Cupcakes' Surly Cross Check

Subbed. The one in the first post looks like an ideal touring setup. It looks well thought out and easy to live with. Building something similar but with a 90's mtb.

this is what I want, rohloff,

Rack-wise, I mean these: http://www.kinokocycles.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/400x300/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/n/i/nitto_m12_front_rack_thumb_.jpg

(Nitto M12)

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/images/products/medium/14021.jpg

(Something much cheaper from SJS)

By my understanding of decaleur* neither of those qualifies as such but that';s not to say they are bad choices.

*I thought a decaleur was a piece, attached to a handlebar bag which would locate into part attached to the bike,

http://store.velo-orange.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/750x750/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/d/e/decaleur_kit-4.jpg

This is correct^

A few questions if i may.

Where about are you going? Do you know the John Muir Way opened in April? I am doing it myself in the next couple of months.

Also i take it the Crosscheck has gears and it's not the singlespeed? Last of all will you be fitting mudguards?

Have fun.

You decided on a rack bag yet?

Well you've gone and done it now cupcake! Just agreed to buy a cross check f/f, to build up almost exactly as you are describing, will be transferring bits off my genesis day one and also purchasing some new bits, wheels, derailleurs and bar end shifters. I will be in big trouble when the wife finds out. Oh hum.

Ha! Good news. Interestingly my partner has two bikes; a steamroller and a genesis day one alfine. But she's pining for a cross check also, probably to replace the genesis. There's just something tempting about Surlys I guess!

And I have just bought a barend shifter to put gears on my Pomp once more. On the hunt for a <130mm OLN rear hub/wheel now...

A few questions if i may.

Where about are you going? Do you know the John Muir Way opened in April? I am doing it myself in the next couple of months.

Also i take it the Crosscheck has gears and it's not the singlespeed? Last of all will you be fitting mudguards?

Have fun.

I didn't know about the John Muir way, but thanks for the heads-up. It looks excellent. Please start a thread, or at least do a ride report when you do it.

The cross check I'm getting is just a frame and forks. I'm building it up geared, 2x10. I have a pompino fixed, so I'm currently all set for mono-geared bikes, but I know the 'check works as a singlespeed or fixed too. I like having that option available eve if I don't use it at first.

I'll be fitting mudguards initially. I have a set of SKS blumels kicking around. They can take a 28mm tyre which is what I'll start with. The first trip will be 200-and-something miles around the North West of Scotland, starting in Culrain. I'll be going with my partner and we'll be camping, but travelling light. Also we'll be taking our time and aiming for quality rather than hammering out the miles.

Here's the route:

And I have just bought a barend shifter to put gears on my Pomp once more. On the hunt for a <130mm OLN rear hub/wheel now...

You did that with a derailleur hanger fixed onto the rear axle like a chaintug, right? It was an interesting build, I recall seeing a picture or two on the pomp thread.

Also if I recall correctly you have a front lowrider rack on there too - do you mind me asking which forks you're using? I have this idea that it would be great to get some forks with mid-blade bosses for my pomp so I can share the racks between two bikes. Probably the best option is a set of cross check forks, I just wondered if that was what you were using.

You decided on a rack bag yet?

Here's my planned setup.

Front lowrider - Tubus Tara:

...carrying two panniers - Altura Arc 15's:

And a front rack:

...carrying one of these alpkit drybags (if it will fit!):

And at the back, an Ortlieb saddle bag:

If I can't pack light enough, I do have a rear rack I can use - a tortec ultralite:

I was super impressed with my Tortec Ultralite, incredibly GVFM.

I was super impressed with your whole Surly today, JB!

I've had the tortec for several years and it's still going strong. They're great.

I am having a bit of a decision-making crisis regarding what colour racks to go for, though. All black, to match the frame, or silver/ stainless to contrast? I already own the tortec in silver, although they're cheap enough to buy another.

First world problems indeed.

^ fwiw, I'd go for silver.

Thanks MM!

This thread is seriously making me want a Cross Check. N+1 after all. Much tempt.

Got that front rack delivered today. Solid stuff. Well worth the money.

Does the Tubus come with P-clips or does it require the mid fork holes?

They've sold out of most of the 13l alpkit dual bags but they have lots of single ended ones with the strap mounts (no straps) but with more capacity's but less colours I think.

about these, see my thread for a tip on installing them at perfect horizontal angle; involves spacing the mount using some old vbrake pad spacers.

I am tempted to try a lowrider rack myself; how does steering behave if you only have a pannier on one side?

You did that with a derailleur hanger fixed onto the rear axle like a chaintug, right? It was an interesting build, I recall seeing a picture or two on the pomp thread.

Also if I recall correctly you have a front lowrider rack on there too - do you mind me asking which forks you're using? I have this idea that it would be great to get some forks with mid-blade bosses for my pomp so I can share the racks between two bikes. Probably the best option is a set of cross check forks, I just wondered if that was what you were using.

Yeah it was a DMR tug/hanger that I used annoyingly I think I've lost or sold the hanger since I last used it so will need to repurchase.

My fork is from a cheap Trek hybrid, it's steel though so rides quite nice but really I'd like something a bit more aesthetically pleasing. Surly certainly seem to have the best combo of features and affordability.

I am tempted to try a lowrider rack myself; how does steering behave if you only have a pannier on one side?

If I commute on my pomp I just use one pannier on the lowrider and it's fine really. I couldn't go no hands but one hand to indicate is fine. Maybe sometimes feels like there's a bit more pressure on one side of the bars or something but not do much that I could tell you which side from memory.

Also worth saying that having used my pomp for an overnight trip earlier in the week I'm totally sold on front loading as opposed to rear, apart from generally being heavier the bike rode just like normal and my camera and food etc was so easily accessible.

about these, see my thread for a tip on installing them at perfect horizontal angle; involves spacing the mount using some old vbrake pad spacers.

I am tempted to try a lowrider rack myself; how does steering behave if you only have a pannier on one side?

Cheers I'll have a look at your thread for tjr fitting tip.

Would you be kind enough to tell me the dimensions of the rack ? Length/ breadth of the platform, plus height of the back piece, would be really useful. I couldn't find it on the sjs site.

They've sold out of most of the 13l alpkit dual bags but they have lots of single ended ones with the strap mounts (no straps) but with more capacity's but less colours I think.

Luckily I already bought one, because I've wanted one for about a million years. They're a good bit of kit.

Got that front rack delivered today. Solid stuff. Well worth the money.

Does the Tubus come with P-clips or does it require the mid fork holes?

The Tara needs mid blade eyelets. I wouldn't p-clip it; I've not tried but gut feel says p clips wouldn't be strong enough by far. Tubus make a different version which has fork clamps, it's for bikes without the eyelets. I forget the name at the moment though. I believe they also sell separate clamps for something like a tenner.