Surly Haul Long Trucker Cross Check

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
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Ericos1290
Posts: 1
Joined: 10 Jun 2014, 5:37pm

Surly Haul Long Trucker Cross Check

Post by Ericos1290 »

Hello!

I know this question has been several times asked but I cannot make up my mind and the time is pressing me.

In two weeks I will start a touring trio from Chicago to San Francisco by bike and I can't find the proper bike! I wanted to take the Surly Long Haul Trucker but the shop which will prepare my bike advised me to tack the Cross Check. Because this bike will only be for one touring. After I will use it as a commuter without any loads.

The problem is that 2 friends of mine have already started the trip but from New York and I'm going to join time midway. I don't want to slow down the group with a bike not fully adapted. Moreover they have the Long Haul Trucker, so it might be more adapted for this trip.

The shop proposed me to do some modifications on the bike : Bar end shifters Microshift 3 x 9 shifters, Sugino XD500T Triple cranset, set of 36H Shimano Deore Hubs laced to Velocity Dyad or similar rims.

Thank you in advance!

Eric
firedfromthecircus
Posts: 310
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 7:50pm

Re: Surly Haul Long Trucker Cross Check

Post by firedfromthecircus »

If you are touring fully loaded then get the Long Haul Trucker. Once you get home, if you find the frame too harsh for your general unladen riding, then you shouldn't have much trouble selling it and you can buy something more appropriate.

btw, I have a Cross Check and it is a nice bike but only designed for 'light' touring.
stewartpratt
Posts: 2566
Joined: 27 Dec 2007, 5:12pm

Re: Surly Haul Long Trucker Cross Check

Post by stewartpratt »

I had a LHT (my build around a frameset rather then the off-the-peg bike) for touring. I sold it to a chap who I'd guess is ten years or so older than me and he used it for all sorts, including the Etape du Tour, where he finished well ahead of plenty of bits of carbon.

To be honest, there's not all that much difference between them (not in the large sizes that I had, anyway - I also had a CC): the LHT is a little higher in the head tube, a little longer in the chainstays, has a few more braze-ons, has better rear brake cable routing, and has vertical dropouts. Otherwise they're much of a muchness. The differences in a full off-the-peg build may be more notable, of course, but to me the main differences in the framesets were braze-ons, dropouts and - most of all - the rear brake routing, which is horrible on the CC.
mrjemm
Posts: 2933
Joined: 20 Nov 2011, 4:33pm

Re: Surly Haul Long Trucker Cross Check

Post by mrjemm »

I've only done some shorter trips in the US, but I'd suggest it's not exactly hard-core heavy duty stuff warranting a tougher bike than the Cross Check. Folk do it, with full loads, on far skinnier rides- go look on the usual suspect; CGOAB's Loaded Bike article-

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1 ... 8000&v=4Ap

I dunno about the CC directly, but the Straggler, which is essentially the same bar it has discs. It's definitely a tough bike capable of loaded touring. If not mistaken it's made with the same 4130 tubing, though maybe a tad narrower in places, still built like a brick external lavatory. If I didn't have my Vaya (another option, hehehe), I would've got myself a Straggler (as I opt for discs) for such work.

But... Maybe the geometry is less suitable, so perhaps less comfortable over distance, which would be more of a factor.
DaleFTW
Posts: 318
Joined: 8 Jun 2013, 7:18pm

Re: Surly Haul Long Trucker Cross Check

Post by DaleFTW »

Touring on a Cross Check = http://thegrreatescape.tumblr.com/

Notably -

http://thegrreatescape.tumblr.com/post/ ... lly-loaded

http://thegrreatescape.tumblr.com/post/ ... d-i-missed


But saying that, the answer is neither. Get a Straggler.

