Photos provided by Surly
Travelers Check Frame description (provided by Surly):
Like a lot of our stuff, the motivation for producing a frame suited for travel
sprung from our own experiences and desires. We’ve traveled with our bikes
plenty and have wanted something easier to haul around in planes, trains, and
automobiles. We dig the folders but wanted a normal bike, something ready for
whatever terrain is beneath the wheels.
We chose our Cross Check frame
for this platform because of its proven versatility. Already well-known as an
excellent do-all frame, friendly with skinny tires or fat, derailleurs or
single-speed drive trains, the Cross Check takes just about anything you throw
at it and handles it like a champ, on-road or off the beaten path. If you’ve
owned one you know. We changed the name and color to distinguish it from a
normal Cross Check, but the Travelers Check is otherwise the same animal.
Mostly. Brazed into the top and downtubes of the Travelers Check, S&S Machine
Company’s BTCs (bicycle torque couplings) are machined stainless steel pieces
that allow the bike to be broken into two halves for transport or storage. S&S
calls them BTCs but they’re more commonly known as S&S Couplers. Other companies
have designed bikes that split in half, but S&S couplers work so well we didn’t
feel the need to design anything else. With the couplers installed, each tube
end fits to the other via precision-machined teeth covered by a threaded sleeve.
Properly lubed and tightened, the teeth resist torque forces while the threaded
sleeve holds it together securely. This design allows the frame to retain its
ride quality and strength without adding a lot of weight. Installed, the full
set of couplers adds only about 8 oz (227g) per frame. They look snazzy too.
One of the main reasons to buy a frame like this is that the resulting bike
can be fit into a case small enough that airlines won’t charge you the normal
bicycle rate, which tends to be quite pricey. But this brings some
responsibilities on your part. You need to know that in order to fit your bike
in a case this size you have to do a fair amount of disassembly, which is easy,
but when you get to your destination you have to reassemble it, which is not as
easy. You will need the basic tools and know-how to safely remove and reinstall
your wheels, your handlebar or stem, your pedals, possibly your fork (especially
on larger frames). What we’re saying is that there is a minimum level of
knowledge required to use a frame like this.
Here is the description of the Cross Check mentioned in the description of the Travelers Check (provided by Surly):
The Cross-Check has been good to us. No secret why. It's because it's been good
to you. Why do people like it so much? Well, for starters, it's steel. Steel
rides like nothing else (when was the last time you saw a spring made of
aluminum?), takes a lot of crap, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Then we
threw dowwwwwn some good ideas, like semi-horizontal dropouts with a derailleur
hanger, our FFF stays so you can run big, fat tires (even with fenders), and our
Gnot-Rite rear spacing that takes mountain and road hubs. And, to make assembly
as easy as possible, this frame features long-popular measurements for things
like the front derailleur clamp and seatpost.
What does all this mean to
you? Options, kid, that's what. Get yer freak on. Gears? Great. Single-speed? No
sweat. Commuter? Touring bike? Grocery getter? Bring it on. Or build it as a
bonafide ’cross bike and race it. It likes it.
Best of all, it’s actually
affordable. You’ll need to ask your local shop what they’ll charge you, but
suffice to say that it is among the most affordable of well-designed, well-built
frames around. Whether it’s the latest addition to your herd or the only bike
you own, the Cross-check will amaze you with its comfort, versatility and
affordability.
Travelers Check Frame Highlights (provided by Surly):
| Tubing | 100% Surly 4130 CroMoly steel. Main triangle double-butted. TIG-welded. |
|---|---|
| Rear dropouts | Semi-horizontal dropouts with adjusters give you singlespeed compatibility and wheelbase adjustability. Gnot-rite spacing (132.5mm) allows you to run 130mm road hubs and 135mm MTB hubs. |
| Braze-ons | Bosses front and rear to take cantilever or linear-pull brakes, eyelets at the dropouts, rear rack bosses, dual water bottle mounts, downtube shifter bosses. Fork has mid-blade eyelets for a rack. |
| Seatpost diameter | 27.2mm |
| Seatpost clamp | 30.0mm Surly stainless, included. Silver. |
| Headset/Stem | 1-1/8" threadless |
| Bottom bracket | 68mm wide, standard English threaded 1.37" x 24t |
| Tire clearance | Fatties Fit Fine (FFF) stays and our beautiful slope-crowned custom fork provide room for tires up to 700 x 42mm with mud and fender clearance. |
| Chainring clearance | Manipulated stays so you can fit the size rings you want. Go nuts. |
| Color | Color changes with each production run. Current color is Brownlow. At the time of this printing we still had some Deep Water Blue frames available. Call for availability. |
| Weight | 2722g (6 lbs) Fork - uncut = 1106g (2.4 lbs) |
Surley Travelers Check Web Page
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