Absolutely love my Crosscheck. Similar thoughts to the others:

1.) Was not immediately as geeked about my bike like I was about my MTB or Road Racer. As I rode more and more over the years I really began to appreciate it. I was always taking this bike out if I could figure a reason. Favorite bike of all of mine. Get one (Surly or Crosscheck...what ever frame meets your needs). This now brings me to my changes/additions.

2.) Fenders....I actually have a different view on them though. I want to run larger tires for winter and with my clip on fenders (SKS or PB Hybrid) it was not large enough to cover the tires so I would get spray up on my front and down the back from that issue. So, to get enough coverage, you need more clearance.

3.) Short chainstays so you have to worry about heel strike if you have larger feet or larger bags on the back. Remember though, this is a CX bike so this is why the stays are shorter.

This is why I am sad to say that I am selling my beloved Crosscheck and getting................ a Fargo? Nope, I am getting the Karate Monkey. It can do just about everything I want it to do. If I had the money and the patience to wait for QBP to get them in stock I would get it for all of the braze on mounts. I do not, so I will do some retrofitting and make it work.

I repeat get either a Surly or Salsa and you will not be disappointed by either choice. Great companies!

Erik