I figure you guys have put both the Surly Cross Check and the Bianchi Volpe to the test. I am interested in these two bikes because I want the versatility of horizontal dropouts for SS/geared and brazeons to hang stuff, etc. My use will be primarily road riding.

First, what do you think of these two bikes? (I have searched BF and read the posts, but if anyone would like to offer an additional opinion, please do),

Second, who has the best price on the Cross Check frame? And is the Volpe available as a frameset?

Many Thanks,

RFC

I test rode the Bianchi San Jose, and it has basically the same geometry as a Volpe, except it's a single speed. If you want a single speed/fixed gear Volpe, you will have to go with a San Jose, as the regular Bianchi Volpe comes with vertical drop outs, not horizontal. As for the Cross-Check, I test rode a Complete and had more fun on it than on the San Jose. But I'm biased towards Surly anyway

Why don't you try test riding them? Everyone's different, after all.

My commuter is a San Jose frame. Rides great, although I can definitely feel the weight difference vs. my road bike (I try to think of it as extra training). The horiz (actually more angled) dropouts are on the short side but look long enough to make ss/fg feasible. Plenty of fittings for racks, bottles, fenders, etc - 700x35mm studded tires just barely fit with fenders (Planet Bike).

I commute on a 2006 Volpe. 95% road miles
8264 miles
front derailleur broke and was replaced
seat post broke and was replaced
I check to see if spokes are tight every 50 miles or so and I have not had too get a wheel trued for over a year.

I ride my Cross Check decked out MonsterCross style.


I got a good deal from Universal Cycles for $300.

My partner rides a San Jose. He has spent two years envying my IGH and the low maintenance on it, and envying his buddy at work's IGH. He's not really into bike maintenance, so I do most of it. He's most comfortable on a drop bar, and he's your standard legs like tree trunks sorta football player build. So logically, he's inclined to be a masher... and he's spent a couple years with it in his face that spinning is a lot more effective . So for now, his San Jose is staying singlespeed, since stock it's geared low enough that he spends way more time spinning. (an IGH upgrade is around $300, and we'll do it if or when he's having more trouble with hills than I do... I'm usually the better climber, and I'm often carrying more of our stuff)

A Crosscheck Complete is aimed at a completely different rider, who spins a lot more and rides in less muck. Also one who doesn't regularly ride to work in wool dress slacks . Swapping parts to get it as well targeted as a San Jose would be pretty pricey and not really worth the effort. Working off a Crosscheck frame would be a lot more expensive than a San Jose.

The Volpe is pretty much aimed at the same rider as the Crosscheck. The Volpe is a bit more racing oriented, the Crosscheck is a bit more aimed at the kind of people who bang their gear up hard.

I have the Bianchi Volpe (2009) set up as a touring bike. Rear rack for panniers, full fenders and 28cc tires. I like it just fine, but I did have issues with spokes breaking on the rear wheel after about 2,000 miles. I paid my LBS to put heavier spokes on the rear wheel. It's only been a couple of weeks now but so far so good. It came with three front sprockets and I removed one of them - I should remove both of them AND the front derailuer because I ride on flat land only and I've never gone to the small chain ring in the front - ever.

I had a San Jose that was beautiful until it was hit by a car. I survived, it didn't. I replaced it with a Cross Check built up as a SS for my commute. I love it as well.

Either way you go, if it fits you, you'll be on a great bike.