Surly Cross Check – how do they run on the road?

Hi guys,
I’m interested in getting a Surly Cross Check to use for a bit of cyclo cross racing. However, I think I’d mainly end up using it on the road as an audax and long distance bike. I’m not so interested in the Surly Long Haul Trucker as I already have the brakes to do a cross bike and doing the occasional cross race would be nice.

Therefore – who runs a cross check on the road and does long (100km+) rides on them? How do you get on with it over these kinds of distances?

Cheers!

I have one which has rePlaced my road bike and ‘proper’ cross bike. It is comfy and stable. Oh, and heavy. But it rides so much more confidently off road than my racy cross bike did. If you are specifically after a race bike then probably not the best choice, but as a do it all bike I love mine. Haven’t ever ridden it as far as 100k tho

I’ve done that sort of distance a few times over the Summer, the Surly’s a pretty comfortable ride. The geometry’s pretty relaxed but it’s too heavy to be nippy though swapping the forks would take care of a lot of that. If you’re not in a hurry stick some fat road tyres on to make it even comfier – I use 32mm for Winter.

Im lucky enough to have both. The cross check is a super amazing all round bike, simply love riding it and always makes me smile. The LHT is a fantastic workhorse, more stable than the Check but loses a bit of the perky spirit the Check has. Neither are light, but both are just simply lovely.

For multi use it has to be a check. Good enough to race if your just in it for a laugh, even more fun if you do it single-speed ;0)

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Team Crosscheck[/url] by dickyelsdon[/url], on Flickr

Wish I hadn’t read this thread… got a 1×1 and a Karate Monkey…. all I need is a Crosscheck to complete the set!

Just get it. My single speed Cross overtakes most stuff on the road and just feels right in the way steel does. Love it over distance and in traffic. Yes it makes you smile and I haven’t even put anything wider than 25mm on it yet!

Rode my cross check to Belgium and then raced it in the single speed euro champs. Excellent bikes.
Simon in the shop rode his to Scotland
John garner the rubbish farmer rode his to Switzerland

They make great all day road bikes. The Lht is great when loaded but a bit less frisky.

We have a couple of demo cross checks if you want to know what the fuss is about. Built up as one speed crossers

Yep, echo what’s said above. I’ve commuted on mine 8-13 miles each way in all sorts of weathers every day fixed for years, toured loaded up twice over the Atlas in Morocco, raced the 3 Peaks – if I could only have one bike it would be my CrossCheck :o) The LHT is a less frisky, less versatile beast but almost as lovely.

But I would say that, we’re a Surly dealer too ;o)

This is nearly identical to the topic I was about to start! Can’t decide between the LHT, Cross or the Pacer. Going to be doing a few small touring trips say week long but most of the time will just be going on long day rides with no load. Seems like the CrossCheck is the one to go for!

DANIELJ…. yep go for the cross check.

LHT… awesome when fully loaded (like myself), very stable, very nice. but the tubes lack spring and frisk when unloaded. It is a touring bike.

CROSS CHECK… very versatile, good for touring up to a certain weight point, and then you start to feel the frame twist. Its not going to snap or throw you off, but you can get some pendulum motion with two stuffed panniers. this is less of a prob if you spread the load out with a frame bag, small front rack etc.

PACER… its a road bike.

I love my Cross Check, it really takes me back to the simpler days of my youth when I just cycled to be cycling, not to tackle harder jumps or get somewhere faster. As it’s a bit porkier than other cross bikes it just makes you slow to a pace where you start to notice the world around you again (don’t get the impression that it isn’t entertaining though, the handling’s lovely).
It’s also very versatile. I’ve used mine for commuting, cross racing, touring and I’m now using old bits to make it into a big wheeled cargo/kids carrier.

I have had a Cross Check for a number of years now, mostly for commuting and the occasional cross/touring. It has been very reliable but probably comparable to any other steel bike at the same price range. It doesn’t set the world alight.

Like others have said, it is quite a comfortable ride and has plenty of tyre clearance. Its downfall though is the weight. I have got mine built up with 105/Tiagra/Sora mix and some mid range components and fairly light handbuilt wheels and it weighs more than my Anthem X! About 26lbs I reckon. It feels very heavy indeed coming of my light road bike.

For me, it is the workhorse of my stable. A great jack of all trades. You could lighten it up by putting a top notch groupset on it but that’s not the point with this frame IMO.

I wouldn’t want to race on it, that’s for sure. If I was buying a do it all road/cross bike, I would be looking for something in Alu with discs, as I dont have a lot of love for cantis…

Hi,
I got my Cross Check this summer. It’s a black frame all fitted out with Shimano XT components for off-road here in Yorkshire hills. It’s brilliant off road. Changed the tyres to Schwalbe Ultremo ZX and did the Way of the Roses road route from Morecambe to Bridlington – 180miles over 2.5 days. The bike was just as brilliant and performed as well as most of the aluminium and carbon frame bikes.

The best bit is, it’s a Surly Cross Check, everyone knows it and wishes it was their’s 🙂

I think the way it wupped the carbon roadies was because of the engine, Ade 😉

‘Tis true though, the CC is just a fun bike for anything really, on or off road. Sold mine but only because I have the Traveller’s Check (S’n’S couplings) version 😀

robards222…. surely you are convinced now. If you need to pick my brains, feel free to call us on 01929 475833. Both Crashy (aka Simon or Sausage) and myself are cross check evangelists.

Charlie doth speak truth…. (and he was very helpful with my CC, TC and Fargo!) 😀

I do all my winter training miles on a cross check. It’s ace! Set up fixed with full guards for the worst weather. Great bike for steady riding. It’s no whippet, but then I’ve got a race bike for that, and the Surly is still my favourite after 6 or 7 years. It gets painted in the garage when it needs it or I fancy a change of colour:)

Inspired by this thread, dragged my gear out and took the Check on a little s24o.

Met a mate at the station at 6pm, ride out 20mile to bivy spot, bit of dinner, sleep, breakfast, 50mile over the hills and home by 4pm. Cracking!

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Crosscheck[/url] by dickyelsdon[/url], on Flickr

Singlespeed but not, dinglespeed. One gear for the morning (hills), change up for downhill into the city.

Guys – thanks for all the ideas. Interesting to hear how they ride and what you get up to on them.

Charlie – reassuring that there are so many of you doing touring on them as well as off road. I might be interested in trying one. Are you in Dorset somewhere?

I started this as I love the ride of my steamroller and the zing of steel and wouldn’t mind doing a bit of ‘cross racing.