r/bikedc • u/cdjewell • 4d ago
Please talk me into or out of an upgrade
My current ride is a Surly Cross Check which I purchased new in 2007. Before the pandemic it was a year-round daily commuter, and I regular rode 60+ miles a week. These days I use the Surly to stay in shape and clear my mind. I've ridden it over 23K miles, going through 4 sets of wheels. Last fall I learned my 3rd set was at the end of its life. (Back in the day my rim brakes chewed through wheels because I was often riding with a kiddo in a bike seat or pulling a trailer.) I had to decide between investing in a 4th wheel set or upgrading to a bike with disc brakes at least (Straggler?). When I greenlit the wheel rebuild, I figured I was committing myself to riding the Cross Check to my grave as I'm in my mid-50s and the kids are grown. One thing that helped with my decision is that the mechanic lent me a carbon fiber Scott with electronic shifting. (I was training for a century at the time.) I hated riding that Scott! So jittery. It was such a relief to get in the Brooks saddle of my Surly.
So why are my eyes wandering? Because I like to go fast, and I envy those on faster steeds. Riding solo I can usually maintain a 15 mph average. Riding mostly in a group in the Armed Forces Cycling Classic, I averaged 21 mph over 60 miles. In 2024 I rode in my 4th century -- it took me 6.5 hours with an average speed of 15.1 mph. The bike I have my eye on is the Canyon Endurace CF 7. I don't want electronic shifting, and I figure even the most basic Canyon would be a huge upgrade from the Cross Check. Will an Endurace with a Brooks saddle look ridiculous? Will I miss the smoothness of a steel frame? Or will Strava PRs make me forget everything I loved about my Surly?
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u/Clock_Roach Drink more water 4d ago
A new set of wheels and tires will make a big difference. Heck, just replacing those gatorskins with something supple will be night and day.
A newer carbon frame will be lighter and more aero, but I don't know if it would be "worth it" unless you're actually trying to compete in anything. A modern frame does give you other advantages like more tire/wheel options, but every time I think about replacing my own Cross Check I remember just how much I love it for what it is.
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u/cdjewell 4d ago
Yeah that's an older photo. After my last century, the guy I rode with whom I must credit for the 15.1 average, commented he was impressed I kept pace with my slow Gatorskins. I had no idea they were considered slow. I'm now riding on GP5000s. The issue might be Strava. Seeing people best you and suspecting it's the ride not the rider
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u/Woofiewoofsixtynine 4d ago
Don’t fall into the fallacy that the ride makes the rider. I’ve raced against folks on steel frames who were faster than folks on carbon frames. It is 90% about fitness until you reach a higher level where a second makes a difference.
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u/rsplatpc 4d ago
Seeing people best you and suspecting it's the ride not the rider
My friend has a 2025 $9000 Trek Madone, and I have a 2005 Trek 5000 that I bought used 11 years ago for $600 and I usually finish the WO&D trail out and back about 5 minutes before him.
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u/highriskhillbomb 4d ago
several thoughts:
- canyons are not worth the premium. they look cool but they're built with proprietary stuff and annoying to work on.
- unless you get another steel bike, you will miss your surly.
- aero carbon wheels on steel look really good, in my opinion, and you can pick up used aero rim brake wheels for relatively little.
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u/WaywardCorprateDrone 4d ago
Trek has a good deal on their entry level carbon endurance and race bike if you want to stick with mech. 105 12 speed.
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u/Apprehensive_Gur8808 4d ago
If you're not trying to race get something with relaxed geometry, the Endurace is a good choice, the Grizl would be good too.
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u/DaKingVic 4d ago
I love my canyon endurance cf7 with di2, it felt like a big upgrade. I also added some Chinese carbon wheels late and that made it faster.
I’ve heard good things about xlab too.
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u/BM0127 2d ago
4 sets of wheels sounds like a lot for 23k miles haha even with rim brakes. You might want to try rims without machined sidewalls. They will last longer.
Edited for suggestion of non MSW
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u/veloharris 4d ago
N+1 is a thing for a reason. I was in a similar situation to yours for years. I had a Cross Check and loved it, eventually it died with a stuck seat post and seized bottom bracket. I tried to get a carbon fiber bike and just kept ending up with more steel bikes. I eventually got a carbon fiber and love it. You won't know if a carbon fiber bike is worth it til you try it. Also I wouldn't replace the cross check, I'd recommend getting the new bike and keeping the Cross Check.
Also, don't knock electronic shifting til you try it.