Interbike 2009: Ride Report- Salsa Selma Single Speed 29″er

October 6th, 2009 by Guitar Ted

Grannygear is a bit like me in that he has a place in his heart for the single speed. He was hankering for a ride on a Salsa Selma, so here are his thoughts on this Scandium and carbon treat.

Salsa Selma: Well, you know I have to ride at least one single speed for the weekend and I chose the Selma, a sirens call of seductively shaped Scandium and pinstripes. As I was flying around the XC demo trails, doing my best to not run over the pokey and plodding geared and linked up bikes on tour there, I was thinking…”OK, I know this is supposed to be a racy SS bike and it is certainly a light and fast scooter, but Salsa really nailed the handling and the over sized down tube and shaped Scandium made for a precise and smooth ride. It even was easy to get the front end off of the ground, something that is not always so on the longer and slacker SS frames that are out there.

Could I tell that the shaped chain stays and seat stays were working for me? No, not really. Give me one without that feature and let me compare. Was it brutally rough like those stiff and unforgiving aluminum bikes we read about and secretly fear? Not at all. Trail bike SS? Ahhh…maybe not compared to a nicer steel ride with smaller tubes, etc. But there are trade offs to everything and as I cranked hard over the steep climb in the trail, that Scandium frame jumping forward with every pedal stroke as I passed a rider on the left, then smoothly carved a graceful arc and dove into the gully that followed, I was thinking, “Could I get off of my Jabberwocky for this?” Yeah, I think I could. Nice job, guys and gals. Salsa gets a lot of kudos for getting the handling right on their 29ers and I see why. The Selma is a fast traveling girl and a great dancer.

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11 Responses to “Interbike 2009: Ride Report- Salsa Selma Single Speed 29″er”

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1 Dave on Oct 6th, 2009 at 9:33 am

What size was it?

Weight guesstimate? (It’s scandium, for gosh sakes… gotta ask the weight question)
2 grannygear on Oct 6th, 2009 at 10:01 am

@dave Hmmm…I think it was a LG. I know it took me a while to get one as they were all out. Weight? I do not recall. Not heavy, though, that is for sure. They tend to build the demo bikes with solid but not blingy light stuff. That makes some sense for general purposes.

grannygear
3 Dogdude222 on Oct 6th, 2009 at 11:13 am

How was the tire clearance? Could you fit a rampage in back?

Does that bolt on the seatstay allow for some separation (i.e. belt drive)?

Can you add a derailleur hanger? How did the EBB look?

Thanks!
4 Guitar Ted on Oct 6th, 2009 at 11:44 am

@Dogdude222: I’ve had previous experience with the Selma. Yes to Rampages, albeit with minimal mud clearance. (Probably 28mm wide rims max)

No on the belt drive.

A derailleur hangar can be mounted, (Same as Mamasita), No cable stops though on the Selma. The EBB is a Bushnell type as used on the El Mariachi.
5 Big629 on Oct 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pm

Ee……….I think i just threw up in my mouth
6 Guitar Ted on Oct 6th, 2009 at 1:51 pm

@Big629: Guess you are not a single speed fan, eh?
7 Jeff on Oct 6th, 2009 at 5:14 pm

That is a sexy bike.. not sure about it being able to handle a clyde like me @ 220. Its a lot lighter than my Flight.. I know that from picking one up at the shop.
8 Dave on Oct 6th, 2009 at 11:41 pm

Jeff… what would your calibrated elbow guess would be the weight difference between Selma and the Flight?
9 Big29 on Oct 7th, 2009 at 5:53 pm

Jeff,

Yes the Selma will definitely handle you at 220#. I go between 200-210 most of the time and it rides great. I ride mine rigid with a White Bro Rock Solid and it loves to go fast. Mine weighs 20.6 lbs. with XT cranks, ring dinger, Surly 18t cog, Hope SS hubs and Arches.

Jason
10 RubberBoy on Oct 8th, 2009 at 9:01 pm

+1 on Scandium/AL

This material is fantastic: great power transfer, light almost as carbon, and cheap…
It beats Ti for racing, offers you more confidence to abuse than carbon, and won’t rust like steel.

Harsh did you say? That’s why you got cushy wheels and suspension (if you opt for one, unlike myself).

The only considerable downfall is lifespan. Al will fatigue and eventually crack. Then again, cheap to replace.
11 pghryder on Oct 10th, 2009 at 5:54 am

I have been on my Selma since summer.

I love it!

I went from a Pro 29 to this and I think it rides smooooth. Just like rubberboy said, with the wheels and suspension. I got Mikesee (lacemine29) to build me some wheels and a Black Sheep Ti fork…butter. It makes for a lightweight set up.

I’m around 170 and tend to push a bigger gear when SSing and I haven’t had any flex issues.