whatwolf

I was talking about the direct from distributor price, not retail. $380. So far the space horse intrigues me most.

4Rings6Stars

I'm with Noglider.

I have had a Cross Check and a Long Haul Trucker. I sold each one after only a few rides... It rode like a log with some wheels attached to it. Much happier with my Soma Double Cross disc - I've commuted on it in all weather (which my CC handled just fine) but have also ridden it from central MA to Burlington VT loaded with gear. I couldn't stand to be on the Cross Check for more than a half hour...

Since you work at the shop, maybe you can demo some of these bikes on extended rides to see how they actually feel. I think the CC is a great bike on paper, but there was something about it that just do it for me. I like(d) my $200 Mercier Kilo lock up bike better...

After next Monday when I have my free time and sanity back, I will finally finish my DeSalvo monstercross build and start commuting daily again. I installed some 29x1.75 Vee Rubber 12 tires a few nights ago and I am getting excited to put some real miles on it. Jstewse - is that what you have on your CC? How do you like them? What sort of riding do you do?

gomango

A friend of ours led us through an hour and a half of hill training last night.

Most of us had pretty nice bicycles, including a Strong and several IFs.

I rode a friend's Colnago Super Prestige.

What did the leader ride?

A stickered up rusty black SS Cross Check that has been beaten to death.

So, I hear ya on the CC, but I still think it's all about the engine.

If you don't have the legs, nothing in the CC's frame will help or hurt you.

Again, when a person pays less than $500 for a new frameset, compromise is to be expected.

jstewse

I've got the Vee 12's but in 29x1.95. I think it's a great tire for the money. I ride it mostly on dirt and gravel, but they're plenty fast enough for paved in-between sections and grippy/volumous enough for buff single-track. I definitely recommend them for an all-around, gravel grinder sort of tire.

FWIW I was also looking at the Clement X'lpor line. Some good looking tires there if you haven't seen them already.

Catnap 

To answer some of the questions about my Traveler's Check:

- The fork is a Soma "classic curve" cyclocross/touring model made by Tange. about $140 on their website.
- The shifters are Suntour Command 7-speed models that have been converted to friction shifting front & back.

Looks like forks on the Soma and All-City bikes are the same ones as the "classic curve" on my bike, but painted.

Regarding the ride, I agree with Noglider that it's very neutral and unexciting, but in my opinion that's exactly what I want when touring or commuting. It's reassuring, especially fully loaded with panniers and comfortable even after 8 hours in the saddle. If I want a more lively ride, i have other bikes for that.

RFC

I have to admit that I just want a bike named "Space Horse." Brilliant marketing!

RFC

+1. LOL. Two nights ago, I did hill repeats on my CC SS. Totally trashed my legs, but I always come back noticeably stronger. It's both physical and mental training.

whatwolf

While walking the dog this morning, I had a fleeting thought of putting $400 toward refinishing and putting braze-one on an older frame... but then I'm stuck with average tire clearances.

jr59

I had one for about 2 years. It did everything ok and nothing great!

For the $$$, @ the LBS discount they are hard to beat!

ColonelJLloyd 

Haha!

whatwolf

Puget Pounder

+1 on All City, SOMA, or Salsa on this one.

I had a CC and it was porky and uninspiring, so I sold it. However, it is super versatile. If I had one fall into my hands again, I'd probably have some fun with it.

RFC

From the C&V side, I guessing this is sort of what you are looking for. But, then, it was made by elves.

I need to Fred this one out some more.

RFC

But I think that's the point. All the bikes in this category are clunky. It's indicative of the type and the nature of the beast. For example, every pure touring bike I have ridden felt far clunkier, which is why I don't have one.

anixi

You get what you pay for, usually. The cheapest frame on this thread gets the most negative comments, the priciest frame gets the most praise. Isn't that the way the universe works?

noglider 

Cheap? It's not bottom of the line for a bike. As a complete bike it sells for about $1,200, right?

I have a 1990's Bianchi Volpe which weighs less. Handling feels the same, so I'm guessing the geometry is about the same.

Not everyone can hunt for an older lighter frame, I'll concede that. And older frames have one or two important things missing such as clearance for fat tires and fenders or cantilever studs. And if you like a threadless headset, you can't get anything very old unless you change to a modern fork. But you could get lucky with something old. Since the Soma is available without the fork, how about putting on a carbon fiber fork?

Somewhere I have my notes on weight. I weighed my 2010 Cross Check frameset at the same time I weighed my 1974 Raleigh International. The differences were big, especially in the fork.

Are weights listed anywhere? I have a feeling I would have enjoyed the Cross Check more if it were lighter. Handling and comfort were very nice.

Puget Pounder

You think that's the point, because that was my point! But I don't think all bikes in this category are clunky. The Bianchi Volpe is often compared to the CC and is a better feeling bike IMO. My girlfriend didn't like the CC, but thought that the Volpe was livelier.

gomango

If I didn"t happen upon Fender1's nice La Cruz, I would have likely ordered up a Macho Man disc for my oldest son.

I've seen one in person and they are lookers.

But that's not why we picked up the La Cruz.

It's the versatility that counts, plus the fact we can run nice wide tires for gravel, hard pack and grassy overgrown fire roads.

Tires?

Easy to choose for this bike and we just ordered Kenda Slant Sixs, which are a blend of Nevegals and Small Block 8s.

Why didn't I just buy a C&V cross frame?

Got tired of looking and riding season is here.

RFC

LOL! You are correct, Sir! You are also correct about the Volpe, or at least the modern ones. I have a 2006 that is on permanent loan to a friend recovering from back injuries and who has turned into a kickass SS rider. The Volpe does feel a little more spry. The angles are a little more roadie and it is a bit lighter. However, the Volpe is no longer made. I was actually referring to the models we have been discussing here, which are very similar to the Cross Check.

whatwolf

I thought the Macho Man Disc didn't come out till June? But yes, they do look pretty neat. And orange!

mainstreetexile 

Surly lists weights on their site for 56-58ish frames under the 'frame highlights' tab of the relevant frame pages.

I always hear a lot about how heavy the LHT is. I have a 58cm 87 Schwinn Voyageur frameset in my garage right now and I weighed it out of curiosity. I was surprised to find out that with the headset cups in the frame (and part of a stem that I'm still cutting out stuck in the fork) it weighs more than the claimed weight for a 58cm LHT. 3560g vs 3360g.

Edit: they claim that a 56cm cross check frameset comes in at 3190g

fender1

My La Cruz was from 2010. Are they re-issuing it? It was/is a great bike. Little on the small side for me. It could run 37mm tires & fenders. It could be run 650b, with no brake issues. The mechanical road discs convinced me that canti brakes did actually suck as much as I thought they did. Like Cylotoine stated, if I were looking at this type of bike, any frame with canti's would be stricken from the list.

gomango

Don't forget, I live in the land of QBP, All City and Frostbike.

Not so difficult to see things here...

Again, no longer looking. Brian set us up perfectly.

Very close to new condition. My son is really thrilled to have it and I am glad he's got a new bike to ride with us.

whatwolf

Ah, yes, MPLS.

I would love a Macho Man if it had regular eyelets on the dropouts.

gomango

I hear you.

I need to figure these out as well.

Are you running fenders on the new build?