Interbike 2008: Salsa Selma Ride Report
September 23rd, 2008 by Guitar TedA couple of weeks prior to Interbike, I was invited to Salsa Cycles headquarters inside of parent company Quality Bicycle Parts warehouse and office complex in Bloomington, Minnesota. The purpose of the visit was to preview the 2009 Salsa Cycles line up and ride the new Selma single speed 29″er.
The Selma is basically a take off on Salsa’s Mamasita 29″er geared hard tail bike. The two models share the same geometry, (tweaked for 2009), the same Scandium enhanced aluminum frame with carbon fiber seat stays, and 29 inch wheels. The difference is that the Selma is a dedicated single speed rig, sporting an eccentric bottom bracket, and no provisions for cable stops for derailleur cables. (There is a derailleur hangar for those that would want to rig the Selma for gears.)
I got to swing a leg over the Selma at one of the best single track loops in the Mid-West, the Murphy-Hanrahan trail system. The trails are swoopy, have nice climbs and descents, and basically just smile inducing terrain in a typical upland woods atmosphere. The Selma I rode was equipped with a Fox F-29 front fork, Mavic Cr29max wheels shod with Hutchinson Pythons, and was running a 34 X 19 gear. The gear was perfect for the fast buffed trails with the Fox fork providing excellent steering characteristics with it’s 46mm offset mated to the new front head angle on the Selma/Mamasita bikes. Steering was intuitive and didn’t require a lot of arm input or crazy body english to get around the tighter corners at “Murph”.
While this was my first ride on the Selma, I have been on several Mamasita’s, so I had a backdrop to compare the Selma to. The new tweaks to the geometry have made the Mamasita/Selma platform better, in my opinion. I no longer feel that the front wheel is tucked too far beneath the frame in descents, which made the bike feel nervous in those situations. Now I feel the bike can be let go to fly down hill more since it has a more stable feel on the backsides of the steeps. I also noticed that the Selma felt torsionally stiffer than previous Mamasita’s I had ridden. I asked about this and was told that European testing standards are getting more stringent in regards to bicycles. This prompted Salsa to spec a slightly heavier, thicker down tube on the new Selma and Mamasita to insure the frames would exceed the testing standards. However that may be, it results in a more precise steering feel, and for the Selma, a great feel on out of the saddle grunts which are common on single speed bikes.
Of course, the rear end carries over from the Mamasita frame and here again, the magic of the flattened Scandium chainstays, flattened carbon seat stays, and exposed seat post make for a ride that is smoother than your typical hardtail. All without feeling flexy, or inefficient. Talking about efficiency, the Selma delivers in spades with a solid bottom bracket area and quick acceleration when you decide to stomp on the pedals. It is definitely a high performance single speed platform.
Then you have the Selma’s looks, which are in line with the rest of Salsa’s 2009 line up graphically. It has a distinct look without going over the top. The blue is pleasant to the eye and will lend itself well to anyone liking the new trend for white components or blue anodized componentry. (See the Selma show bike decked out with blue Hope components.)
Overall, the Selma should satisfy those who clamoured for a single speed Mamasita and should also appeal to those looking for a high performance single speed sled in 2009. It handles with quickness, but retains downhill stability, is very efficient in power transfer, but has that nice ride quality that the unique frame design has to offer. All in all, a fantastic new addition to Salsa’s 29″er line up.
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Great report brother… I knew you had the lowdown on the awesome ride quality this bike had lurking inside it’s stealthy grey tubes!
Hope you’re having a great day in Vegas!
Cheers,
MG
Didn’t we put something like this on the “wish list” on the way back from Dirt Kanza a couple years ago? Dang, only better. Another home run from the brethren to the north.
Amazing!!
that is the hottest bike in the lineup! Great job!
nice report feels like i’m at the show. keep up the good work.
do you know the pricing on this bad boy?
rafal: MSRP is $850.00 for the frame
looks interesting, also the new mamsita. ive considered (considering) one but am concerned about durability. i weigh 195-205 lbs. what do ya think?
What’s the axle to crown on that fork in the pic?
what the fork: White Brothers Rock Solid 29″er carbon fork: 465mm axle to crown.
jayt: Sorry I missed your comment earlier!
I am 240lbs, and the bikes ride great for me and seem durable. I’d not be afraid to hit one up if I weighed in at your weight. In fact, Captain Bob, who owned a Mamasita and sold it to buy a Selma, is 200lbs and had zero issues with his Mamasita.
Hey Ted
Just got the Selma under my skin. You mention that Cap’n Bob sold his Mamasita to buy a Selma. I am getting “March/April” from the online dealers. Know of any sitting in a warehouse?
