Surly LHT or Cross Check

[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

 

[John the Monkey]

Bear in mind that I made this choice back in 2009, but at the time, the difference between the two wasn't massive (in terms of things that would slow you, at least) - the frame weights weren't different at all.

My LHT is mostly a commuter, and it's fine (13,000 miles racked up since 2009 - mostly commuting) - not as quick as my alu/carbon SCR2, but a super comfortable bike that I can stick big tyres on to smooth out the roads a little. The only thing I'd change, making the same choice now, is getting the disc braked version. (But that's more about trying to get Tiagra levers to work nicely with canti brakes - assuming you go with cantilevers, the stock bike's Oryx are powerful, but a bit grabby - I prefer IRD Cafams, but the Tektro CR720 aren't terrible if set up properly. If you're using the bike as a road going commuter, the LHT will be fine, and it's a great tourer. If you're planning more off roading (by which I mean, stuff more challenging than gravel paths) maybe the Cross Check is the better bet (higher BB, shorter chainstays).

 

[Ericos1290]

Thank you for your response!

I will only stay on the road with my bike. I thought that the Cross Check woulb also be more suitable for an urban use. To change it into a more "road type" instead of the heavy and strong LHT. Instead of buying two bikes, the real touring LHT and a more urban one. I wanted to try to kill two birds with one shot buying the Cross Check but I'm not sure that it is the right idea.

The shop sent me its offer for the bike which is worth 2'000$. Do you think that I should ask them to change a component? It sounds quite like Chinese for me these names. I checked on internet their value and rate but I can't have a fixed idea of it is worth or not.

Surly Cross Check 56cm Black Touring Custom Build - see build package below
Cane Creek 40 Headset Black 1-1/8" External Cups Sealed Bearing
Sugino XD500T Triple Crankset 172.5mm 46/34/246 110 BCD
RPM Sealed Cartridge Bottom Bracket Square Taper JIS 68 x 110 or 113.
KMC X9 SL 9-Speed Chain
MicroShift R9 Triple 9 speed Dual Control Levers
MiicroShift R9 Triple 9 speed Braze-On Front Derailleur: 20t Capacity
1$0,00$0,00
MicroShift R9 Long Cage 9 speed Rear Derailleur
Surly Nice Racks: Front and Rear Black
Ortlieb Front Roller and Back Roller Classic Pannier Sets Black
Kalloy 27.2 Black Seatpost
Velo Brown Saddle
Deda Brown Perforated Bar Tape
Dimension Flat Top Shallow Reach Bars Black 42cm x 31.8
Shimano HG61 9-Speed 11-32t Cassette
Wheels Mfg 50 mm of Black 1-1/8" Headset Spacers below - cut steerer to same height
Dimension 31.8 x 83/97 degree Black Stem 100mm Angled Up
Shimano XT Trail pedals
Northwave Multi App SPD shoes Size 43 Black/Red
Lazer EC1 Sunglasses with Interchangeable Lens
Lazer O2 Helmet Unisize Matte Black
Dimension WB Cages Black
Camelbak Podium Big Chill Water Bottles
Pinhead Locking Skewers
Kryptonite Series 2 Mini ULock
Cycle Aware Bar End Mirror
Craft Men's Active Cycling Shorts
Planet Bike Fender Set Black
Shimano M770 Hubs Silver laced to 36H Velocity Dyad 700C Silver Rims with DT-Swiss Double Butted Silver Spokes 3-Cross Front and Rear
Vittoria Randonneur Tires 700 x 32
QBP 700 x 28/32 presta Tubes
FSA Nylon Rim Strips

 

[GrumpyGregry]

straggler. it's a cross check with disc brakes.