DanitoLaboy

Hello everyone,

Im about to buy a surly cross check frame and fork for commuting and LD riding. I've read alot of post on how this frame runs 1 size bigger (top tube) than your avg bike. I went a got a fitting done by my LBS and according to them i should purchase a frame in between 45.5-46.2 (yes im short 5'4" to be exact). Im currently riding a Cannondale CAAD8 50cm and its too big for me. to make a long story short im debating if i should go with the 42 frame or the 46. any advice? thanks for the help.

Ken Wind

Have you called other dealers in your area to see if they have one of those sizes in stock? Maybe a generous BF member in your area has one that you can test ride.

DanitoLaboy

Thanks for the reply. Havent had any luck with that. and my LBS is only interested in selling their bikes.Cannondale.

climbhoser

What's too big about your current bike? Standover? Top Tube?

The Crosschecks run one size large because of their top tubes. For instance, I should be on a 57cm bike by normal fit kit estimates. This is 57 cm seat tube, C-T.

However, I have about a 67cm reach. Take a 56cm Crosscheck with a 57cm top tube, add on a 90mm stem and a 75mm reach bar and I get a 72cm effective reach just to get to the hoods.

Granted, I have a short torso for my height, but you see what I'm getting at.

So, you might wanna figger out what your reach is, not just the fit-kit sizing, and go from there. My guess would be to get the 42 because you're probably dialled in for a top tube on a standard 46, which is what the Surly gives you on a 42.

Question you then need to ask yourself is will it be tall enough?

For me, for instance, I could size down to a 54, which gives me a 1cm gain in tt to my advantage. However, I now have to space the stem up an extra inch because of the height I lost there. To get what I need, I should go even shorter, like a 52, but then it'd look like I'm riding a folding bike!

So, for most people this isn't the case...just make sure it won't be for you.

I've found ways to make it work, but it's kinda funky

DanitoLaboy

[QUOTE=climbhoser;6683885]What's too big about your current bike? Standover? Top Tube?

The Crosschecks run one size large because of their top tubes. For instance, I should be on a 57cm bike by normal fit kit estimates. This is 57 cm seat tube, C-T.

However, I have about a 67cm reach. Take a 56cm Crosscheck with a 57cm top tube, add on a 90mm stem and a 75mm reach bar and I get a 72cm effective reach just to get to the hoods.

Granted, I have a short torso for my height, but you see what I'm getting at.

So, you might wanna figger out what your reach is, not just the fit-kit sizing, and go from there. My guess would be to get the 42 because you're probably dialled in for a top tube on a standard 46, which is what the Surly gives you on a 42.

Question you then need to ask yourself is will it be tall enough?


For me, for instance, I could size down to a 54, which gives me a 1cm gain in tt to my advantage. However, I now have to space the stem up an extra inch because of the height I lost there. To get what I need, I should go even shorter, like a 52, but then it'd look like I'm riding a folding bike!

So, for most people this isn't the case...just make sure it won't be for you.

both the stand over and the top tube are too big for me. my seat post is mostly inside of the downtube and i feel too stretched out to reach the hoods without locking my elbows. for short distances 15-20 miles it doesnt bug me too much but anything over that it gets to be a pain.

DanitoLaboy

thanks for the reply.both the stand over and the top tube are too big for me. my seat post is mostly inside of the downtube and i feel too stretched out to reach the hoods without locking my elbows. for short distances 15-20 miles it doesnt bug me too much but anything over that it gets to be a pain.

sfswanson

+1 to above
go with the right tt length
i normally ride a 54 but have a 52 CC. Seat post has that traditional fistfull showing and i have 100 mm of
spacers on the uncut steerer which puts the bars 1 cm above the saddle (brooks b17)
since surly doesnt cut the steerer dial in the stem hight with spacers
the guys over at surly say there is NO problem running an uncut steerer since the whole fork is steel.
Steve

georgiaboy

When I ordered my Crosscheck I selected the size with the largest standover height for my fit. For me that turned out to be 46cm (the Bianchi I ride is a 51cm.) The top tube was longer than I had ever ridden before and I was thinking this frame is NOT my size. However, I was wrong. I continued to ride it and realized I simply was not adjusted to bending forward as my previous bike positioning was a more upright position. Once my back became more flexible the bike was very comfortable. I was able to cruise better since I was more aero than a upright position. The Crosscheck is a great fit for me.

climbhoser

All well and good as long as you're not in pain. If you can get used to it, that's one thing, but if it has you so stretched out that it hurts your hands, shoulders and neck, then that's another.

bsyptak

I'm 5-9 and would feel most comfortable on a 50 which has a 54.2mm effective top tube. Someone else said a 52 which has a 54.7 so 1/2 cm longer top tube. All my road bikes are a 54 top tube with 90mm stems. I could go longer in the stem, but I have no interest in being in a race stance. My wife is 5-6 and bought the 46 which has a 52.8 effective top tube. I think we have a 100 on hers so her reach would actually be pretty similar to mine.

It gets even more interesting when you go down to the 42 which is 52 effective top tube. Huge difference in seat tube to top tube, but not so much difference in top tube from the 42 to the 50.

I think the best way is to have the lbs you did your fitting done at to set their fit bike up to the 42 and 46 specifications and see if one is better than the other. They should be able to do that. Our LBS did it for us for free if we bought the frame from them and it definitely helped decide which size to get my wife.

DanitoLaboy

thanks for all the replies. I compared the geometry guide on both bikes and the 46cm is almost identical to my current ride. So if i understand correctly i should go with the 42cm.The top tube is shorter on the 42 not by much but it is. LBS is not much help around here cause im not interested in their models.

bsyptak

Any LBS can order the Cross Check in frame only or complete bike. It's in their bike parts catalog, the LBS bible if you will. The frame should cost you about $400-$410. Any more than that and you should mail order just on principle. Here's an idea of what's in the catalog, though these prices are discounted:

https://aebike.com/page.cfm?pageID=30

climbhoser

You can also do a home fit.

I've done one and it was just about right on the mark. Some are more basic than others, while others yet are way too much.

I don't know the calculation they use, but I tend to like ones that have pubic bone height, arm length, overal height, shoulder width and femur length.

In fact, you can check out the online FREE version of Bikecad at www.bikeforest.com and play with your intended Surly Crosscheck sizes. They have a blank where you can input your dimensions and it will give you recommendations on sizing. It's worth checking out.

Good luck, man.

DanitoLaboy

Thanks!

surfimp

I'm lucky in that I've got a few LBS to choose from. The one I ended up going with had a cool fitting tool, I don't remember the name but basically it's an adjustable frame that can be setup to pretty closely mimic the fit of just about any frame. We set it up using the measurements from the Cross Check and I ended up as a match for the 60cm frame (I'm 6'2" - 6'3" depending on atmospheric conditions).

Anyways when I got the bike, at first it felt like too much reach (as mentioned above) so I went with a little bit shorter stem. However, after riding it for a month now, I'm actually feeling a little bit cramped... funny how that works out. Anyways, I'm really happy with my Cross Check and hope you find what works for you.

Steve