I was pumped about getting a Selma for 2009, but my 2008 Mamasita has only been ridden cross country [be me] for about 9 months and it is already cracking where the carbon fiber seat stays joing the Scandium tubing just under the seat area. I sent pictures to Salsa to ask for a warranty replacement for this frame,but they said it was just a crack in the clearcoat. I don’t believe it. I am a materials engineer at Boeing with a MS degree in this area, and it is definitely not just the clearcoat cracking. So, Salsa says to keep it and ride it, I say it is a safety issue and I need a replacement. Even if I go to sell it on eBay or something, no one is going to buy it if they think the fame is cracking regardless if it is just the “clearcoat.” So now what do I do? Any other Mamasita owners had this problem? I like the bike, but I feel stuck. Suggestions?
Brian: Well, it sounds to me that you have your mind made up, but at the risk of that, I will tell you that this is common with bonded frames using dissimilar, (and in some cases similar) materials. I have been in the bicycle business since the early 90’s and I can recite several instances where this “cracking” (which is almost always cosmetic) has occurred.
So, with that in mind, the Mamasita does this, and I have seen it. To me, it is only another example of a cosmetic issue, not a structural one.
I can also tell you that Salsa Cycles, and other bicycle companies have their frames independently tested by certified test labs to pass stringent European standards and if the Mamasita was suspect, it would have been pulled off the market long ago.
Again, if you are convinced in your own mind that it is a serious problem, that is something you will have to react upon. I can not prevail upon you to change your mind, but I will say that I would ride a Mamasita with a clear conscious and not worry one bit about it.
I hope you can come to terms with it, but if not, I suggest you sell it and get something that allows you to ride with peace of mind.
Brain
Give a deal on the mamasita and I would consider buying it. The race it to let you know how long it last. Let me know what you think.
nice writeup!! Sounds like a fun ride.
How will this frame hold up to a 200+ rider?
Love the way the mamasita rides.
one_speed: See comment #11 above
What different component or kit levels are going to be offered? Do you have prices for these yet?
The light blue touches with the hope brakes and XTR cranks are sweet.
A C: The Salsa Selma will only be offered as a frame for 2009. I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see a complete Selma introduced at Interbike, or maybe in mid-summer of ‘09. Especially if frame sales are brisk and dealers start asking for it.
The build on the show bike was stellar! I got to see it up close and personal a few times.
So on the Mamasita side of thing again. I am 5′11 . I am wondering if I would ride a medium or large frame. I have a Carbon Rush and A carbon Raven super V both are large.
Inseam is 34. I was looking at the standover measurements and they are 31 and 32 .
Any suggestion?
sharpbike: Without seeing you and having you fitted, my guess is that you would fit best on a medium.
Guitar Ted,
Your experience and advice are very much appreciated. I knew that someone on this site would have the experience with with the Salsa frames, and specifically product user experience with the mamasita to provide some advice. While I have ridden/raced numerous types and brands of bikes both on-road and in the dirt, the Salsa Mamasita is the first Scandium Carbon bike of its type that I have had for off road, XC riding. Don’t think I am bad-mouthing Salsa, because I am not. I also have a Salsa steel frame Mtn bike (that I really enjoy)and Salsa gear/components on other bikes. I was just surprised to find this cracking issue on Salsa’s high end 29er frame. I have not torn it down or sent it back yet…just looking into my options. I just don’t want to have a possible safety issue because my frame has a unique problem or was a quality escape from the factory. Any other users observe this condition on a Mamasita?
Guitar Ted I have been looking for a Mamasita on the net. They are hard to find in the Medium size. I have not been able to find one in stock. You know when they will be avaliable or a location that has them. I will need it to be shipped to an APO since I am in the military and living abroad. Thanks for all you help. I think with the info that I have got here that I will get a Mamasita instead of the Air 9. That is if I can find one. Thanks again.
I CAN’T wait for one! Already have the parts ready!
I wanna Pedal that beaut until she breaks-
Ride and Smile-
Ted, how did this one compare to the more suspended Dos Niner? Closer to a regular hardtail or does it have the same not-fully-rigid-but-still-not-suspension feeling as the Dos?
El Monkey: The Selma, (and the Mamasita as well) feel as though you have a big cushy, underinflated tire in the rear, even if you are running 35psi. It just has the slightest amount of give. Not unlike a very nice, compliant carbon fiber or titanium seat post. Not like a Dos Niner, which begins to feel like a stiff suspension bike and definitely is moving back there as you ride it.
So the Selma/Mama frame is nice riding, but definitely not “suspension-like”