The Surly Cross-Verify was a pioneer. It was a flexible and inexpensive gravel bike a long time earlier than the gravel class actually existed. However the Cross-Verify isn’t any extra. Occasions have modified, applied sciences have advanced, and Surly is transferring on. They nonetheless constructing loads of fashionable versatile drop bar bikes from the Straggler to their latest Preamble. They usually’ve teased that a number of extra new bikes are in improvement.
However the rim brake Cross-Verify is lifeless. And so we’re gonna rapidly pour one out for an previous pal…
Surly Cross-Verify 1999-2023, Relaxation in peace you previous soul!
First off a shout out to web bikeshop pal Parallel Handbuilt for sharing the unhappy information of the Cross-Verify’s passing, and pointing me in the direction of the transferring Bicycle Pubes eulogy. And possibly to James Johnson now of Analog Cycles who guided me within the Surly virtues method again within the day. You see, I used to be working in a motorbike store within the US when Surly launched the chromoly metal Cross-Verify method again in 1999. It was Surly’s third ever bike. And it was a revelation.
Right here was an affordable welded metal frameset with a lugged crown fork and canti brake studs masquerading as a cyclo-cross bike. However actually, it was an invite for journey.
It was a clean canvas to construct no matter bike you wished. This was a cross bike, a fats tire street bike, a metropolis commuter, a loaded touring bike, or a limiteless journey bike. It match any hub spacing normal of the day. And that was the one normal that actually diversified from bike to bike again within the day. It was every thing we are saying a gravel bike can do now, simply with out the phrase gravel. And it solely set you again $389 in 1999 for a cross frameset with 45mm tire clearance. The boundaries had been as much as you.
Over the subsequent 24 years, the minds of numerous cyclists had been corrupted by using filth roads and gravel roads on Cross-Checks. Paired with 32mm & 35mm Panaracer Pasela tires, that was the delivery of gravel biking in my thoughts.
Why did it go away?
Anyway, Surly simply quietly took the Cross-Try of their line-up. In response to Surly model supervisor Dan Rasmussen, they’re all “unhappy to see it go as gross sales had been sturdy till the top.” However instances have modified. Everybody’s on disc brakes now. So the rim brake Cross-Verify – final actually up to date round 2017 – was merely not maintaining with the instances. And Surly already had the Straggler – a lot the identical bike because the Cross-Verify, however with disc brakes – since again in 2013.
And there’s the lighter, extra fashionable Preamble with an all-road leaning, however nonetheless room for 41mm tires. Now, there’s much less and fewer motive to maintain the previous bike round.
So, what’s subsequent?
Rasmussen describes the choice to retire the Cross-Verify as “multifaceted“. We take that to imply is that despite the fact that the Surly crew held the previous bike expensive of their hearts, it most likely simply didn’t make logical and monetary sense to maintain it round. When on the similar time, they might commit sources to different extra up-to-date tasks. Rasmussen assures us that, “Surly is doing nice“. And that they’ve “a number of new bike and [parts & accessories] choices that will likely be popping out within the coming months and years that we’re actually enthusiastic about and can no-doubt be nice additions to the bike trade.“
So, let’s keep in mind the stunning, pioneering Surly Cross-Verify as a pioneering gravel bike. And we’ll stay up for what Surly has within the works!
