Riding with the Surly Cross-Check

Several weeks ago, I stumbled upon a write up from a bicycle shop in the northwest that was expecting delivery of their first Surly Straggler's any day. At that moment, I wasn't even aware that Surly was preparing to launch a couple of new bikes/frames into their lineup, but I very quickly fell for the metallic violet/purple color of the Straggler. I'm no stranger to Surly, as I've had two rounds with the Pacer, test rode the Long Haul Trucker at length (and Sam owned one for quite awhile), and the LHT was a close second choice when I ultimately purchased the Rivendell Hillborne a few years ago. Did I need another bike? Probably not, but I was finding the desire to do more dirt/trail/gravel riding, and didn't want to beat the crap out of my Riv (well, anymore than I already do), nor did I want to change the set up to be used appropriately for these sorts of rides.

One evening as we were chatting I said, "You know, I'm really thinking about that new Surly. I think I could make good use of it." Sam didn't even begin put up a fight, and so I resumed obsessing over obtaining a Straggler. Not too long afterward, we were wandering around a bike shop when we came across a Surly Cross-Check. It happened to be the right size and Sam suggested I take it out for a spin if I had my sights set on the Straggler, which is supposed to be very similar to the Cross-Check with a few modifications. Not being one to turn down a test ride, I was very quickly off to find some bumpy paths to see how it would handle.

*Image found here - Stock Cross-Check set up

The Cross-Check did amazingly well - really, better than I'd anticipated. I very intentionally set out to ride steep hills, rough roads, and hopefully some dirt. It wasn't hard to find what I was seeking, and the gearing on the stock ride was more than adequate to get me through all of it. I had concerns about the tires, but I'd gone over a goat head that stuck in the tire, and the tires/tube seemed to hold up just fine. At the end of my test ride, we discussed what it is I liked or would want in the Straggler over this Cross-Check, and it seemed like the Cross-Check was a good fit for my needs. We also chatted about picking up a frame and building it up ourselves, but in the end, the whole bike was a decent deal and, impatient child that I am, I could ride it now. Ah, instant gratification.

After riding the bike a bit when I got home, I wasn't loving the handlebars (I will note here that Sam actually really liked the handlebars and ended up taking them for a bike he rides regularly, so perhaps this is more a matter of preference, as I am used to a much smaller handlebar), nor the bar end shifters. The bar ends work extremely well on my Rivendell because of the set up, but with drop bars I was finding them more frustrating than anything. Because the handlebars felt gigantic to me, we did a quick switch out to some smaller drops we had in the pack of random bike parts and switched out the bar ends for STI shifters while we were at it. I was immediately more comfortable and at ease with the set up and enjoyed the bike that much more.

At the time of purchase, I didn't realize just how handy this bike would be in the coming weeks. The storm that flooded our area took out a lot of roads/bridges, and those that were still usable were littered with random garbage, mud and rocks, lost belongings, and so on, so riding any sort of skinny-tired bike seemed like an unnecessary and easily avoidable risk. Sure, I could've stayed indoors, but that's not how I deal with life and the lemons it sometimes chooses to provide. Instead, I got to ride every day through the storm and (unfortunately) see the damage that was taking place as well.

On one of the rides toward the end of the storm, I ran over a piece of glass that punctured the rear tire. Perhaps it was an over reaction, but I decided to pick up a set of tires with more puncture resistance and since then, I've had no trouble (knock on wood) with flats. I opted for Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, and while they are heavier than others, on this sort of bike I'm willing to sacrifice a bit of weight for ease of mind on rougher terrain. Honestly, I haven't noticed a difference in speed, and I think it was well worth the effort for peace of mind when riding.

Despite being a heavier ride (it's no lightweight, but it's not the heaviest bike I own either), it moves easily and smoothly. It doesn't pedal as sprightly as a lighter road bike, but that isn't its purpose, and it performs well on many surfaces. It feels solid and is comfortable for many hours of riding and I could see this bike easily transforming into a commuter, single-speed city rider, or a trail bike. After several days of riding a lighter road bike (which I do love, but it has its place), I was able to get back on the Cross-Check and was quickly reminded why it's such a joy. It really is smooth, and rolls nicely even over the dreaded chip-seal.

In many ways, I'm surprised by how long it's taken me to purchase the Cross-Check because it's just so functional and easy to use. It doesn't get the long stares from strangers like some other bikes receive, but it's definitely special in its own right. Once in awhile, I even get a "Hey, Surly... Cool!" out of a random passer-by. I think if a person were going to have only one bike, I could see this as an ideal option because of its ease of use on so many different types of roads and in a variety of situations. While I'm not ready to give up other options in the mix, I am grateful to have such a solid bike along for the sometimes hairy, but always fun ride.