ExPo Build Project: Salsa Fargo

[Flounder]

As the season comes to a close, I thought it would be fun to start a fresh ExPo bike project. We have a blank canvas to work with here. The frame is a 2012 Salsa Fargo "adventure bike" frame. This will be a ton of fun to build, and serious fun to ride. I honestly haven't put much thought into the build-out yet. I'd like for this to be the most versitile bike possible. I'm shooting for a bike that can do the following tricks:

• Commute to work daily.
• Navigate technical singletrack with a light load.
• Ride with enough comfort to knock down 8 hour rides day after day.

Not sure if I'm going 3x9, 1x9, Alfine internal, or even 2x10. I would like it to be light and spry, and not ride like a lumbering ox. Not sure if it will have drop bars, H-bars, strait bars..... Lots up in the air at this point.

What say you?




Adventure by bicycle. Sounds like just good advice.

http://www.salsacycles.com/bikes/fargo/

bikes_fargo_comp11.jpg

[nwoods]

Looks really nice!

[Victorian]

Sweet!
On a commuter I would go with the Alfine 11! On a touring bike, I would say that the gear range is not low enough... As you know, I have one, love it but think that it's not quiet there to be a great touring set up.

Other then that:
Brooks
Tubus
Schwalbe and you are set :-)

[tacollie]

Looks like good fun. I just went to a 2x10 XT cranks and couldn't be more stoked.

[Flounder]

I've struggled with the tire selection with this rig. I'd like something that can knock down big miles, so lean and fast would be great. I ride Kenda Slant 6 cyclocross tires on my Yeti cyclocrosser, so maybe some 2.O slant 6 tires on this rig would be worth a shot.

Victorian, which Schwalbe tires do you run?

By the way, this is easily the craziest looking fork I've ever seen. I could mount $400 worth of doo-dads on just the fork alone with all the provided braze-ons.

[Scott Brady]

Love the new frame Christophe.

[sven]

Sweet frame! I'm lusting over the Salsa Vaya myself. The Vaya seems to be a more road oriented version of the Fargo, but can still fit wide tires. Id run the Schwalbe Extremes in 700X40 on the Vaya.

I have the Marathon Plus 700X32 on my commuter, and there arent the greatest offroad. Might switch back to my cheap Kenda CX tires.

[Jay H]

Another fargo rider here. I run soma dirt drop bars, tektro long pull levers and bb7. I like my soma bars a lot they have a real shallow drop. I also run dura ace bar end shifters. I have 2 sets of wheels one with wtb pathway 700x32 and another with wtb wierwolf lt 29x2.55. Such a versatile bike. I really like the huge wtb rubber.

The mile long chain stays and low bottom brackett make the fargo crazy, 30pack in paniersans no hands stable.

You will like this bike.

[Flounder]

As with any build, I started with a quick dig in my basement for orphan parts. I found these still in the boxes:

wheels.jpg
Crank Bro Cobalt 29er wheelset.

Seems like a weird combi - Fargo and Cobalts. But, they're in the basement and clawing to get out, so who knows.

[toddz69]

Once you get it assembled, you can wear this when you go for a ride . Threadbare vintage from the Ross Shafer days.

Todd Z.