eogie

I'm in need of a commuter and I don't want to spend much. I just found a cross check in my size for 200.00 on craigslist. It's only the frame and fork. It's used of course but said to be in great condition. What do you think?

https://knoxville.craigslist.org/bik/687722886.html

pasopia

Sounds like a great deal to me. The cross check is a great frame.

eogie

So now I'm thinking that it might be too big. It's a 62cm frame and my inseam is only about 35". I'm nearly 6"4 but I have a long torso. Could I build it up with shorter cranks? Hmmm.

JeffS

Maybe I have it backwards, but I'd think a long torso would actually be better than the other way around.

As long as you're fine with the standover height, you should be fine. I'm 6'4", but with a 36.5" cycling inseam. I'd personally buy the 62, though I could make a 60 work if I wanted. My main problem with the crosscheck is the short head tube - which is why I don't own one.

eogie

My road bike has a 63cm seat tube which, I think, is a bit longer than the ST on the 62cm cross check. It might work!

eogie

I'm going to get it. That's going to finish off my bike collection. I have a road bike, mountain bike, and soon to be commuter.

knobster

Finish? You've got to be kidding. Now you need a touring bike, a time trial bike, a TTT bike, a downhill bike, a cyclocross bike and maybe a full crit bike. You're just getting started.

eogie

Ha, I barely have the money for the bikes I have. I'm going to be done for quite some time.

c_m_shooter

No worries, the Cross Check will handle most of this list. Downhill may be a bit much, but occasional 3 foot drops on XC trails are okay. (so far)

eogie

I'm very excited about the versatility of this frame. I might just sell my single speed to fund building it up.

climbhoser

Yah, short head tube for a given top tube length. Most bikes 1 size smaller have 2cm longer head tubes than the Xcheck!

Short legs and long torso are what this bike is all about. Doesn't work so well for folks of the other unproportionate-ness.

Western

Climbhoser-

I've read your point on the CC's dimensions in other forums and it has me worried about the CC fitting me. It's on my shortlist for a single speed commuter build and I can't test ride one as I live in London and they are very hard to find built. My other problem is I'm not sure really sure if I have longer legs than torso. Maybe I'm average??? I took my measurements below following Competitive Cyclists instructions. Any thoughts on whether I would fit well on a 56, 58 or 60" CC?

(cm then inches):
Inseam 87.5 34.5
Trunk 66.25 26
Forearm 35.75 14.1
Arm 64 25.20
Thigh 64.75 25.5
Lower Leg 58.75 23.1
Sternal Notch 156 61.4
Total Body Height 190.5 75

climbhoser

Me:
Inseam 33.5 in = 85.09 cm
Trunk 25.5 in = 64.77 cm
Forearm 12 in = 30.48 cm
Arm 25.5 in = 64.77 cm
Thigh 22.5 in = 57.15 cm
Lower Leg 22 in = 55.88 cm
Sternal Notch 57 in = 144.78 cm
Total Body Height 69.5 in = 176.53 cm

However, what did the Competitive Cyclist recommend for you in the 3 different types of fit? The biggest it recommended for me was a 55 top tube, but the drop it recommended is more achievable with, say, a 14.5 cm Head Tube. Therein lies the rub...my 56 Cross Check has a 57cm Top Tube and a 12.1cm Head Tube!

So, I'm 2 cm too long in reach, and 2 cm too much drop!

I finally decided on a Performance Scattante XRL Cross. I don't know if they're available in London at all, but they're nice. They're aluminum, but come with a carbon fork and an integrated headset, not to mention eyelets and rack braze ons on the rear. Vertical dropouts, so I'll be riding SS this winter with a tensioner, but it does have canti posts which was my other requirement.

I was tempted by the Masi Speciale CX, too. If I hadn't found such a steal on the Scattante I would be getting fit for a Masi right now. IMHO they're nicer bikes than the Surlys. The Surly has more of a "built-for-utility" look to it, but the feel of the Scattante is just as useful as the Cross Check.

Don't get me wrong, I think Surly makes an awesome product, but I feel there's a sub-culture of cyclists that have been won over by the marketing hype. Just listen to the name, "Surly," and it conjures up badass images. Masi makes you think of shaved legs and cycling caps with the bills turned up. Paint them both black and ride them side by side and you're bound to like the Masi more. It's just a nicer bike.

Also, I think even the Soma is a bit more accomodating. But, be careful, it's all about the TT and the HT combo. For a guy your height I'd probably say 57cm TT and 15.5cm HT. Soma can't give you that, but it can come close. It gives you a 57.6 cm TT with a 13.5cm HT. You can spacer the height of the bars, and use a 90 or 100mm stem for the reach without being out of whack.

