Surly Crosscheck &a...
 

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Surly Crosscheck & track hub & chainset - anyone tried?

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Surly have quite rightly told me, Nah! But I really want to swap the bits off my track-spaced Singlecross onto one with minimal outlay.

So I’m after real world experience, either way.


 
Posted : 10/07/2023 8:48 pm
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Track spacing is 110mm. Crosscheck might  be wider. Might need a smaller chainring for chainstay clearance. With the correct spacing it’ll be fine.


 
Posted : 10/07/2023 9:05 pm
 ton
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i was going to say it will be fine, as i thought it had the same dropouts as the straggler.

but it doesnt.   it will take some big old nuts and torque to stop the wheel sliding forward.


 
Posted : 10/07/2023 9:06 pm
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I've ended up with a Surly Ultra hub (130mm) on my Crosscheck. Considered a standard track hub and bodge with nuts, etc but thought it would end up being too much hassle and off centre my rear brake. All works fine, but did stick a Tuggnut on the dropout as the wheels kept slipping.


 
Posted : 10/07/2023 9:36 pm
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Crosscheck is 132.5 mm spacing (Gnot Right tm) if I remember right.

I've got both 130 and 135mm hubs that work fine in mine but a 110 would be a bit of a squish.


 
Posted : 10/07/2023 11:30 pm
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All good, sound advice. Ta all. Maybe the best frame for this is the one I’ve already got (a very well travelled 2008 Spesh Singlecross).

Can’t beat the feel of steel tho!


 
Posted : 10/07/2023 11:37 pm
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TBF, the real steel feel of crosscheck is nice but also really bloody heavy! Singlecross is a bike I wish was still available 🙂


 
Posted : 10/07/2023 11:40 pm
oldnpastit reacted
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Posted : 11/07/2023 5:34 am
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I've done this. Got some (Surly, I think) axle spacers from CTBM when he was still Charlie and in Dorset, to space my 120mm Phil Wood hub for a Crosscheck.

I guess it will depend how much axle you have.

Edit: Velosolo sell them.


 
Posted : 11/07/2023 8:12 am
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The Steamroller will take 40mm tyres although with road brake mounts rather than cantis and no disc caliper mounting points the braking/ clearance won't be great but not insurmountable. My Steamroller set up fixed is my main bike. Absolutley love it.


 
Posted : 11/07/2023 10:44 am
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Found them, cheers john_l. Everything crossed the axle on my Halo track hub is wide enough… (Guessing your chain line was unaffected as the spacing happens outside of it. Did you use a track chain set too?)


 
Posted : 12/07/2023 10:54 am
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Always wanted a Steamroller, the most iconic Surly there ever was IMHO. Only, I couldn’t bear to sully its lines with a rear brake, and I live in very hilly Calderdale.


 
Posted : 12/07/2023 10:56 am
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Can't remember what chainset it was, probably sq taper though, so was able to adjust the chainline with a different axle width. Or more likely, I just lived with it/didn't notice.


 
Posted : 12/07/2023 1:46 pm
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@cheekysprocket, you got me thinking you were saying they had stopped doing it. They still exist. Bought mine 2nd hand and still my favorite bike. It's set up fixed with a single brake on the front. If it's good enough for Ventoux etc. it's good enough for me. Primarily road use with the odd gravel track/ singletrack foray. Must get round to replacing the rim though.......


 
Posted : 12/07/2023 3:23 pm
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Everything crossed the axle on my Halo track hub is wide enough…

Halo sell a 130mm axle kit with 2 5mm spacers if your axle is not long enough

https://www.halowheels.com/shop/spares/hub-spares/tk-hub-130mm-conversion-kit/


 
Posted : 12/07/2023 3:31 pm
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Super! So the rear axle issue is easily solved.  Project Crosscheck is a step closer.

What remains to be confirmed is whether my 42t Sugino Messenger cranks on a 102mm bottom bracket will foul on the chain stay.  Could possibly pop it on a wider (107? 110?) bottom bracket, but conscious of messing up the chain line.

Thoughts?


 
Posted : 14/07/2023 8:36 pm

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