robmcl

I have been kicking around the idea of getting a Cross Check complete for commuting and touring. The stock Cross Check comes with a 48/36 double and a 11-32 10 speed cassette. Working with the stock crank set and derailleurs how far can I go to add lower gears by changing out the chainrings and cassette? I would prefer not to have to go to the swapping out to a trekking triple option, at least not yet. A more reasonable set up for me would be something like a 38/24 with a 11-36 cassette. Would this work? Would cross gearing be a problem? I should add I never use the 48t chainring on the bikes that I have had a triple crank set on so I can certainly give up something on the high end in terms of range.

Thanks,

mstateglfr 

You never use the large ring? Even for commuting?

24 up front with 36 rear is...well hopefully you love spinning.

As to whether this will work or not, much of it depends on if your derailleurs can handle the tooth difference and ring size.
What are the limits for each?

Yan 

You cannot put a 24t chainring on the stock crank of the Cross Check. That would required a 74mm BCD crank, a road triple. You might consider replacing the stock crank with a mountain double crankset, which will allow you to use your desired gearing.

mstateglfr: I run 48-38-24t chainrings with a 11-34 cassette on my touring / commuting bike. I have never used the large chainring outside of mountain descents. 38x11t is 40km/h (25mph) at 90rpm. My city is flat and I have never reached this speed on a commute.

robmcl

Urban commuting. Not enough space between stop lights and such to let it rip like that.

BigAura

Not stock but:

I swapped in a mountain triple chainring set 44-32-22 on my Cross-Check. Of course I had to change to a triple front derailleur too. Worked well for me.

robmcl

[QUOTE=BigAura;17995834]Not stock but:

I swapped in a mountain triple chainring set 44-32-22 on my Cross-Check. Of course I had to change to a triple front derailleur too. Worked well for me.

QUOTE]

I have nothing against triples. Just looking to see what other options are available before I have to go down that road. You probably had to swap out the bottom bracket too? What about the shifters?

robmcl

So Surly is saying that you can convert a Cross Check to triple per the instructions below. It seems like it would just be a matter of adding a bottom bracket and granny gear. Has anyone had any luck with that?

"Yes, but you'll need to buy some stuff. The crankset that comes stock on our complete bike will accommodate a 74mm bolt circle granny ring. You'll need a 74mm BCD chainring, some bolts and spacers for it, and a longer bottom bracket (think 118ish) . You can probably get this done for around $100 at a bike shop. The stock shifters and front derailleur will work fine with it."

BigAura

Yes to bottom bracket, but the XT set comes with a BB. Shifters were fine.

bikemig 

The cross checks I've seen have a 110 bcd double drilled out for a triple chainring (74 bcd). Converting it to a triple is pretty straightforward as per the instructions in post no. 7. Bar end shifters work fine with a triple since the left is friction.

I picked up a 1985 Trek 400 recently set up stock with a double chainring that was drilled out for a triple. It's a smart way to sell a bike.

I really like the 110/74 bcd triples. My Soma double-cross is set up this way and it's one of my favorites bike to ride. The soma double cross is pretty similar to the surly cross check.

robmcl

When I first saw this, I thought how well would that work. Now that I think about it, and I have seen this idea in other threads, worse case I could always run the triple as a double with the two inner chain rings if the derailuer does not have enough range or if there are chain line problems. Most of what I need would be on the middle chain ring anyway.