Salsa Ala Carte *Back to W.I.P* - Last Updated 31/07/2010

tptvmbircn

Hello all, here is my Salsa i've been banging on about for months on end and apart from living under my bed as a frame all this time I got the balls to build it up and enjoy the pure steel ride:



Specs:

Frame: Salsa Ala Carte 2004 (Custom Spray)
Forks: Salsa CroMoto Rigid
Bars: FSA XC220 CSI Carbon Pro
Stem: FSA FR230
Headset: Hope
Grips: NukeProof Lock On

Front Brake: Shimano Deore Hydraulic
Rear Brake: Shimano Deore Hydraulic

Shifters: Shimano XT 2008
Front Mech: Shimano XT 2008
Rear Mech: Shimano XT 2008

Seat: Charge Spoon TI (White)
Seat Post: FSA SL-280 XC Carbon Pro

Cranks: Shimano XT 2008
Chainring(s): Shimano XT 2008
Chain: SRAM PC951
Cassette: SRAM PG990
Pedals: Simano M520
Bottom Bracket: Shimano XT

Front Wheel: Mavic Crossride Disc 2008
Tube: Raleigh Standard
Tire: Tioga Square Of Eight 26 x 2.1 Wire

Rear Wheel: Mavic Crossride Disc 2008
Tube: Raleigh Standard
Tire: Tioga Square Of Eight 26 x 2.1 Wire

Weight: 20 LBS

Its one crazy ride! I know the stacks very high but i like it strangly and theres a few small things i'm gonna change here and there so watch this space.

UPDATE: (For a while now) the spacer issue has been resolved i'm sure you're happy! The saddle has been changed to a ti white charge spoon & got some lock-on nukeproof grips

Cheers,
Terry

jay12

how many spacers :shock:

looking good

ilovedirt

enough spacers there???!!!!!

swainey1

you did not put "spacers" in the spec list ? and you would save another kilo if you take them off





ps looking nice tho

tptvmbircn

Haha, loads of spacers i know, but its so dam comfortable up there, the headtube is so small which dosent help matters.

What to do, what to do, any suggestions? cut it or be in comfort?

ilovedirt

go for a happy medium, personally i don't like being too high up

tptvmbircn

Coming home from work tonight it is a bit too high (I think) Could take an inch off or so, gonna go for some brand-x spacers as i dont want all this labelled spacer stuff as just looks too much.

Got a Nukeproof warhead headset to add too so will devise my plan and then do it all in one go

bobpzero

what happen to the sus forks in the first picture? a 140mm rs revelation race sus fork would help reduce the amount of spacers

tptvmbircn

I wanted some fox floats or rock shox team sids, then decided god i love it ridgit and i suppose its how the ala carte should be.

Them bombers are on the wifes bike now, i'm wanting to build a full susser too to take on black routes etc so my plan is to pop the forks on there haha. Thinking on a giant trance / anthem next possibly a cannondale lefty just depends on what the budget is.

mcj78

Nice paintjob on it too - where did you get that done if you don't mind me asking?

To get rid of the spacers you could always stick a rigid 29er fork on...

tptvmbircn

29er was an idea to heighten the front but if i'm correct it will effect the geometry.

It was sprayed by Kevin Winter, he's a well known local bike builder and very good at it too. Offered me a total custom frame even any material too haha how crazy.

ride_whenever

not white enough.

otherwise nice.

tptvmbircn

ride_whenever wrote:

not white enough.

otherwise nice.

haha thanks, its not as white as yours i know, a bit too much for me personally, i went for the black / white look as my previous bike was mostly black woth a hint of white.

Like i say though, still a bit W.I.P at the moment however

tptvmbircn

UPDATE: (For a while now) the spacer issue has been resolved i'm sure you're happy! The saddle has been changed to a ti white charge spoon & got some lock-on nukeproof grips

Salsa

Very nice 8)
I already own a Salsa (Bandito) but I think I'll sell my Rocky Mountain Element 50 to buy the new SS Ala Carte the end of the month if Ison gets them in (eta 30/06/10).

I do think your a being a little bit optimistic on the weight though, my Banditos in the 17's but that's with oodles of high end carbon fibre & Ti with lots of XTR/X0 etc.

Splottboy

Got the same "spacer" probs here, so giving the full sus to the Mrs as it's a small, and she's a 4ft 11ins Pocket Rocket.

Nice Salsa. Didn't they used to do a rainproof that looked like a Cowboy shirt?

Always wanted one..YIPEE KI YA, City Slicker!!!

Kiblams

Love it!

How are you finding the ride on those skinny tires?

tptvmbircn

Eee thank's for all the replies, i'm over the moon ha,

Kiblams wrote:

Love it!

