check. Not to mention, we've made sure the thicker part of the top tube and down tubes extend beyond the couplers, so it would be stronger than a retrofit Cross-Check. Did I mention warranty? If you modified your Cross-Check with couplers or paint, it would void the warranty.
This a Cross-Check frameset with S & S machined couplers installed so you can disassemble the bike in half and carry it in a luggage case. The couplers are beautifully machined stainless steel and they've been on the market for years with an excellent track record. The Travelers-Check will be available as a frameset only in Deep Water Blue color, similar to the original Cross-Check if anybody recalls that far back. MSRP for the frameset is $1075 and they should be available around January/Febraury 2008. The cost does not include the luggage case, but there are a couple options available directly through S & S and also through our distributor. I spent $160 roundtrip getting my standard Karate Monkey on the plane to/from Vegas, so we estimate the upcharge of the coupled frame and cost of a case will pay itself off in 4-5 trips.
In addition to cost, if you took a stock Cross-Check and sent it to a framebuilder to have couplers installed, it would cost you more money than a standard Travelers-Check. Not to mention, we've made sure the thicker part of the top tube and down tubes extend beyond the couplers, so it would be stronger than a retrofit Cross-Check. Did I mention warranty? If you modified your Cross-Check with couplers or paint, it would void the warranty.
I personally don't like the color, so I'm OK with missing out on it.
10-22-07, 04:31 PM
#6
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I suppose the question is whether they could have packed an LHT into a suitcase of acceptable size. Even the Bike Fridays are not wallowing in room in their case. I have wondered about the S&S, because the new shipping environment is not permissive so in the old days you might have packed you bike down to protect it from travel, now we are somewhere between the need to fit everything into a 2 case minimum, and the need to hide it from the airline and other prying eyes.
Also the Bikefriday ( base price for finished bike $800) as this strategy of using the case as a trailer. I doubt it is the idea trailer, but it may be a possible one. That saves you carrying or buying paniers, racks, waterproof covers etc.... They sell the trailers separately, but the case would need to be a non-wollowing size to make use of this strategy. There is a proven bike Friday package, and I don't think we are there yet with this approach.
By going this route with the Cross Check, they are also including cyclo cross racers that use their product, and people who just want to have a bike places they go. Neither of these have to worry so much about what to do with the travel case.
Also the Bikefriday ( base price for finished bike $800) as this strategy of using the case as a trailer. I doubt it is the idea trailer, but it may be a possible one. That saves you carrying or buying paniers, racks, waterproof covers etc.... They sell the trailers separately, but the case would need to be a non-wollowing size to make use of this strategy. There is a proven bike Friday package, and I don't think we are there yet with this approach.
By going this route with the Cross Check, they are also including cyclo cross racers that use their product, and people who just want to have a bike places they go. Neither of these have to worry so much about what to do with the travel case.
10-22-07, 06:37 PM
#7
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It's not hard to find a place to stash a hardcase when you fly with a bike. Cycling clubs, bike shops, small family run hotels, ask around before you go and I'm sure it can be done. Heck, I have a basement!
S&S also sells really nice hardcases....that fit the airlines standards. But these are not cheap...I bet around $2000 for bike and case.
S&S also sells really nice hardcases....that fit the airlines standards. But these are not cheap...I bet around $2000 for bike and case.
