Surly Bike Owners

Also potentially interested, after @bsb obviously

I'm 5' 8" and a 50/52 cross check fits me. For someone 5' 2" you'll need to go smaller, they are long frames.

@bsb I’d be included to agree - My wife finds the top tube a bit too long, and she’s got the saddle fairly forward and a short stem. I’m 5’8 and have a 52 Straggler, but my wife’s CC is comfy for me to ride too.

@AlexD @jontea thanks for the feedback. Happy to go for a smaller frame indeed...

Possibly the wrong thread to ask, but what’s a good replacement for a cross check, if my wife basically just wants something similar but not as long? Rim brake, but cantis not essential.

Depends on budget, I've been eyeing up a Soma Pescadero. Fits 40mm tyres, long drop calipers. Frameset costs £675.

Could go on the hunt for an old Salsa Casseroll? It could tick most of the boxes a CC can, although is a bit more road orientated, but with clearance for big ol’ rubber. I have a 2012 one and it’s a real peach.

More road oriented is fine - it’s used predominant as an all-year round commuter. I shall investigate the salsa.
Budget is basically what I am get for a crosscheck.

@jontea bit over our budget and would need gears

It's built with gears in mind. Agreed, it ain't cheap, but it's a fine looking frameset.

Ah - reading on my phone and got confused thinking you’d attached a photo, not realising it was a steamroller and not your post :-)

Yeah, delicately worth a look. I use mine as a winter commuter with guards and it’s bang on.

Pretty relaxed geo with a tall head tube so worth bearing that in mind but it is a brill winter hack, and will even handle some CX or Gravel if you fancy!

I assume you have looked at things like inline seatpost, stem adjustments etc?

there's already a pretty short stem on it (70? 60? something like that). I'm going to try out an inline seat post and see if that makes it a bit more comfortable. Possibly some more compact drops too? Although i'm not sure how much difference that would make if she's mainly on the hoods anyway?

Compact drops tend to have shorter reach too. Look at the width too, as narrower bars "lift" the upper body.

inline can find 10-15mm, then the bars changing can easily make a bike work!

I'd be interested in this if @giofox doesn't go for it. Thanks

Just to let the Surly fans among us know, 50cm Pacer (Red/Disco Tomato) frameset for sale soon!

I'm looking for a frame for a friend of mine, she's about 163cm/5"3'. Would that be a bit big?

More than likely.

Putting skinny tires in a Cross Check should be a criminal offense :c

I kinda agree but that bike works overall. Would love a go on it

Riding anything skinnier than 32mm should be a criminal offence! Unless you race.

Bad photo but my new (second hand) cross check

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Any similar racks to the 24 pack from Surly? Don't want to spend £150ish...