Surly Bike Owners

Fits rack, uses bar bag.

I'm really tempted to buy a cross-check frameset. I will probably mainly use it as a roadbike with 32mm tyres, can anyone who has one tell me how it handles? Is it still a bit playful or a quite boring and more like a touring bike?

Sort of a halfway house between road and touring. I had one for a while and it's OK with 32mm tyres but they are heavy. I wouldn't use 'playful'; more 'solid.'

I bought it for commuting (bombproof, large tyres, mudguards), dad duties, and some light touring and it was perfect for that. Yes, you could use it for longer road rides but you might find it a bit bland.

If by road bike you plan on fitting mudguards, plowing down dirt tracks and through fields and that kind of adventure - go for it.

If 32mm slicks is your max tyre size and you will only ride it on pavement. Probably not.

Thanks guys! Appreciate the input! I'm thinking about getting it instead of my Soma Smoothy which can only take 30mm tyres... But I don't really want a boring touring bike (again)

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Sorry for the double post...

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Not much by the way of fatty representation yet in the thread.

Here's my Pugs - was going to go single speed with it but realise the need for those granny gears when you've this much heft haul!

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Nice. Don't think you needed to lean it against the table though, probably stand up on it's own.

I've had a couple of CCs, loved em both, never felt the weight detracted from the enjoyment of a ride, and it didn't feel "dead". Currently riding an All City Mr Pink, it takes 32mm gravel tyres, or 32mm slicks with guards, very enjoyable bike, if a little pricey, not dissimilar to your Soma I guess.

Best to prop it, if it fell over it'd probably crack the patio tiles!

Are you suggesting the soma is a boring touring bike?

No not at all! But I've done most of my riding on touring bikes, that's why I got the Soma in the first place... But now I can get a cc frameset for a low price and it's tempting to build something else again.

magic carpet vibes.

+1

Was gonna say.
I've a cc for last couple of years, done vast majority of Kms on it over that time. Everything from MTB trails to long audax. Love it. Only negatives are the stupidly short head tube and rim brakes (but we won't go there)

^ the same reasons I got rid of mine- sweet ride though replaced with a Genesis Croix de Fer if you are interested.

I love(d) mine. Served me well as a heavy tourer, then as a road bike (club runs and very hilly audaxes) then as a single-speed cross bike etc etc. Didn't do any of those jobs perfectly (maybe the singlespeed) but gave them each a good punt.

Mine has gone through road/commuter to fixed/ sscx/commuter currently then will proceed happily on its way to some kind of downtube shifted ultra-romance pleaser (WIP).

Commuting duties were taken up by a CdF. Apaprently cantilever brakes can be set up to work, but I have found that cable discs > cantis. plus 725 CdF with carbon fork is lighter and more sensible proportioned.

some kind of downtube shifted ultra-romance pleaser (WIP).

Hahah same, very similar trajectory. I'm hopeless at making my bikes work the way I want them too AND be pretty though.

The downtube shifter is great! I run 1 x 8 on my disc trucker and on my wife's CC. So easy to maintain and perfect for London.

Well I'm half way there as it stands - have downtube shifters for front and rear but haven't quite got around to converting back to a double yet. Liking it so far - I like the minimal faff to go singlespeed or swap bars down the line and the DA shifters themselves are lovely.

Just need someone to hook me with up a spare rear wheel, friction downtube shifter, a silver bar and stem to match the seatpost etc etc

This bike just keeps changing.

Don't even. I'm midway through the definitely folly of building up a 650b fixed rear wheel for mine.

You'll see mine a page back currently setup as a flat bar CX/90s MTB.

Just purchased this and looking for beater parts to get rolling. Hive mind for set-up?

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Nice!
What style/spec you looking to build with?