As far as the original question/concern goes, I ride a 49cm langster frame. 2006 model. I have meduim MKS toeclips and am running 165mm cranks. I have absolutely ZERO toe overlap. It's really amazing.

I bought the langster about a year ago and liked it at first, but as time went on, I liked it less and less eventually I got so sick of it that I sold it and got the Steamroller which I loved on day one and love on day three hundred. Plus the Roller is just sooo much cooler looking:
http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/phot...72623_6503.jpg

Versus:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2237/...a3422b.jpg?v=0

The langster is like fisher-price and the Steamroller is like a Tonka Truck.

While I agree (I have mikes old bareknuckle :D) we are forgetting the frameset alone is on par with this fellows budget for a complete bike.
That said, I would go surly over langster, I think those langsters ride like boats and the parts build up isnt as impressive as some would say. Off the bat I would replace the cog and lockring, take off the back brake and replace the bars. Also the sloping top tube is disgust. Thats all my opinion though...

I would say steamroller. It's a strong solid frame with fairly aggressive geometry, loads of tire and fender clearance (too bad about the lack of eyelets and rear brake bridge though) and it looks classy. To me, the Langster doesn't offer enough in the way of practical or interesting features to make up for its ugliness. (but I'm weird and conservative so to me the integrated head set and carbon fork are minuses)

i love the look of the langster. i'm a big fan of specialized. my main bike is an allez.

I'd go with the Surly...

I prefer the Langster. Lighter and stiffer. Surly may look cooler, but 4130 cro-mo is pretty entry level stuff and nothing special IMHO but performance wise the Specialized frameset is better IMHO. The parts on either are purely there so you can ride it out of the shop. The only stock components on my Langster is the frame (not fork), and headset. The Surly group is no better IMHO.

If you care about going fast get the Spec, if you are more into retro looks get the Surly.

Never rode a Langster but love my Surly. No problems w/ BB clearance, though the cages do scrape if I miss flipping into them (170mm cranks). Zero toe overlap on the 59 frame. And it does have a rear brake bridge. I spec'd two brakes for use with the freewheel I thought I wanted but still haven't flipped over to. . .

"The langster is like fisher-price and the Steamroller is like a Tonka Truck."

HAH !

Steamroller.

If you experience pedal strike, run bigger tires. My main commuting bike for the last year is my darling 62cm charcoal Steamroller. I put 175mm craks on it with 700x28 Gator Skins and rarely had any trouble with pedal strike. The times I know it would present itself would be turning into parking lots via a sidewalk cutout.

I also used a 59cm Steamroller complete with riser bars and WTB AllTerrainasaurus tires as my offroad bike. The geometry doesn't really lend itself to rolling over roots and and such, but holy crap, fun, fun, fun!

right on, glad to hear it
i am going to be ordering mine soon

what size is your frame? i am about 6'1" so i am considering the 56 but i am not sure

thanks

6'3", size 59. They have them "complete" now, so just go to your LBS, try one on, and then order the proper size frame (or buy it there).

I would take the Surly over the Langster. I already have a track bike and love it to death, but would be more than happy with a Surly with cx tires, fenders, rack and panniers.

they lbs doesnt carry them so i am going to sit on some other bikes there...i heard the top tube is longer on the steamer

i am riding a 58 right now and it is comfy...i could always adjust stem length to tweak it
;)

Surlys definitely have longer than average top tubes. I'm using an 80mm stem on my Cross-Check, and I did the same when I borrowed a Steamroller a few months ago.