Fargo on skinny trails

The bike in front is a new Salsa Spearfish, my Fargo is in
the back. 

I rode the Fargo back to work on Friday. Then I was lucky enough to be able to leave work early and get a quick ride in on the Hanson-Larson trails in Rapid City. The Fargo was nimble enough and climbed really well. I'm less than impressed on it's downhilling abilities but it is a rigid frame with drop bars. A lot different from what I'm used to.

The bars were the largest thing I couldn't get used to. I couldn't find a comfortable place to put my hands on downhill sections. I'd have my hands on the hoods and my thumbs would start cramping, I'd put them in the drops and I just didn't feel like I had control and if I just had them on top I didn't have access to the brakes. I also thought the breaks were less than stellar durning those sections.

I did have to keep reminding myself this is not my 5.5" travel blur. It's a completely different bike with different abilities. I wished the breaks worked a little better but I'm sure since they're brand new it'll take a little time for them to get broke in.

It was fun and I'm glad I know I'll be able to ride any single track I want if I'm out for a jaunt.

Fargo 3 Ride Report

I wish I had some pictures to share but I don't. I just picked up a Salsa Fargo 3 yesterday size 20". I drove to work today since I was running late but I did have time to throw the bike on so I could ride home and then ride tomorrow.

I must tell you, although it's a considerably different feel than my Blur, it is an extremely fun bike to ride. I start off riding down some singletrack for about a mile that's narrow and downhill until I hit up the bike path. The Fargo handled really well on the singletrack and felt solid. The position of the hands is a little different but I think I could get used to it. The bike is really quick and nimble on the path. The 29" tire size takes a bit to get used to since I've been riding 26" tires for so long. The 29" feels so big.

I'm really excited to try and take the fargo on M-hill tomorrow to see how it does on real trails and spend some quality time on it. I know I'll be adding some frame bags and probably a rack or two so I can carry my gear back and forth to work a little easier. I also will be doing some bikepacking this summer as well. I already have 3 or 4 rides in mind for overnighters.

There might end up being 2 of these bikes in my garage fairly soon. It's the first bike I've ever ridden that I think my wife has to have one. She's a lucky woman :-)

Cold

It's getting colder today. It kind of stinks... I was all excited to get a fairly warm ride in this weekend but it looks like if any ride happens it's going to be a cold one.

Eh...

Sold

My Ute sold in 3 days. It sat out in front of a bike shop and sold before I had a chance to change my mind. This last weekend I was really sad it was gone. I will have to get a bike to replace it but probably not of the cargo bike style.

I'm considering a Salsa Fargo. It seems from what I've read and heard that it will be the perfect do-it-all bike. It travels well on highways, gravel roads, single track and anything in-between. Hopefully I can gather enough scratch from the sale of my Ute and from savings to purchase one. I'm missing the ability to carry things and my Blur isn't exactly the ideal commuter bike.

Has anyone had any experience with a Fargo?