Primal Pete

Handsome Cycles makes a model called the Devil that's pretty similar. You can get it as a frameset, or as a complete build with swept or drop bars, and all options are pretty cheap. I actually think it's a better choice than the CC, because the reach is a bit shorter and stack is a bit taller. I think the geometry is based on the Bridgestone XO-1, but it's meant for 700c wheels.

I've had one for a few years and love it. Every time I consider selling it, I talk myself out of it because it's just so solid and versatile.

Also, if I'm not mistaking you for someone else... I was a big fan of your blog (Bikes and Playgrounds). I'm still a little bummed you stopped writing, haha.

seat_boy

I had a Handsome Devil (and a NAP Privateer, and a BMC Monstercross). Unfortunately, the biggest 60cm size of the Devil was too small for 6'3" me.

Yes, that's my blog. I had this image that I was still kinda sorta updating it, but (checks blog) the last update was in June '22, so yeah, pretty much dead. But thanks for the feedback! It's tough to write into the void.

Primal Pete

Ah, I didn't realize the sizing topped out at 60cm. I guess being 5' 8" has it's advantages. The BMC Monstercross looks like an awesome bike.

Jv_247

Why hate the bike if it does'nt suit the rider or his riding style?
BB drop is probably 72mm if you pull the wheel all the way back in dropouts.

mstateglfr 

As already stated, the design seemed to not fit a majority of riders without some significant creativity. That, to me, means the frame geometry is bad or too many people are hoodwinked and buying an image instead of the best product for their use.
I dont have love for the bike or frame because of this.

Of course the bike will properly fit some people. Everyone has different body measurements and the Cross Check would for sure fit some people well. But it sure seems to properly fit fewer people than how popular it was.
Thats my dislike- that it was so popular even though so many people had to make serious adjustments to fit the frame sizes.


I posted this on PL yesterday and it gives specifics to geometry-
Surly has made its success on image rather than geometry that is modern and fits the majority of Surly owners(at least around me). People slow rolling on Truckers with 80mm of spacers and a 35deg rise 70mm stem doesnt scream 'good fit'. Cross Checks are similar around me.
Hey, maybe this really is just a local issue and people elsewhere properly fit super long low stack bikes.

Noonievut

I was one of those people. I loved everything about the bike except for its geo and fit, for how and where I ride. My lessons learned from riding the bike though are invaluable, as it led me to learn about finding the right geo for me (where and how I like to ride). Road and cx geo is absolutely not what I want from a gravel/atb bike. A version 2, with the same frame and fork, and price!, but more atb geo would have me interested.

wolfchild

This has nothing to do with image....The reason why Surly Crosscheck and many other Surly products have been successful for so long is because they're versatile , practical, durable and can be build in many different configurations and people who buy them actually enjoy riding them....Nobody spends $ 1500 on a bike because they're trying to project a certain image....People who are serious about projecting a serious image purchase $ 10 000 - $ 15 000 bikes and not a $ 1500 bikes.

mstateglfr 

I didnt say the riders are trying to project a certain image. I said the brand made its success on image. Some consumers bought into that image because they liked it or identified with it. I have no idea if they were then also trying to project that image.
Regardless though, yeah of course people on a $1500 bike can try to project a certain image. Projection is no limited to the 1% most expensive bikes.

I will agree that in addition to image, Surly was successful because they came up with some good ideas that started trends in the industry. They then rode those trends for many years and largely stopped being an innovator.

We all project an image, whether intentional or not, because those around us are constantly observing and categorizing. Its basic human nature.

mechanicmatt

I basically agree with your thoughts. I tried to use a 56cm and a 54cm. These had long top tubes and short headtubes. The 56 I tried to make it work but it felt too long, like 80's road bike long. The 54cm then felt too small, so ultimately I gave up trying to make these work. I know some people love these bike, fat tires being a big draw and probably did have an influence on where gravel bikes sprung, but they never really ever worked on the geometry, which I heard quite a few times why people moved on from them.

