Comments on: Salsa Cycles Fargo: On Test

By: MontclairBobbyB

MontclairBobbyB — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:52:25 +0000

Tire choice is your most important choice, so when it comes to tires for the Fargo I’ll give you MY very biased opinion: Bigger and Wider is BETTER!

Schwalbe should name me official “ambassador of Big Apples”, I’ve put more people on a set of Big Apples…. That’s because they are AWESOME tires! it takes only a few seconds to fall in love with these tires, as you find yourself wondering “How can THESE feel so cushy, and yet roll so fast????”

I run the 2.35s fatties on my Fargo, and I can’t imagine a better tire unless you want to run fenders, in which case I’d recommend the 29 x 2.0 Big As, which will give you fewer fender fit fits (say that 5 times fast….)

Your ride sounds beyond epic!!! I am planning a 2-day light tour on my Fargo (mostly offroad)… I will ride with the Big Apples, for sure.

Safe Travels…
BB

By: gypsy

gypsy — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:28:26 +0000

I am preparing to leave Fort Collins, CO and head to Telluride, CO fully loaded, 70% pavement, 30% gravel. I’m thinking of using the stock tire in the front and a 35 in the rear – any comments. I’ve also been having a lot of problems with the front brake going out of adjustment, hitting the attachement bolts, and god forbid I should have to take the wheel off because I’ll have to start over with resetting the brake. Help!! I leave in two days – the shop has suggested “trimming” the offending bolt.

By: hbruckus

hbruckus — Sun, 03 May 2009 19:42:15 +0000

Does anyone know if a 22 tooth granny will work with the stock drivetrain that comes with the complete bike?

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:47:15 +0000

Steve: But you haven’t seen my RAGBRAI route yet! Muwah ha ha ha!

By: Steve Fuller

Steve Fuller — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:30:21 +0000

Gravel on RAGBRAI? They’re getting soft. Hasn’t been any gravel the last 3 years.

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:07:30 +0000

AlanK: Just to tag onto what montclairbobbyb said, Salsa has stated a couple of times that 35mm tires would work all the way up to 2.5″ 29″er rubber.

By: montclairbobbyb

montclairbobbyb — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:01:46 +0000

Alan:

I’m running mine with Schwalbe Big Apples (2.35),,, no clearance issues. They roll extremely well on pavement as well as dirt. I have a Tubus Logo rack on the rear, which due to the geometry (ie sloping top tube), the rack clears the rear tire with little room to spare up top, making it difficult to fit my Cascadia fenders. Minor Dremel customization to the fender hopefully will allow it to all fit together. You’ll have zero problem with 38mm tires (the BAs are 60mm).

Peace,
BB

By: AlanK

AlanK — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:15:00 +0000

This looks like a great rig not only for touring but a do-everything bike. I’d also like to know how it works on pavement with slicks. My other question is also about tire size: I checked the Salsa page and didn’t see anything about specific tire ranges. If I did get it I’d probably run about 700×38 which I assume is a viable size. I’d just like to know the range of tire sizes that would work without any problems.

By: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:36:28 +0000

cactuscorn: I’m thinking your idea is great but for one thing: Go with some 35mm tires. The 32’s would put the BB low enough that I think it would become an issue. There are a lot of great road/gravel capable tires in that size range. (And dude- you know there will be gravel on RAGBRAI!)

Might I suggest a Schwalbe Marathon? A most worthy contender, and you’ll still be able to swap out to fatter rubber for real mtb action with a Fargo too.

By: cactuscorn

cactuscorn — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:52:20 +0000

ted,

1 question: could this be a ragbrai bike for a old guy who cant hang with the geo of a stick bike any longer? i dig the lht plenty but at 5′9″, im not crazy about bein stuck with 26″ wheels. i do like the occasional fast day when we find a killer mini peleton.

my dream is a disgustingly comfy 700c bike with a 28 or maybe a 32 tire, friggin tall headtube, drop bars, sti levers, road tripple, mtb cassette and some racks. talk to me chief!

thanx – tom