How are you finding the ride on those skinny tires?

well very grippy and not so skinny looking down on them (more pic's to come soon) they are pretty wide, any wider and it will rub on the read dropout! :oops:

bobpzero wrote:

what happen to the sus forks in the first picture? a 140mm rs revelation race sus fork would help reduce the amount of spacers

I still have the 80mm 50 air 50 oil marzocchi forks (deciding to sell or not), 140 apparently would kill the ride (so i'm told) and would reduce my lovely bank balance and my relationship also haha

Splottboy wrote:

Got the same "spacer" probs here, so giving the full sus to the Mrs as it's a small, and she's a 4ft 11ins Pocket Rocket.

Nice Salsa. Didn't they used to do a rainproof that looked like a Cowboy shirt?

Always wanted one..YIPEE KI YA, City Slicker!!!

Haha, well I had literally a nukeproof warhead on mine before the chop, the head tube is pretty small on the ala carte so still having a 40mm space on there but i'm 6ft and the frame's and 18" and works great.

Salsa wrote:

Very nice 8)
I already own a Salsa (Bandito) but I think I'll sell my Rocky Mountain Element 50 to buy the new SS Ala Carte the end of the month if Ison gets them in (eta 30/06/10).

I do think your a being a little bit optimistic on the weight though, my Banditos in the 17's but that's with oodles of high end carbon fibre & Ti with lots of XTR/X0 etc.

The new TI version is sweet also, the steel has a very impressive new dropout system which I'd love to have in that yellow color (Correct me if i'm wrong but i'm colorblind haha and don't read what colors are) But yes i agree it's in the 20lbs easily, just done another stand on the scale's version and it hit the 20.1 mark so edit that i will. Nice username oh and avatar, they are addictive these salsa's

Salsa

Oooh I'd so love the Ti version but £1800! No way I could stretch to that, but we can dream & I really love the etched Salsa logos on that
The new dropouts do look pretty cool & one of the reasons I would like to buy one with the matching fork, I'll happily correct you on the colour though it's actually a green.

Wasn't belittling your bikes weight btw as there's more to a bike than the weight. It's just I know how hard it was for me to hit 18lb on mine a few months back. It involved me looking at the little details like chain/seat clamp/bolts etc, even down to the chainstay protector. I think I'm finally over my strange weight weenie obsession on that bike though

they are addictive these salsa's

Ride & Smile

tptvmbircn

Ride and smile indeed, no offence taken i'm one to assume and not too concerned about weight I must admit however this is an 04' frame (hense the respray), bought the fork in 09' and god does it fly, its so true it's the bike i totally agree!

Yes £1800 is a great deal of cash but i'm sure if we were in that position no money no object imagine the ride from it you would get

pastey_boy

your bike weighs around the 24-25lbs mark.

tptvmbircn

pastey_boy wrote:

your bike weighs around the 24-25lbs mark.

well whatever it weighs its bloody brilliant haha, like i say can't exactly confim this info atm on the digital scales

Salsa

I must admit however this is an 04' frame

That's a coincidence as mines also an 04 frame, here's a couple of pictures of it.

tptvmbircn

That is one fine machine, and works well with the gold bling. rigit also! it's a shame you're not local, we could of been the salsa bandits haha

Kiblams

:shock: is that a road fork Salsa!?!

tptvmbircn

I believe its This?

pastey_boy

Kiblams wrote:

:shock: is that a road fork Salsa!?!

yes with just enough clearance for 700x75c tyres

Salsa

Well I did get chatting to a couple whilst out riding the other day & the lady asked if it was a cyclo-cross bike
Bear in mind I live & ride in Norfolk & we have no downhills here, it's perfect for most of my local trails & I do prefer the technical side of riding, over going really fast in a straight line using suspension.
As stated I also have a 100mm full sus bike for when I feel the need of it.

And a 1992 Marin Bear Valley SS magic gear, and a 1991 Diamond Back LX, and a 2009 Custom BMX

Kiblams

Salsa wrote:

I do prefer the technical side of riding, over going really fast in a straight line using suspension.

I think that's something more and more people are realising on here of late.

(sorry for hijacking your thread stealthelete :oops: )

tptvmbircn

Kiblams wrote:

Salsa wrote:

I do prefer the technical side of riding, over going really fast in a straight line using suspension.

I think that's something more and more people are realising on here of late.

(sorry for hijacking your thread stealthelete :oops: )

It's no problem, don't worry we're discussing bike's and people with manners don't come often these days. I see where salsa is coming from, it's got me to what i want next personally and it will be a full susser, although the salsa range is good money wise i'm thinking on settling down for an anthem but shall see when the time and savings come

tptvmbircn

Well may as well say this is W.I.P again... we thought it had died but it did'nt...

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=16346017#16346017

So now to the drawing board, and me and me only this time, no pro sprayers involved lets see what happens!

ideas welcome, but, i'm a minimal guy going for the stealth approach here!

Terry