If you look up surly crosscheck picture groups, there is a lot of fitting adjustments going on to make them work, or at least tall headset spacer stacks.

somepetalhead

I think that alot of Surly CC riders understand the difference in measurement... but aside from being versatile, it is the ultimate gear bin bike. There has not been on e bike I have owned that can use almost any part... I have a SS wheelset for mine that is F/R disc 100/130 have a disc QR fork so it works rims are beast and rim brake ready. So if you are playing with parts of trying to utilize all of the gems you have once found the CC can def do it. toss fenders on thickem tires and those reverse dropouts may any on the fly fixes a breeze esp if you run a dingle dangle set up. Geo and all of that only matters so much yea yea yea say what you will. If your not chasing tour times just riding a bike is what its about and CC allows for so many modes in which a person can do. Surly has a sticker that says "**** it lets go ride bikes", it is hard enough to find parts vs having to go to a shop and only here them sell what they have. Crosschecks can do it all. 200 mile CX race single people do it 200 mile road race... people do that too and ride way faster than me or you can on what ever frame. its a beast a non conformist kinda vibe surrounds it. People say RIP CROSS CHECK when it really is RIP SURLY.

reroll

I got a Cross Check frameset from Surly a couple of years ago because it was designed to use many of my favorite Old World components and in today's modern world it looked like these framesets would not be available for much longer. And sure enough, they are now out of production.

Its stack is notably low and its reach is fairly long, great for a drop bar aero riding position, yet as a commuter, occasional tourist and grocery shopper I ordinarily ride using flat bars while seated in a semi-upright position, but a Velo Orange Left Bank riser-type handlebar, a 60-mm stem, and a few 1 1/8-inch spacers corrected that situation.

Kapusta

Just to be clear, Surly’s success was not due to image , but rather due to it being among the most (I would argue THE most) innovative bike companies in existence from the early 2000s through the early 2010s.

The first gen Karate Monkey - while not the first 29er or SS MTB - was responsible for many people first dipping their toes into both.

The Pugsley is why fat bikes are a thing.

The Moonlander is why 5” fat tires are a thing.

Krampus is why plus tires are a thing. And arguably a trendsetter in bike-packing design.

I don’t think LHT defined a new category, but it was the rock solid affordable go-to for years for loaded touring at an affordable price.

Sure, a company will build a lot of cashe as a result, and I guess that is sort of like image… and they have always maintained a specific brand vibe. But their success ultimate came from them being an extraordinarily innovative bike company.

But now the market is flooded with bikes that fill similar niches, and often for less money. And Surly has not really come out with anything groundbreaking for a good 10 years. So I do think it is somewhat riding on its previous reputation.

mstateglfr 

Truer words were never typed.

tFUnK

Don't want to be a hater but they just never appealed to me. They looked funny with the flat top tube and stack of headset spacers, and are heavy. I'll take a Bianchi Volpe over a Surly Cross Check any day.

I'll acknowledge their versatility, capability, and affordability, though. They're nice touring/commuting bikes for people who don't mind riding a heavy bike. And having less options in the market, albeit one I won't personally miss, is a bit of a bummer.

Trakhak

One of Surly's innovations that may have been underappreciated at the time was that they provided a semi-mainstream alternative to the "lightness-is-everything" mantra, instead emphasizing comfort, versatility, and durability, qualities that were rarely so much as mentioned during the '80's and '90's (except for Grant Petersen's Rivendell niche, starting in the mid-1990's, of course).

The Surly frames being heavier also means that they probably have had fewer frame failures and thus fewer warranty claims than otherwise, which is good for the riders and good for Surly.

Alan K

Companies like Gunner, Milwaukee, Waterford made and still make whatever one desires to user’s specifications but at a higher price. I expect that such outfits are going to remain in business.
I test rode a Surly years ago but decided to get Waterford.

DorkDisk

Sadly, Gunnar and Waterford is/are no more. RIP hound dog.

Alan K

That, indeed, is sad!
I haven’t bought new bicycle in a long time - my wife extracted a promise from me a few years ago that since I have too many bikes, if I want to buy another one, two of the older ones must go. I like all them for one or the other reason, and tinkering with them is also fun! 😉
I used to know a couple of custom frame builders in Tennesse (mostly worked with Titanium) - should check if they are still around.

grolby

While I wouldn’t say Surly frames aren’t durable, they do in fact break all the time and it’s pretty easy to find broken Cross-Checks and Stragglers on the internet. No doubt the large production numbers make it easy to find examples of frame failures, so I won’t try and argue they’re worse than average, I just don’t know. But heavy != strong and there’s no real reason to think Surly frames are more survivable than anything else.

Kapusta

Yeah, they are heavy because they are (or used to be) cheap. I don’t think they are any stronger than comparable, lighter steel frames from some more high end companies.

Yes, frames like the LHT are bombproof, but that should be a given for a loaded touring frame.