(I've got a Disc Trucker and a Croix de Fer which is kinda like the Cross Check)
grani
Posts: 227
Joined: 25 Mar 2014, 8:10am

Re: Surly Haul Long Trucker Cross Check

Post by grani »

I'll second the Straggler as I am very happy with mine. It has taken a fair bit of punishment in its short life so far and has performed exceptionally well.
mrjemm
Posts: 2933
Joined: 20 Nov 2011, 4:33pm

Re: Surly Haul Long Trucker Cross Check

Post by mrjemm »

DaleFTW wrote:Touring on a Cross Check = http://thegrreatescape.tumblr.com/

Notably -

http://thegrreatescape.tumblr.com/post/ ... lly-loaded

http://thegrreatescape.tumblr.com/post/ ... d-i-missed


But saying that, the answer is neither. Get a Straggler.

(I've got a Disc Trucker and a Croix de Fer which is kinda like the Cross Check)


Erm... That 1st link is an AWOL or 2. Tis him of the dermadoodles from GoingAWOL. Aha... there's a CC at the bottom I think. More a rather staged photoshoot than touring I'd guess too.

One thing I'd say about the Straggler, is that the drop outs make getting the wheel in and out a little more awkward than normal. Only a teeny tad though. Wondered at 1st if it's the spacing, but they are 135, as opposed to the CC's 132.5mm, hmmm. If not using as a single speed, the adjusters could perhaps be threadlocked too.

The placing of the rack mounts do mean the seat-stay mounted disc caliper isn't a problem. Using the ones on the rear of the dropout means the load a bit further back, which gives more foot room, and lower mass than the ones on the seat-stays, though maybe some may think this a disadvantage, dunno.

grani wrote:I'll second the Straggler as I am very happy with mine. It has taken a fair bit of punishment in its short life so far and has performed exceptionally well.


Likewise, Madame's very chuffed.

I do wonder if the OP's already sorted though. He's off soon! I know only too well the trouble with setting up a bike at the last minute. Urgh. Good luck Ericos!
DaleFTW
Posts: 318
Joined: 8 Jun 2013, 7:18pm

Re: Surly Haul Long Trucker Cross Check

Post by DaleFTW »

mrjemm wrote:Erm... That 1st link is an AWOL or 2. Tis him of the dermadoodles from GoingAWOL. Aha... there's a CC at the bottom I think. More a rather staged photoshoot than touring I'd guess too.


Not quite. That 1st link is to a site with 1000+ posts of Cross Check touring around USA and the Alps. The latter part of the blog is the AWOL, after he designed it.
mrjemm
Posts: 2933
Joined: 20 Nov 2011, 4:33pm

Re: Surly Haul Long Trucker Cross Check

Post by mrjemm »

A bit more time to look closer now...

When I click on the 1st link, it takes you to the latest page, and to see the older stuff, with CC pics, I needed to go to the archive- http://thegrreatescape.tumblr.com/archive

And as yet can only see glam pics of Herr Kuhl und his uberkuhl antiksen, no tales or explanation. Mega bandwidth hungry and I'm on a poo connection, so giving up in a mo... yup, given up, only so many wannabe instagram (yawn) pseudo arty (ahem) staged photos of a scowling ego I can stand looking at. Reminds me of Athena posters from the early 80s. Sometimes I wish digital photography didn't exist.
DaleFTW
Posts: 318
Joined: 8 Jun 2013, 7:18pm

Re: Surly Haul Long Trucker Cross Check

Post by DaleFTW »

mrjemm wrote:A bit more time to look closer now...

When I click on the 1st link, it takes you to the latest page, and to see the older stuff, with CC pics, I needed to go to the archive- http://thegrreatescape.tumblr.com/archive

And as yet can only see glam pics of Herr Kuhl und his uberkuhl antiksen, no tales or explanation. Mega bandwidth hungry and I'm on a poo connection, so giving up in a mo... yup, given up, only so many wannabe instagram (yawn) pseudo arty (ahem) staged photos of a scowling ego I can stand looking at. Reminds me of Athena posters from the early 80s. Sometimes I wish digital photography didn't exist.


:lol:

Fool.
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