Bottom line, you have a long torso. Your height seems to be there, which, honestly works well with the Surly. I'd be inclined towards a 58 with your height and reach, but it does make for a tad longer reach. IMHO most guys about 5'11" or 6' would be happy on a 56 Cross Check. Most guys that size have the same inseam as me, but longer torso by 1-3 inches and longer arms. Problem with short arms is that a long TT is bad, but a shorter TT means lower HT, too. So, while you improve reach you exacerbate drop.

Other bike that woulda worked was the Pake C'Mute. It has an absurdly long HT for the TT, but it's a heavy, purpose built bike that while great for utility cycling it wouldn't have done the rec-riding like I wanted.

So, I went for a light alu 'cross bike with everything I want!

Good luck, my friend, I feel your pain...just keep analyzing,a nd check out www.bikeforest.com for the free bikeCAD applet to do comparisons. Do some test rides, use that geometry to pit the bike you tested against the geometry of others to determine if it would improve or worsen issues you noticed.

Western

Thanks, that's helpful! Competitive Cyclist recommended a 55 to 56cm TT length across all three fits. It doesn't specify though a HT length though so not sure how to look at that. Based on a 55 or 56cm TT I would go for a 56cm Cross Check but am wondering if that will leave me with a high seat post vs. handlebar height like I have today on my old MTB. So maybe I should go with the 58cm or move on to a different bike like the Casseroll or Masi as you say which have different geometries? I'm very new to this geometry thing and unfortunately cannot test ride any of these bikes here in London.

idcruiserman

Your arms are kind of short for your height (like me). Your inseam is a bit short for 6'3" also, so it sounds like you're tall in the saddle. I would say 56cm, but I never could get a cross check to fit properly.

Patriot

Cross Checks are very durable. If you want a "do it all" bike, then go for it.

eogie

Well, it's located about 5 hours from me and I don't drive so it would have to be shipped. I'm in no hurry, even though that's a good deal. I've decided I'm going to wait and build up a Vassago Fisticuff when it comes out.....should be this fall.

climbhoser

Y'know, I was thinking about it today and you do have short arms for your height. I think you could make the Cross Check in a 56 work, but you'd wanna spacer it up like 2-3" and use a short-ish stem, like a 90mm.

Again, it's a really appealing design, but it's just bad for many people. Sometime I fantasize about taking mine into a framebuilder and having them hack out 2cm of frame in length! Of course, I know all the inherent issues with doing this, and that it's actually impossible, but a man can dream!

Best thing I could have done is what I did, and that's get a different frameset. There are lots of good designs out there, with similar features, that will work better.

Salsa Casserol is a great design, for instance. I would have gone that road had it not been for the calipers only design. Same with the Masi Speciale Commuter.

CX bikes are great, and I like the high BB for running fixie, but they do make it a bit awkward. The Casserol and Speciale Commuter have high enough BBs...they just don't have canti posts!

Western

I'm with you - I want the canti-posts but I also want steel frame, front-facing horiz drops, front/rear fender mounts, rear rack mounts, and accepts 135mm wheels. I just checked the Masi Commuter on your suggestion and really like it - except no canti posts. Any frames out there besides the Cross Check that meets those requirements and are available frame only or a single speed build AND comes in under $1k?

climbhoser

Pake C'Mute does, but it's not nearly as nimble a frame.

Other one of note is the new Vassago Fisticuff, but I don't know anything about geometry on it and it doesn't come out until fall.

Like I said, I'm going to suck up the one thing I can, which is the horizontal dropouts, and just use a tensioner. If you're not into the terrible aesthetics of a tensioner you could get a Masi Speciale CX and a second wheelset with an ENO hub. It'd do the trick, for sure.

I'm not into SS for aesthetics, however, but for winter cleanliness and ease of maintenance, so a tensioner is fine with me.

Anyways, good luck to ya. There's this one site I found with some other frames in the category that I'll link to when I get home and can open my e-mail.

Western

Any ideas on fender clearance for the Masi Commuter? I can't find anything on here or in google but the calipers have me worried. Can I fit 32's or 35's with fenders?

climbhoser

Check this website out: https://byke.wordpress.com/

Scroll down to see John's list of bikes. He chose the Salsa Casseroll, but he was looking in the same arena.

About the Masi...find the Masi Guy, Tim, on the webz here: https://masiguy.blogspot.com/

If you leave a comment on one of his posts he's pretty good about replying.

Last thing, it's on John Dark's website, but have you thought about Planet X Kaffenback? It's built right in your backyard.

That's all I got for now.

Western

Thanks for the link to the list. That's a great starting place for anyone coming up to speed. It looks like the Kaffenback is out of stock. I've looked at the Pompino from On One as well and see lots of those in London. If I decide to buy 'local' that's probably the frame I'll get. Will have to be a build though as their stock Pompino now has only 120mm spacing. You can order the 135mm as a frame.
Thanks again for the help.