The horizontal dropouts add to the versatility of the frame since it makes it easier to run an IGH, or FG/SS. If you have a problem with slipping, Surly's got you covered:

I've never had trouble with axle slippage on my CC. Nor, for that matter, on my other steel frame, with which I run QR skewers. Since they play well with all my hubs -- flip-flop, IGH, and cassette -- I love my semi-horizontals!

Interesting. Hadn't heard of the Tuggnut.
Might need to pick one up for the GF's bike.
She had a slippage incident just the other day.

That's a good point-I was planning on taking the logos off to make it harder to identify. And though it may not make sense to people who live outside of the Twin Cities area, I'm in St. Paul, where I don't feel the populace is as bike savvy as our big brother to the west ;-)

lol

It's getting the logos off that I wondered about...one could paint over them, but it's not like they just peel off.

Removing Surly decals: https://www.surlybikes.com/blog/spew/...d_drivetrains/

Oh wow, interesting...

Unfortunately, I have some other obligations this fall-I do hope to head out to some practice sessions though.

IRT use as a utility bike-thankfully, I have another road bike to keep me from wanting the CC (or whatever bike I get) to do more than it wants to or is capable of. A comfortable bike for commutes, or that can handle rides in sloppy weather/crappy roads and not have me worry about the higher end parts is what I'm hoping for.

Awesome-thanks for the post. I won't lie, Surly's pragmatism in how they approach their bikes is what makes them a more alluring brand (and no, I'm not a hipster.) I can't imagine many bike manufacturers (or any brand name businesses) publishing how to go about de-branding their bikes to make them anonymous.

exactly what I did with my Pacer. I kept the headbadge though.

not that it's for you, but i'm pretty happy with my CC. Just did a 2000 mile tour with it and use it daily as a commuter. Changed the saddle to a Brooks Flyer and the brakes for Shimano BR-R550's. Worked out pretty nicely.

Then there's the issue of No Lugs. Which would make me lean towards a Singular Peregrine:

https://www.singularcycles.com/peregrine.html

(This is all aesthetics, of course. But it's a very pretty bike.)

The new LHT will have disc tabs.

Hmmm....now perhaps it's between the LHT and CC....or both?

Funny how no one mentions the Bianchi Volpe anymore.

I test rode it-a great bike-but was a rougher ride than expected. Granted-I was forced to test ride a bike that was smaller than my ideal (I believe it was a 57cm) but they were getting a 61 in that would prove a better test. Don't worry, it's also on my short list. Any thoughts on how it serves as a commuter?

Ande, $.02 to throw in the hopper, I've been commuting with a CC for a couple years with racks in the front or rear and pannier loads in the front OR rear. What I've found is that the CC handles a lot better with panniers in the front than back. When out of the saddle and sprinting when there's panniers on the rear the whole bike kind of whips about a bit, with the panniers in the front it feels like the whole bike is a lot more solid and ones line is a lot straighter and turns more predictable.

Sprinting with loaded front and rear panniers?.... kind of like how a fully loaded semi 'sprints' off the mark?

er,,sprinting with ONLY front OR rear panniers. When commuting along at 12-15mph and you want to get to the turn or in line with other vehicles going 20-25mph one sprints from a cruising velocity, there's no sprinting from a standing start. Out of the saddle,pulling on the bars, whether going slowly up a hill or quickly on the flats torques the frame differently than sitting and pedaling hard. The OP criteria seem to be commuting and fast riding. The CC handles much better with load on the front with out of saddle efforts.

Surly does a great job of marketing, which is one reason why they've become oh so popular. But to me, it's really getting to be a turn off. For example, on the CC (and other frames of theirs), they space the rear dropouts to 132.5. Good idea--it can take mountain or road standard hubs. But, a number of other manufacturers are doing this; it's nothing too special. Surly feels obligated to name this spacing, as if it's proprietary: "Gnot-rite." They can't even resist the temptation to turn that into something absurd.

They make great products. Really. You'd be happy with it. But all that marketing has a price tag which you're paying directly. And, I would just feel dirty allowing myself to be seduced by their obnoxious branding. Please do consider other frames as well with similar qualities to the CC. Look into Soma frames or something by Civia as well. They're probably comparable quality, cheaper, with less theft risk.

I probably have about 20,000 commuting miles on my Crosscheck. I bought it used in 2006, replaced every single part over the next four years then crashed it and replaced the frame. I think the only part left on it from when I got it is the rear brake.

The frame has two drawbacks. First, it has a short head tube. In order to have my bars up where I like them, I need lots of spacers on my very long steer tube. No problems, but it does make the bike look a little funny.

The other is the horizontal drops. Sure, you can run it as a single speed. But if you are not actually going to do that, then they are a pain.

Why not get a Cross-Check? Hmmmmm....I got nothin'

Marc

I didn't like the 132.5mm spacing combined with semi-horizontal dropouts. It makes it tougher to get a mountain bike hub in there and requires too much QR force to hold a road hub.

Yes, my Soma DoubleCross has that spacing and it is annoying.
It takes two hands to spread the dropouts, then with your third hand you push in the wheel.

Assuming it was a serious question: Weight, geometry, canti brakes, robin's egg color, non-aero, etc.