The Cross-Check
When my 'Rockhopper' packed in, I was recommended (by another bike shop) to go Brixton Cycles as they were the most likely place to be able to fix it. They didn't manage to resurrect it, unfortunately, but they did manage to turn me into a Surly convert, and a few weeks later I was riding a new Cross-Check and was very happy indeed! It has since done a fair few miles on The Silk Road, The Great Divide, in Macedonia, Ethiopia, Thailand and Indonesia, and of course a whole load of other places in China.
Frameset
Surly Cross-Check 56cm, 4130 CroMoly steel – broken in a couple of places and I’ve had it welded when out in the middle of absolutely nowhere and it’s still going strong!
Drivetrain
Crankset – Shimano Deore M591 Crankset with Bottom Bracket (170mm, 48/36/26)
Rear Derailleur – Shimano Tiagra 9speed RD-4500
Cogset – Shimano Deore SLX 9 Speed Mountain Bike Cassette
Chain – Shimano Deore
Wheels
Rims – Shimano RS10 wheelset for commuting; have used Sputnik Rigida for touring in the past
Tyres – Bontrager R1 700x23; have used Schwalbe Marathons for touring, and the Marathon Extreme 700x42 for the Great Divide last year
Other Components
Headset – Cane Creek 40 , 1-1/8˝ threadless
Brakes – Shimano R550 Cantilever
Shifters – Shimano 105 Flight Deck 9 -speed
Stem – Bontrager
Handlebar – I honestly can’t remember what this is since I put it together 6 years ago!
Saddle – Specialized Avatar
Seatpost – Bontrager
Frameset
Surly Cross-Check 56cm, 4130 CroMoly steel – broken in a couple of places and I’ve had it welded when out in the middle of absolutely nowhere and it’s still going strong!
Drivetrain
Crankset – Shimano Deore M591 Crankset with Bottom Bracket (170mm, 48/36/26)
Rear Derailleur – Shimano Tiagra 9speed RD-4500
Cogset – Shimano Deore SLX 9 Speed Mountain Bike Cassette
Chain – Shimano Deore
Wheels
Rims – Shimano RS10 wheelset for commuting; have used Sputnik Rigida for touring in the past
Tyres – Bontrager R1 700x23; have used Schwalbe Marathons for touring, and the Marathon Extreme 700x42 for the Great Divide last year
Other Components
Headset – Cane Creek 40 , 1-1/8˝ threadless
Brakes – Shimano R550 Cantilever
Shifters – Shimano 105 Flight Deck 9 -speed
Stem – Bontrager
Handlebar – I honestly can’t remember what this is since I put it together 6 years ago!
Saddle – Specialized Avatar
Seatpost – Bontrager
Road setup for the passes of the Alps. A dream!
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On the GDR last year - the Cross-Check faired really well on all bar the rockiest tracks
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Across the Taklamakan Desert in temperatures of up to 47 degrees... hi-tech water carrying system was necessary!
