The Salsa Cycles Fargo is being ridden in various forms and is now taking a turn at a specialized type of ride which I’ll detail out in a moment. Let’s first recap how things have been going with the Fargo here and get everyone up to speed on this unique 29″er.
I started off with the Fargo in nearly stock form. (Completes were not available just yet at the time Twenty Nine Inches got this test rig) Many “adventure” rides were undertaken showing that the Fargo was indeed adept at multi-terrain rides. Go anywhere, ride anything, for the most part. This is really the Fargo’s forte’ and design intent.
Then with a swap of wheels and tires, along with a couple of component tweaks, the Fargo was off roaded on all sorts of terrain. The Fargo turned out to be a capable single track machine worthy of recreational exploring and maybe even an XC race or two if the course isn’t too technical. Of course, it helps if you like drop bars!
Now I am going to be tweaking the Fargo out for another purpose. I have a 200 mile gravel road/back road event I am entered into for the end of May. So far I have the set up semi-dialed in and will be finishing up with the final details soon. The big changes here are the Edge Composites/American Classic wheels, WTB Vulpine tires with tubes injected with Effetto Mariposa’s Caffelatex sealant, a Banjo Brothers top tube bag, and some other minor tweaks. The rear rack is coming off and a new seat bag is in the works.
The final details will be recorded here and the test will be at the end of the month for me and the bicycle! We’ll find out how everything all shakes out in the end.
GT – I’ve been hoping to hear more on this bike – knew you would find a ton of ways to use it. Now that I am going another way with my SS bike, this will be my one steel bike someday. On the tubes – are you using sealant beacuse you are using light/thin tubes, or just want flat protection for your 200 miler?
GT – Cool to see the evolution. It’s starting to look a lot like one of mine. If your seat bag doesn’t materialize before your event, let me know as I’ve got a couple extra in various sizes. Keep me posted.
I really like that the Fargo can take on multi-purpose roles and it’s really cool following your updates.
Wow is that an array of bidons!
I do recall the interbike photo, but that’s just, well so much colour. I know weight on the forks/front greatly affects handling: I’m assuming once you empty out two bottles from the frame you’d swap them for the two full fork-bottles?
Lee T: I am using sealant mostly out of necessity, since the Edge wheels do not support tubelessness without a “ghetto” rim strip. Given that where I am racing, (Flint Hills of Kansas) and the high propensity for tire cuts from the rocks there, I felt using tubes with the sealant injected would minimize mess and ease the repair time needed to change over to a new tube. Add to that the high likelyhood that a ghetto rim strip and a tube are not very compatible and you maybe can see why I am doing this.
gnat: Thanks for the comment and I will keep the bag offer in mind.
Shiny Flu: Better to have the water on the bike than on my back for 200 miles!
And you are correct- I would replace the fork bottles with empties first, then work my way through the frame mounted bottles. I will say that during training rides I have kept the bottles full on the fork and I am quite used to the way it handles. It really isn’t bad at all, but it is slightly different
That is a truly sweet bike as built now. I’ve always wished for an all-in-one kind of trail/tour frame and the Fargo is the closest I’ve seen. It’ll be interesting to read your next report on this incarnation.
GT – thanks for the tip on the sealant – was interested because I use Vulpines on my Utopia for training rides on paths/gravel/dirt roads, and was wondering if the light tubes, with sealant, could be a benefit. Think I’ll try it.