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The Surly Cross-Test is a motorbike that established a agency following throughout its 24 years available in the market, and now, this characteristic might be seen as its obituary. The Cross-Test was a motorbike that might be dubbed as one of many first ‘gravel’ bikes with its 45c tyre clearance and a flexible, tough-as-nails metal body.
Regardless of its CX inspiration, the Cross-Test was a motorbike past the boundaries of outlined biking disciplines. It was used between the tapes on the muddy CX tracks, for commuting round city, and even turned a well-liked selection for these looking for a flexible touring bike, or “a shitty MTB” to place it one other means. Now, the bike has been moved to the ‘Legacy Lineup’ on Surly’s web site, marking an finish to an period.
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“What a beautiful bike that was,” is the very first thing Surly’s UK Model Supervisor Duncan Kennedy mentioned after we requested if the rumours had been true, after which confirmed what we would assumed.
“Yeah it [the Cross-Check] has been discontinued with fashions like the brand new Preamble taking the mantle of the inexpensive components swap body many used the Cross-Test for.
“The principle purpose for it was the abundance of bikes now with disc brakes vs. canti mounts, these bikes folks had been swapping frames out for whether or not it was a crash alternative or only a new bike really feel all went over to disc themselves leaving it not such a straightforward swap out. To not point out the selection of canti or v brakes was getting quickly slimmer.”
The Cross-Test was an actual legacy mannequin which Duncan sees as one of many first ‘gravel’ bikes for the lots. With 45c tyre clearance, snug mile munching geometry and mounts for all of your adventuring wants it actually set the tone for what so many riders search for right this moment for his or her journey/ gravel builds. What made it so nice, then?
The Cross-Test’s body was a easy but versatile platform. It was made with size-specific 4130 CroMoly ‘Natch tubing metal tubes and supplied ample clearance, quite a few mounting factors, and semi-horizontal dropouts. And speaking of sizes, as lots of Surly’s bikes the Cross-Test was out there in a very big selection of sizes from 42 to 64.
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The entire package deal allowed riders to experiment with gearing, convert the bike to fastened gear or equip it with BMX hubs, and generally discover numerous setups. Regardless of the marginally shorter head tube, the Cross-Test’s metal body made it a real on a regular basis workhorse – and this high quality is maybe the explanation bikes just like the Cross-Test are having a resurrection within the cost-of-living disaster.
“It has been attention-grabbing for the reason that Cross-Test went the large resurgence of individuals seeking to construct rim brake bikes, I assume the recognition of the easy setup is one thing fanatics need.
Should you’re unhappy in regards to the Cross-Test getting into the gravel bike graveyard, Surly does nonetheless provide bikes of comparable traits…
“Mannequin-wise, the Preamble which was launched earlier this yr actually has the DNA of the Cross-Test with extra trendy options, however nonetheless an inexpensive possibility. Surly supplied the Bridge Membership as a 700c construct for some time to bridge the hole till the Preamble was launched, and to this present day the Bridge Membership stays one in every of our prime sellers with choices from 700 x 45c to 650 x 2.8” and with 26 x 3” (for good measure) wheel/ tyre setups,” Duncan mentioned.
Have you ever owned a Surly Cross-Test? Do you agree it is “probably the greatest
driving, most versatile bikes round”? Tell us within the feedback. For extra bike checks like this, head over here to see our assortment of previous Bikes at Bedtime.
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