Cupcakes' Surly Cross Check

How much weight are you basing this idea on ?

Depends on what kind of riding you're doing. If it's mostly flat road touring you'll be able to take higher loads without it making too much difference (higher speeds, less steering, etc). Off-road and/or steeper stuff will pose more problems with wheel flop.

I've never really carried heavy loads on the front for prolonged periods so it's quite hard to give quantifiable weights, but 5 kgs seems to make little difference, 10 kgs you'd definetly notice and I wouldn't want to carry any more than 15 kgs any distance. This is with weight stacked on top of a porteur rack, might be better with the weight lower.

I looked into getting a custom low-trail fork made but decided it wasn't worth effecting the unladen handling (as it's usually ridden without loads).

Cool, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm hopeful that my planned loading will be fine - I've only got 2x 15 litre panniers, which isn't much at all, maybe 4kg each ? And they'll be low down. Plus another 1.5kg (say) ona small front rack.

I'm currently on a bus lugging the frame and forks around in a box. Soooooooon...

Good call. I'm definitely up for a wide and strong wheel set in the long term. A319s are on my list now. Suspect I'll just roll with what I have for the upcoming tour though ( perhaps using a 32 spoke front wheel for durability - I think I have I one kicking about).

Mavic A319 is pretty strong reasonable weight and a decent width to allow much bigger tyres to fill up the clearance nicely.

Deore LX on Mavic A319 was great. Only upgraded to Deore XT on Mavic A719 because they were black!

Yay! More Cross Check builds!

I'm currently on a bus lugging the frame and forks around in a box. Soooooooon...

Pics or gtfo

Pics are coming. I am having dinner first. Guess my priorities are all wrong.

Well, I hope you guys like blurry photos taken in low light conditions...!

It's arrived. I'm happy. My partner approves as you can see from the gesture.

I'm intrigued by the dropouts. I'm familiar with the small-screw-acts-like-a-chaintug idea, which is an old and good concept. But surely the frame should come with the screws?

Before shipping it, I had the shop (Charlie the Bikemonger) apply framesaver. This has given the frame and forks a pleasing aroma quite like machine oil. It's sort of reminiscent of old cars or steam engines. Lovely stuff. I'm sure it's toxic too, but hey ho.

One more thing on my mind this evening is facing (bottom bracket shell and headtube). I asked the shop to do this (for payment) and they said it wasn't necessary. This was based on their experience of setting up, selling, using, thrashing and servicing Surly frames over several years. However the opinion du jour 'on here' is that facing is essential. I'm conflicted, although I'm probably going to go with the mechanic's opinion. But if anyone else has had good/bad Surly facing experiences then do speak up.

Headset-wise, I decided in the end to go with the FSA Orbit MX which was shipped this afternoon. I might be able to begin building it up tomorrow...

Lost track of this thread, just read back. I have the following on my CC.

+1 Tortec Ultralight
+1 FSA Pig Headset
+1 Dura Ace 7900 barend shifters
+1 Tektro Hoods (Condor branded)

Has anyone mentioned cantis vs v-brakes yet?

I have the Shimano Deore V-brakes and I hate them, when you get to brakes I would be interested in knowing what you go with.

Tektro CR720 cantis for me. I have them already on my CaadX which is generously donating most of its finishing kit and groupset.

I've been reliably told that braking performance with the shimano levers I have (5600) and the tektros is awful, but they seem to work fine for me.

I'm intrigued by the dropouts. I'm familiar with the small-screw-acts-like-a-chaintug idea, which is an old and good concept. But surely the frame should come with the screws?

My Straggler came with the adjustment screws. They were in a separate little bag. If they're not lurking somewhere inside the bike box, then I'd give charlie a call.

^I think my issues are mainly when I am going downhill, I apply the breaks heavily and and all I hear is a screaching noise - probably because I am a big lad. End result is my pads out every few months, plus I have to re-adjust my brakes after a big ride to get them right again.

I have emailed Surly about drilling the mudguard mounts so I can put calipers on. Lets see what they say.

My Straggler came with the adjustment screws. They were in a separate little bag. If they're not lurking somewhere inside the bike box, then I'd give charlie a call.

I am sure the CC comes with them too. I have them somewhere. In fact you are advised to use them if you want to go fixed with the CC. It in the docs somewhere.

It sounds like they've gone astray at some point, I'll give charlie a bell in the morning.

charlie is the man, lucky enough to live down the way from his shop - definitely getting my frame from him!

I just replaced some adjustment screws on a steel frame with 2mm (I think) bolts from a hardware shop. I think they were 15p each...

Glad you went for the orbit, makes me feel more comfortable in my own purchase.

Frame arrives tomorrow. Bought a new seat clamp/hanger, anti judder front hanger and headset. Everything else I already had (6600) until I find a cx50 crankset for cheap.

Can't wait, should be a good post day with everything arriving at once...

Shit! Headset spacers. I knew I'd forgotten something...

I just replaced some adjustment screws on a steel frame with 2mm (I think) bolts from a hardware shop. I think they were 15p each...

Glad you went for the orbit, makes me feel more comfortable in my own purchase.

Frame arrives tomorrow. Bought a new seat clamp/hanger, anti judder front hanger and headset. Everything else I already had (6600) until I find a cx50 crankset for cheap.

Can't wait, should be a good post day with everything arriving at once...

Excellent stuff, bet you're excited. I won't be able to build up for a few days and the wait is killing me, but I wouldn't be able to ride it this weekend anyway (I'm out of town) so I guess meh, whatever.

Also I don't mean to rain on the parade but the frame comes with a seatclamp and cable hanger. So I guess you can save a bit of cash by sending those back?

charlie is the man, lucky enough to live down the way from his shop - definitely getting my frame from him!

Indeed, I had a good long chat to him when I bought the frame (over the 'phone though) which was awesome. It's clear he's a real enthusiast. Also I just saw the bit about gravel roads on the website - if you live near the shop you must have lots of great riding on your doorstep!

Yeah I got my ECR from Charlie. I even drove down to collect it and then ride it around Swanage for a couple of hours! A really great guy - so enthusiastic about his trade. If I get a CC, which is looking highly likely, I'll definitely be getting it from him.

Excellent stuff, bet you're excited. I won't be able to build up for a few days and the wait is killing me, but I wouldn't be able to ride it this weekend anyway (I'm out of town) so I guess meh, whatever.

Also I don't mean to rain on the parade but the frame comes with a seatclamp and cable hanger. So I guess you can save a bit of cash by sending those back?

Mine is used, so came with neither!

No idea when I'll get to ride it (1 month old baby in the house has put pay to any of my plans of, ya know, cycling) but I'm looking forward to the build.
sweet spot of one fixed, one road, and one 'do everything'/wet bike should be achieved!

Ohh, I see. Lucky you.

Once I decided I was getting one I gave it about a week prowling eBay before I caved and bought new. Actually this is my first properly new bike frame in well over a decade. Let's not mention the numerous secondhand ones...