Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
“Salsa Cycles”
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Vintage Bicycles: 1992 Retrotec Cool Toob Human Powered Dirt Craft Cycle
Readers of this site might be familiar with Retrotec but what about the brand’s Genesis, or its roots, rather? Bob Seals started Retrotec in the late 1980s after making the Cool Tool. Yet many aren’t aware of the brand’s most unique creation: the Cool Toob Human Powered Dirt Craft Cycle. Read on below for an in-depth look!
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An Evening With Rocket Ramps on the New Flow Trail ‘Chips and Salsa’ at Glorieta Camps
Santa Fe has a booming mountain bike community. Partly due to the abundance of trails, yet it takes skilled professionals to build and maintain those trails. For our National Forest, we rely on the kick-ass team that is the Fat Tire Society. They act as the liaison between the BLM/USFS and our public lands. Currently, the Fat Tire Society is working on a sprawling network of trails just south of Santa Fe in Arroyo Hondo. Yet, further south in the town of Glorieta, there’s a brand new trail that’s opening up on October 22nd that I have to tell you about…
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Vintage Bicycles: 1988 WTB Wildcat Prototype
I’m sure most of you are familiar with WTB. They make tires, sealant, saddles, grips, and more, currently. Yet, WTB began as a much different brand, with its line of Grease Guard hubs, headsets, brakes, tires, forks, and yep, even bicycle frames! Started by Mark Slate, Steve Potts, and Charlie Cunningham, WTB has helped shape the mountain bike industry we know today. We already looked at the Banana Slug, which was used to display early WTB components and to showcase Steve Pott’s work but today we’ve got something different… One of the lesser-known WTB frames is the Wildcat, and today we look at a one-off prototype with words by Noah, a lifelong collector and fan of Wilderness Trail Bikes…
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A Second Spin Cycles 90s Grove Innovations Track Bike
Today we’re pleased to showcase a build from our friend Martin at Second Spin Cycles. Martin works on restoring old mountain, road, and yes, track bikes for his clients by speccing the period-correct components and more.
Radar
We’re Digging the New Salsa Rangefinder Colors for 2022
The Rangefinder is Salsa’s entry-level hardtail mountain bike that launched last year amidst supply chain shortages and a boom in bicycle sales. It’s hard to know when supplies will return at a normal capacity or if your local dealer will even get any of these in but we still wanted to tip our cap to Salsa’s graphics department that did a great job on these new colors for 2022. See more at Salsa where you can see the build specs for Deore and Advent kits in 29 or 27.5+ platforms.
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Readers’ Rides: Ryan’s 650b Salsa Vaya
The Salsa Vaya is a crowd favorite and today’s Readers’ Rides comes from Ryan who presents his 650b converted Vaya 3. Read on below for more words and photos of this sweet bike!
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The 2021 Salsa Cutthroat Comes in Four Builds and a Frameset
Cutthroat C AXS Build shown here $7,199 USD.
The Cutthroat is a favorite amongst Tour Divide aficionados and weekend warriors alike. Back in 2015, when it was announced, the Cutthroat got tested out on the Tour Divide course and it remains a fan favorite today. While the frame hasn’t changed since our Review of the 2020 model last year, it does come in four new build specs, plus as a frameset. Head to Salsa to read all about the 2021 Cutthroat builds.
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Salsa’s 2021 Warbird and Stormchaser Have New Colors and Build Specs
Salsa’s flagship gravel bikes are back this year with new paint and new specs. The all-carbon Warbird still fits a 700c x 45 mm or 650b x 2.0″ with a racey geometry. New for 2021, the Warbird comes laced with AXS wide ($6,999) at the top end or Apex 1 ($2,799).
The aluminum Stormchaser can cram a little bigger tires at 700c x 50 mm or 650b x 50 mm, yet is designed to be raced in muddy conditions with a 42mm tire for ample mud clearance. The Stormchaser also has a slacker head angle to battle the muck. The Stormchaser comes built as shown as a singlespeed ($1599) or as a frameset with a geared or singlespeed option ($1199).
