meet Frank

[sundial]

Kalidurga, this bike has a very interesting feel to it. The handling is smooth but Mac truck like. The tires are tall and marshmallowy squishy and I love to find the roughest parts of the dirt road to play. With it being steel, it's smooth as buttah on the pavement. Salsa designs have always appealed to me and I finally found a 29'er that fits.

I tried 700x38 tires on it and it just felt wrong. This bike really seems to like the bigger tires and I'm currently searching for a good fast rolling, quiet tire for the pavement days.

Oakleaf, yeah the saddle is kinda funky. I switched it out for my Brooks sprung saddle. I rode it without and just about rattled my fillings out.

Me thinks I'd like to try something along the lines of a Soma Junebug bar. I'm kinda diggin' the bar end shifters for now. The real entertainment will be when I take it out on a trail.

Anyone use lots of bottle cages? I can't see me hauling around hot water on my trips.

[Kalidurga]

I don't know if I could get used to bar end shifters, I spend so much time on the hoods. What bars are those, Bell Laps? Edit again: Jeez, I need to learn to read tonight.

And are those some sort of braze-ons on the back of the front fork? Edit: Never mind, I just went and looked at the specs again. That thing is seriously outfitted.

Man, I'm drooling. And did I mention that the color is terrific, too?

[Zen]

Frank and i are already acquainted, Miss Banana Creme.
First thing i did was look up specs.
FIVE bottle holders!

[tulip]

I love Frank! He's hunky.

I love the bar end shifters on my Bike Friday. I always am on the hoods, but it's very natural to shift on the bar ends. Also, you can see what gear you're in--it takes a little practice, but I don't have to look down at the chainring to see if I'm in the big or middle or smallest chainring--I can tell by the position of the shifter. Same for the left side (which controls the rear derailleur). However, that's on the road. I don't have a mountain bike and it's been years since I've ridden one on dirt. Might be different.

[kfergos]

I tried 700x38 tires on it and it just felt wrong. This bike really seems to like the bigger tires and I'm currently searching for a good fast rolling, quiet tire for the pavement days.

I just got an Armadillo Hemisphere tire for my mtb (it comes in 26", which is what I have, and 700c, which should work for you, right?) and I'm finding it really smooth-rolling and nice -- also much easier to get on and off than the skinnier Armadillos, which is a nice perk. I've ridden it on gravel and extremely rough road with great success. When it's time to replace my other tire, I'll be getting another Armadillo Hemisphere.

I have Armadillos on my other bike, too, and haven't gotten a flat with them in something like 3,000 miles.

Have fun on the new bike!

[sundial]

I just got an Armadillo Hemisphere tire for my mtb...

Kfergos, thanks so much for the tip.

Well, I took Frank out for a proper dirt road thrashing. As I was peddling along on the hot, dusty farm road, I saw several farm trucks lined up alongside the road. As I got closer I could see several men gathered around a speaker and they were listening intently. As I neared the group it appeared that they were having a meeting with the county extension office and one by one they begin to turn their heads and watch me. I think there must have been 25-30 farmers there. My Brooks saddle squeaked with each pedal stroke and the guest speaker turned to watch me with this incredulous look on his face and paused. Reminded me of the opening scene in Oh Brother Where Art Thou--the one where the squeaky railcar is driven by the blind man.