[Funkdeal]

i'm kinda confused as to what separates the surly cross-check from other road bikes. it says on the the surly site that it can handle trails?? what exactly is so fragile on a regular road bike? what other bikes are similar to the surly cross-check? thanks.

 

[hikerdave]

A cyclocross bike has a slightly higher bottom bracket than a road bike, and much better tire clearance. Most currently fashionable road bikes won't fit the wider tires necessary for trail riding. I don't think that road bikes are particularly fragile, but my cyclocross bike seems to be built a bit heavier than a comparable road bike frame.

I use 42mm wide tires when on trails on my Specialized TriCross Comp, and 23 mm tires when riding just on the road. But my bike is aluminum, not steel, so it probably has a slightly stiffer ride than the Surly.

Another similar bike is the Red Line Conquest. Perhaps you should ask your question on the cyclocross forum.

 

[Funkdeal]

thanks for the reply. wasn't even aware of what the hell cyclocross even was. time to do some research.

 

[BelaySlave]

thanks for the reply. wasn't even aware of what the hell cyclocross even was. time to do some research.

RoadBikeReview.com has a great CX forum....

 

[sonyisdope]

I've seen a Cross Check on the trails as a singlespeed with WTB 44/44 tires. It's sweet.