The Cross-Check is a great bike. It was the third frame we ever offered, and we offered it as a complete bike a year after the introduction of the frame. Neither the frame nor the component spec of the bike have changed much since we introduced it almost a decade ago because…well, why should it? We have made a few changes and updates over the years when those changes were either necessary or just plain a good idea. For instance, this year we’ve added mid-blade eyelets to the fork for mounting a front rack. This isn’t a touring bike per se, but it will handle lighter touring loads, and a front rack can make that easier.

But that begs the question: what is this bike for? It’s a cyclocross bike by category, but we try to design a lot of versatility into our stuff. You can build this frame with gears or as a singlespeed or fixed-gear. You can ride it on the road or off. It’s got lots of space for fat tires and for fenders. It does as good a job getting you across the country as it does getting you across town.

For the complete bike we picked out components that set the standard for our other completes, stuff that works well and doesn’t dent your piggy bank too bad. The frame is comfy and tough as nails, and versatile too. We continue to hear from people who have made the Cross-Check their default go-to bike simply because it performs so astonishingly well. It’s one of the best riding, most versatile bikes around. Now you’ve heard about it. Go try one.