Surly Bike Owners

Cross Check commuter is now in its guards-off, summer bikepacking clothes. Went well on the 180 miles overnighter I did on it the other week

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I think I miss my crosscheck. I ran mine for four years and then sold it on. I was always ambivalent about the bike. I liked the solid feel off road but don't miss dragging a 26lb bike up the hills.
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much like it around now discs have become ubiquitous.
Pity about the pack rat which was definitely different. Looks like I'll be using my old claud butler for the forseeable future.

there doesn't seem to be much like it around now discs

Cross check is still being made.

And I'm looking to sell my 56cm one if that helps...

It’s grown on me, at first I wasn’t sure bout it’s characteristics, but it’s easy to see now why they’re so popular. Cross Checks have kinda become a cult bike now, if there ever was one

You want to do the same? I've got just the thing for you

was always ambivalent about the bike. I liked the solid feel off road but don't miss dragging a 26lb bike up the hills.

This is exactly how I felt about my croix de fer. I loved the bike, rode great when loaded for touring but was hard work any other time. Which made me not like it so much most the time

My boy’s new Lowside.

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Sweet!! What frame size and how tall a rider is that set up for? Was that on eBay the other week? (or was that one a Krampus..?)

Looks like lots of fun

It’s a medium, and the post is up and the bars are rotated for my height at 5’11. Liam is currently 5’9 and growing so the fit will be a little bit different.

My sons Steamroller:

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Yep that colour is definitely light lilac

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I think that one was a Krampus, now my Krampus, ending up winning it!

nah ive given up on bikes.

I know what you mean. I have done so many different things on my crosscheck and had a lot of adventures over the 15 years I've owned it. But I still don't love it which I find a little surprising. I see it as a bit like a Swiss army knife. Admirable versatility and engineering at a sensible price, but doesn't get the heart fluttering! Maybe one day I'll buy something similar but more lively, but the cross check is now a brilliant commuter bike so doubt I'll ever get rid of it

I went MS after an extended loan of a Cross Check, it did everything you asked, but it felt like it only did it because it had too, not because it wanted to. The midnight special is much more bring it on.

What does the straggler do that the midnight special doesn’t, and vice versa?

My take is;
Cross check = do it all cross/rough stuff, touring geo.
Straggler = do it all cross/rough stuff, touring geo, but with discs
Midnight Special = do it all cross/rough stuff with discs, but road bike geo and big clearance.
I think the MS is closer to the Pacer, but discs and clearance, than to the CC.
But I stand to be corrected.

I would say that pretty much covers it.

Thanks for the clarification
That Lilac Midnight Special is fit

Interesting comments, Momentum. I sold my crosscheck on after 4 years of ownership. As you rightfully point out, it did everything asked but my heart used to sink when a steep hill appeared and I had to push all that weight upwards! Surlys are so massively overbuilt. I suspect that this is to meet U>S> product liability laws.
About 3 years ago, I purchased a bike with discs from Merlin cycles. Quite a good deal. Again, I have no love for it. It is my do all bike capable of fitting 32mm tyres + guards. Maybe it is the 'utility' element about these sort of bikes that fails to excite. However, I do like the look of the MS and reviews are generally favourable - maybe a potential frame purchase is in the offing.

How much?

Just a frameset and a couple of other bits, but somewhere in the region of £400?

I’m really fond of my Cross Check. In fact I’m on my second Cross Check after the first was wrecked by a volkswagen years ago. I’m not terribly small so when I stomp on the pedals the Cross Check definitely flexes a bit. Doesn’t feel all that dead to me, but I think that it’s just a decent match for me. I think the only thing that I’d change is a ~5mm lower BB.

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