Surly Steamroller owners...

https://www.bike-components.de/products/info/p22571_Steamroller-Rahmen-.html?xtcr=3&xtmcl=
Steamroller's pretty cheap. i think.
between what's the forks clearance?

^^ looks really nice

Still thinking if I should let my Roller go to get something a bit more track-ish. I really dislike the 70mm BB drop and wouldn`t mine a steeper seat- and headtube.

Otherwise this bike runs super smooth and is a bit similar to what I think the BMW Gangsta is. It could be ridden in the forest, on the streets and even on the track. It just depends on what cockpit and wheelset people put on and how they style their bike.

Hard decision!

All city big block? pretty similar but higher bb and steeper fork angle,

I'm really torn between a steamroller and cross check , prefer the look of the roller but the check has options of gears , I live in a very hilly area - any ideas which I should go for? Also will need mud guards for winter ( and summer!) do they actually work on the roller with the clip on type or are that a faff ?

If you can justify it get both! - But if you just want one, then Cross Check is your best bet. If it only had disc mounts as well then it would be even better. I have a roller at the moment, but I am contemplating get a CC as well.

If you can justify it get both! - But if you just want one, then Cross Check is your best bet. If it only had disc mounts as well then it would be even better. I have a roller at the moment, but I am contemplating get a CC as well.

No room for both, cross check is pretty versatile, though the roller is much better looking( and my preferred option). My only concern is a 2k ish cat 4 climb,decent I will have to deal with twice a day, if I knew i could hammer it i think I would go roller, but as I'm unsure the check could be converted with gears and stuff.

Yeah go CC then!

I traded a Steamroller for a Big Block last year and I for one definitely appreciated and preferred the steeper angles and greater agility of the Big Block. You can run 32mm tires on the Big Block too, so you're not giving anything away tire size wise.

All city big block? pretty similar but higher bb and steeper fork angle,

Still thinking if I should let my Roller go to get something a bit more track-ish. I really dislike the 70mm BB drop and wouldn`t mine a steeper seat- and headtube.

Put bigger tyres on to increase the BB height.

Steeper seat post would mean you'll set your saddle further back more, very little point in having steep seattube other than conventional wisdom.

The headtube is steep already (except on the smaller size), there's less rake than a typical road bike, just how much slower do you want your Steamroller to handle?

But if you just want one, then Cross Check is your best bet.

This.

You can run your Cross Check as a fixed wheel bicycles, meaning two bicycles for one.

Put bigger tyres on to increase the BB height.

(...)

The headtube is steep already (except on the smaller size), there's less rake than a typical road bike, just how much slower do you want your Steamroller to handle?

I am currently on 23c tyres. Do you know how much BB height a rear 28c and front 25c probably will add?

I got a 62cm Steamroller so 74° for me. How much do 3-5mm less rake affect the handling?

Enough to notice it for a couple of days and then forget about it

No reason not to ride 28c on a steamroller.

Rake's still the same, trail will be down a tiny bit, probably imperceptible. Put it in BikeCAD and see what it says.

I am currently on 23c tyres. Do you know how much BB height a rear 28c and front 25c probably will add?

23mm is pretty small for everyday riding, decent 28c would be fine, the only difference in performance is a more comfortable ride due to a lowered tyres pressure.

kboy pretty much answered your question.

I have to ask, why does the low bottom bracket affect you? were you using massive pedals or something?

I got a 62cm Steamroller so 74° for me. How much do 3-5mm less rake affect the handling?

it will handle slower, less "twitchy", idea for track.

This.

You can run your Cross Check as a fixed wheel bicycles, meaning two bicycles for one.

Tempted,but if I run it fixed the lines won't be as clean with brake bosses and mech hanger. But common sence is pushing towards the check and its versatility.

Tempted,but if I run it fixed the lines won't be as clean with brake bosses and mech hanger. But common sence is pushing towards the check and its versatility.

V

2x brakes + fixed is very underrated.

tidy!

23mm is pretty small for everyday riding, decent 28c would be fine, the only difference in performance is a more comfortable ride due to a lowered tyres pressure.

(...)

I have to ask, why does the low bottom bracket affect you? were you using massive pedals or something?

I`ve experienced a few pedal strikes lately when I raced around town. I am using Fyxation Mesa pedals (platform) but as I am pretty tall my shoes cover them all and would have struck anyway.

That make sense, especially when running skinny tyres.

Swapping the tyres would help reduced the pedals strike a lots, the Steamroller's bottom bracket drop were designed to accommodate the larger tyres.

I just would like to keep the bike trackish. I mean it was my first fixed gear frame and I it is perfect for entering this world. Thinking about getting one of those new Swifts from brother cycles. Otherwise 28c tyres aren`t a big deal and maybe them strikes shift away!?

Mudguards are no problem on the roller using p clips. I was running 28mm Paselas with narrowest sks mudguards. I'm now on 25 mm duranos. Pics were posted up thread, I wish I'd mounted my mudguards nearer the centre of the wheel on the front.

Otherwise 28c tyres aren`t a big deal and maybe them strikes shift away!?

Do that first, 23c is just too small for everyday riding either way.

I just would like to keep the bike trackish. I mean it was my first fixed gear frame and I it is perfect for entering this world. Thinking about getting one of those new Swifts from brother cycles.

The geometry of the Steamroller is pretty close to a track geo (apart from the BB height that can be fixed with bigger tyres) despite it's being more idea for everyday riding, just what part of the 'trackish' feel do you want to keep?

Alternately, Kinoko Cycles (formerly Tokyo Fixed) have track frame that you might like the look of as well (The Tokyo Fixed Dart).

I want the bike to be nimble, fast and avoid pedal strike. I am one of those guys who are always looking for improvement - but sometimes there isn`t any room for it and you should be happy with what you got. I like the bike and I like the idea of sticking to what I´ve bought first, just because of the story I got with that frame.

But yeah, pedal strike and a nimble feel :)

You realised less rake = less nimble don't you? it's more rake = more nimble.