mynie

I'm a bike commuter who does occasional longish (40-70 miles) single-day road trips in the spring and summer. Right now I own an 09 Cross Check, a 2010 Giant Rincon, and an 05 Trek 2100c.

I'm thinking of selling off my Trek and buying a road bike that's more dedicated to touring, not racing. I plan on doing a couple of substantial tours this upcoming summer, including Ragbrai, and I want a bike that'll hold a lot of gear while riding comfy and fairly fast.

My question, though, is whether I really need to buy a whole new bike when I already own a Cross Check. The Cross is my commuter and a real workhorse--I put about 50 miles on it a week. If I'm not looking to break any landspeed records, might I be better off putting thinner tires on my Check and trading in my old Trek for a speedier road bike, to use on single day trips? Or is the difference in ride between the Check and a dedicated touring bike enough to justify forgoing a really light, fast bike?

For reference, I figure I could probably get 500-650 out of the old Trek, and I'd be willing to spend up to an additional 1000 or so on a new bike.

ploeg

A lot of people have successfully toured with bikes less suitable than the Cross Check. Why not try it, since you own the Cross Check already? When you commute, add a few extra items to your load and see how it works for you. A dedicated touring bike will be more truck like, more suitable for hauling lots of gear without worry, but a Cross Check will do just fine. Particularly for RAGBRAI, where you don't have to haul substantial amounts of food and water with you.

LeeG

I honestly don't understand your decision making issues regarding the Trek but I've got a CC and LHT. If I was in your shoes I'd set up the CrossCheck for the tours and if you need the money more than the Trek sell it. The only reason to get the LHT is if you see yourself carrying two sets of loaded panniers or you're especially heavy. If pedaling fast with a loaded bike is your goal then load it very light with minimal windage.

Cyclebum

Your CC will do all that and do it well. Mine has/does.

You may want to tweak it a bit to suit yourself after giving it a long test ride loaded with about 40 pounds of stuff to simulate a tour. If possible, check the gearing suitability with some long, steep climbs.

c_m_shooter

You can tour on a Cross Check.

cyclezealot

I own a Cross Check and A tourer.. My Cross Check would work for heavy touring just fine. But, I would recommend you beef up the wheels and spokes and then off you go.

Pedaleur

...and half-loaded.

https://lh5.ggpht.com/_5RyCPiv-PA4/Su...0/DSC_1146.JPG

The short answer has already been given: you have the CC. Try it out.

I use my CC for touring, commuting and winter training with the club, and it does mostly fine.**

Things to think about:

-- you could get another set of dedicated, rock solid touring wheels (**swapping wheels with different widths requires brake adjustment, which isn't hard, but sometimes annoying)
-- mounting a front rack requires an adapter, since there are no rack mounting eyelets. Alternatively, you could buy a LHT fork separately and swap when needed (others have done this -- a search should find them)
-- there is more toe-overlap on the CC. Mount your fenders close to the tire. (**Otherwise, you may get your fender sucked up into the fork, freezing your front wheel. This is somewhat less than "fine". Trust me.)

meanwhile

As said, try out the Cross Check. But why put thinner tyres on it? If you are carrying more weight then you'd be more likely to need wider. If your current tyres are slow that's probably because they are made out of the wrong type of compound - this has a huge effect on rolling resistance. Go to Schwalbe's site and read their tech docs and read their tyre application guides. Your CC'd probably handle better for commuting and touring with something like 40mm Marathon Supremes.

staehpj1

The Cross Check looks like a great bike for the use your purpose. Obviously some of this is personal preference, but I think it is likely to be more fun to ride and maybe more suitable than the LHT for your intended use.

Even for extended touring with a light-ish load it might be preferable and if not at least OK. If you are of the everything but the kitchen sink persuasion and want to carry 50 + pounds of gear the LHT would be likely to be preferable, but with 20-35 pounds of gear and panniers you are likely to find the CC more suitable and more fun to ride.

To my way of thinking since you already have the CC it is a no brainer.

My personal preference on the tires would be 28 - 32 mm tires if fully loaded and 25 - 28 mm if credit card touring or supported. I am thinking 20 - 35 pounds for the loaded touring of gear and panniers and 10 - 20 pounds or less for the credit card or supported touring.

aroundoz

The Cross Check is a proven tourer. I just built up one and man is it fun to ride. I owned a LHT a couple years ago and I find the CC quicker and not so tank-like as the LHT. I am sure the LHT would handle the load better but after a few miles on the CC, you will be used to it's load handling characteristics and won't look back.

Yan 

Here's my Cross Check:

Pedaleur

What front rack are you using?

artesc

Question for you good sir, what racks are you using on your cross check? Are you using a LHT fork or using an adapter? Thanks a billion!

Cyclebum

Just in case you don't get an answer from the poster, I have used this rack for 4 years of extensive touring. When mounted correctly it is rock solid. And very cost effective.

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Produc...2_167572_-1___

LeeG

don't think the CC has more overlap than the LHT. To my 200lb weight it feels like a tank, albeit a more nimple handling tank than the LHT.

Yan 

I'm using an Old Man Mountain AC Lowrider front rack and a Jandd Expedition rear rack (great racks: no complaints so far). I'm using a pair of Tubus clamps on the Cross Check fork.

artesc

I like the cut of your jib; I'm all for inexpensive, rock solid things. Out of curiosity, what rear rack are you using?

And Pedaleur, thanks for the info. How long you been using the Expedition? Do you get plenty of clearance with it?

Pedaleur

For the record, I think you have me confused with Yan. I only have a rear rack on my CC (Topeak somethingorother). But Yan has come through with the info.