It certainly isn t a bad bike and as a member of the steel is real movement i appreciate what surly is doing here however i feel like no matter what you are using this bike for you are making some trade offs.
Surly cross check bikepacking.
This cross check started its life as a stock build and i ve slowly swapped out pretty much every part on the bike.
They re everywhere and by now someone has built one up into literally every permutation you could possibly imagine.
Over the past two months i built surly cross check to be my light touring and commuting bike of the future.
Since then people have modified them hundreds of different ways to suit their riding styles and preferences.
The surly cross check doesn t need a lengthy introduction of course.
Cross check was the first complete bike we ever offered.
One year and over 5 000 miles after my purchase from the bike rack i am very happy that i bought the surly cross check.
The bike proved to be reliable versatile and straight forward.
I often say this is a surly that wishes it was a rivendell.
The only original bits are the wheels shifters and front derailleur.
Drop bars or flats gears or not chunky tires or slicks it s all been done.
I thought about this build for many hours during my tour through central america.
Mike has contributed a time or two on the blog and here is the surly cross check he built in the spring of 2013 for a summer road tour across western europe.
Rad companies that support bikepacking.
The surly troll as i had it is a perfect bike for hauling big loads of gear through second and third world conditions.
Sram apex 10 speed 11 32 cassette 50 34 truvativ crank velocty dyad shimano lx hub hand built by peter white cycles schwalbe marathon pro tires with 500 miles on them carbon seat post with specialized toupe saddle avid canti brakes with kool stop pads chris king headset.
Surly cross check 52 cm robins egg blue.
Overall if i had to rate the surly cross check on a scale from 1 to 5 i would give it a 3 5.
We provide inspiration and information through original bikepacking routes.
I wanted a lighter.
The build is inspired by our lord and bicycle savior grant peterson.