[georgiaboy]

Below is a partial listing of the Surly components for the for the kit sold as the complete bicycle:

How are the Alex wheels?

Is Tiagra a good choice for gearing?

How is the saddle?

How is the braking?

Headset Ritchey Logic Comp - 1-1/8" threadless, w/ 15mm spacers. Black

Handlebars Salsa Moto Ace Bell-Lap - 26.0mm clamp diameter. Black

Brakes Tektro Cantilevers - #862A. Silver

Front Derailleur - Shimano Tiagra - #FD-4400 Double

Rear Derailleur Shimano Tiagra - #RD-440-GS Mid-cage

Crankarms Cyclone - 110mm BCD. Silver

Chainrings Salsa - 36 x 48t

Saddle Velo Endzone - Steel rails, vinyl cover. Black

Cassette Shimano Tiagra - #HG-50 9-Speed 12-13-14-15-17-19-21-23-25t

Hubs Shimano Deore - #HU-M510. 32-hole. 100mm O.L.D. front, 135mm O.L.D. rearblack

Spokes - Stainless Steel - DT Swiss Straight-gauge 14 w/ brass nipples

Rims Alex - #AL-DV15. 32-hole x 700c. Silver

 

[black cross]

Cc 105

I had my LBS order my Cross Check with a 105 group. I went with Salsa Bell Lap bars, and I had a brooks black B-17 saddle, maybe a little heavy, but I had it and it is comfortable. I also went with Dura Ace bar end shifters, maybe saved a little $ over shift levers, but spent the savings on upgrading to 105. The crank is the FSA compact cross crank. Wheels are 105 hubs with MA3 rims, not the lightest but have held up well with around 1000 miles of nonpaved road use. I use my bike mostly for winter training and riding. Some cross racing, mostly on gravel roads though. The Cross Check is a great bike for all around use. I have not done any loaded touring with it but would like to try it sometime.

 

[georgiaboy]

Found this from a post on a different forum:

There are some good tough 700c wheels and tires (or tyres) out there. I recently got a Surly Cross Check that came with a set of Alex #AL-DV15. 32-hole x 700c rims and Ritchey SpeedMax Cross 700 x 32c tires. So far, they are great - I commute on them almost every day and I am impressed with them.

 

[georgiaboy]

Here is a forum post about tiagra gearing:

I've got 2 years and 8,000 miles on mine (Surly Crosscheck), a fair amt as a commuter and a good number of wet rides. Most of this was hilly terrain and daily I would use everything from 2nd gear to spinning out 18th (big, little). Its been knocked over several times on the trail and had one 23 mph road crash. I had originally wanted 105, but went with Tiagra cause thats what was on the bike I wanted. I've worn out 4 sets of tires, 2 sets of brake pads, 2 chains and the Tiagra components are still working perfectly.

 

[georgiaboy]

I think I will buy the Surly Cross Check with the component listing on the Surly website part of which is listed above in the first post because it seems to be the most value for the money. My main concern were the wheels and gearing.

The Cross Check component listing is really wisely chosen for a commuter bike for all-weather conditions. For utilitarian purposes.

As each part wears out I will gradually upgrade.

Of course, I still may get a Brooks saddle.

 

[Sweet_Corn]

I got the stock build last year, other than a saddle swap for a WTB, which I prefer. The bike has been awesome, the shifting really great and the wheels pretty good. I am a bigger guy, weighing in around 230. After the first 500 miles I had the wheels come out of true. Once my shop trued them and tensioned them properly, they have been fine ever since. I really cannot compare the brakes, as I was used to V's and Discs, which are more powerful than the canti's.

The stock build is great. You will enjoy it!