When shopping for a bike, it is essential to know the exact type you are looking for. The market offers a wide range of bikes, including commuter, mountain bikes, and gravel models. The terrain on which you will be riding determines the bike type you purchase. Are you looking for a brand usable on any surface? Surly Cross Check bicycle is one of the products you should consider acquiring. For more details about it, go ahead and read the review below.
Surly Cross Check
Design
Surly Cross Check is a versatile, all-terrain bike that suits several categories of users serious riders included. You can use it as a utility, commuter, touring, or road bike. In case you are going on a hike on gravel paths, do not leave behind your Cross Check because it can handle such a surface. It is a tough model usable as a cyclocross bike, though it is perfect for commuting and countryside rides. The big tires on this bike make you feel safe when on challenging terrain. Cyclocross involves cycling on off-road and on-road surfaces, including muddy, grass, sandy, trails, woodlands, pavements, snow, and ice terrains. If you have an adventurous rider or adrenaline junkie, try this sport, but ensure you have the right bike for it.
Construction
One thing about Surly Cross Check is that it has a heavy-duty steel frame, which slows down your speed. Nonetheless, the chassis contributes to the stability of the bike to enable you to maneuver your way around challenging surfaces with mud, potholes, and dirt. That way, you do not have to buy separate bikes for different surfaces. Note that the frame consists of a double-butted triangle.
Cross Check also features semi-horizontal dropouts. These foster wheelbase adjustability and make the bike usable in single-speed mode. The fork on this product helps in providing stable rides and improves your control of the bike. If you need to know the kind of fork and frame on this brand, the fork is Surly CrossCheck 4130 CroMoly while the frame is Surly 4130 CroMoly. Besides, it has a Shimano drivetrain, Tektro linear-pull brakes for fantastic stopping power, and traditional bar-end shifters.
Note that the manufacturer designs the Surly Cross Check to be compatible with parts of popular sizes, which makes it easier for you to find the necessary components you need to make your bike whole. For example, the model accommodates a variety of chainring and crank sizes. Replacing parts should be a lighter task.
Customization
The manufacturer includes a Gnot-Rite dropout spacing that lets you install 130mm and 135mm hubs. With this kind of flexibility, you can customize the bike easily to get your preferred riding experience. Besides, this bike allows you to set up front and rear fenders and racks for extra convenience. It also has clearance for 700c ×42mm tires, and you can decide to add fenders or leave them out altogether. With the semi-horizontal dropouts, you can fix linear-pull brakes or cantilever brakes on Surly Cross Check to make it a multipurpose bike.
Pros
- Versatile and customizable
- Has a rigid, durable design
- A comfortable bike offering smooth rides
- It is a multi-terrain bicycle
- Incorporates high-quality frame
- Offers fun rides
Cons
- It is heavy
- Pedals are bought separately
Surly offers other bikes to consider as alternatives to the Cross Check version:
Surly Long Haul Tracker
Like Cross Check, Long Haul is a wonderful touring bike. However, it allows you to carry more cargo over long distances, including clothes, a water bottle, and a laptop. It has rear and front rack mounts, a pump peg, fender eyelets, a spare spoke holder, and water bottle bosses. As is the case with Cross Check, this model has clearance for 700c×42mm tires with fenders.
All-season Surly Ogre Commuter Bike
Ogre is an all-season, steel utility bike for the town and remote areas riding. It is versatile and usable on the streets, pavement, gravel, and single track. It can handle the snow, sleet, and humidity to ensure you get home safely. Like Cross Check and Long Haul Tracker models, Ogre gives you space for carrying stuff, thanks to it having a rack and fender. It also has several three-pack mounts.
Surly Steamroller Single-speed Urban Bicycle
As for Steamroller, it is a dedicated single-speed commuter bicycle. Grass, potholes, back alleys, and urban trails are not a problem for this version. It is ideal for winter commuters and minimalist commuters. It has fender eyelets on the rear and water bottle mounts too. Surly also incorporates dropouts with 120mm spacing.
Surly Pacer
Surly Pacer is the bike to use when going for rides in the countryside. It can handle long miles and any weather conditions. It provides proper control around corners and downhill. It utilizes 32mm wide tires to ensure smooth rides, so you do not feel the bumps on the road. You can also use it for light commuting.
If you are looking for an alternative bike that is not a Surly model, consider Diamondback Haanjo Comp. Unlike Surly Cross Check that uses a steel frame, Diamondback consists of an aluminum frame, which is lightweight. Its carbon fork minimizes vibrations to give you a comfortable ride. However, it entails a 22- speed drivetrain to make cycling more enjoyable. This model utilizes disc brakes while the Surly Cross Check has linear-pull brakes. Disc brakes have better stopping power and have become a common type of brakes on today’s bikes.
Final Thought
Cycling is fun when you have the right bike. Instead of buying a model suitable for specific terrain, purchase an all-terrain version. That way, you get to have one bike for all types of terrains and save money in the end. Commute to work, go for long rides, and enjoy some cyclocross using one bicycle.
Surly Cross Check is one of the multiple-terrain bikes to consider buying. Despite it being heavy and you having to buy pedals separately, it is a stable, customizable, high-quality, comfortable brand to ride. However, we have also looked at alternatives in case the Cross Check does not impress you or if you need a spare bicycle. There is no harm in having more than one bike.