See more at Salsa.
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The All New 2021 Salsa Timberjack
The Salsa Timberjack has been a staple option for those looking for a capable hardtail. This morning, Salsa announced the new 2021 model with a few key updates including top tube mounts for bags, the downtube received Three-Pack mounts, an upgrade to Alternator 2.0 dropouts, improved cable routing, and integrated chainstay protection.
The biggest change is the switch from a 130mm to a 150mm fork and an updated geometry, which you can see above. You can still run a 29er or 27.5+ wheelset on the Timberjack as well. Build kits range from a Ti Timberjack frame for $2,699, GX Eagle 29er for $2,499, SLX complete for $1,799, and the frameset runs $599. Check out more information at Salsa.
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Salsa Updates its Steel Bike Lineup for 2021
2021 brings a lot of uncertainty as companies scramble to make the best of supply chain shortcomings due to Covid-19. While bikes are sold out across the globe, Salsa is pleased to announce their new 2021 steel model year lineup including the Vaya, Marrakesh, and Fargo. Each of these bikes received new colors and updated component kits. The Fargo, the drop bar MTB, has an Apex1 build kit ($2,399), as well as a titanium ($2,999) or steel ($1,099) frameset. The Vaya, their light tourer/gravel bike comes stock with GRX 600 ($2,499). Last but not least is the OG touring bike, the Marrakesh which is built with Alivio and is the most budget-minded steel complete bike in Salsa’s catalog at $1,799, including racks as pictured.
Head to Salsa to check out the full breakdown.
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Get Your Kids Hooked on Gravel with the 24″ Salsa Journeyman
For its latest release, Salsa took the accessible platform of the Journeyman gravel bike and scaled it down to a 24″ chassis, suitable for younger riders looking to get their feet dirty off-road. The 24″ Journeyman’s aluminum frame has a 455mm effective top tube length and 350mm seat tube length to suit smaller riders and a refined geometry suitable for not only the smaller, 24″ wheels but also the shortened standover and overall dimensions. A 1×9 drivetrain propels the 24 x 1.85″ wheels, opening up a wild variety of terrain options…
See more at Salsa!
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Win a Salsa Blackborow Fat Bike, a Alpacka Caribou Packraft, and a UltaMid 2 Pyramid Tent System from Hyperlite
Hyperlite Mountain Gear wants to outfit your future ventures with this massive giveaway:
The chassis off this giveaway is the ever-capable, long-hauler Salsa Blackborow Fat Bike. For shelter, you can win a UltaMid 2 Pyramid Tent System and then Inflate your Alpacka Caribou Packraft and explore that lake you’re on with a Aqua-Bound Manta Ray Hybrid Paddle. Then pack everything into the 4400 Porter.
Head to Hyperlite Mountain Gear to sign up for this giveaway. All you’ve got to do is enter your email.
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Made in Santa Fe: Farewell Bags for Cycling and More – Eric’s Salsa Timberjack
The Pandemic has left people with a lot of free time to pursue new hobbies. How many of your friends became sourdough bakers, xeriscapers, or home improvement gurus with all their newfound time at home? Eric Puckett is a long-time friend who always had sewing skills but once he was forced to work at home and couldn’t spend as much of his time outdoors, he began making bags for cycling, rock climbing, and more. Recently, he made this hobby into a side hustle called Farewell Bags. I caught up with Eric last week to shoot his new bags on his own Salsa Timberjack, so check out more below…
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Salsa Revamps its EXP Series Anything Cradle and Bag Design
In 2016, Salsa launched its EXP Cradle and bag design, offering up production bags previously only offered through smaller shops and manufacturers. This was a huge step in progressing the availability of bikepacking and bicycle touring accessories. Four years later, they just announced a series of updates, with a top-loading dry bag design and a refreshed side-loading dry bag, both of which utilize a new purge valve and lash attachments. Included in this update is a robust EXP front pouch with zippered access which can also act as a stand-alone bag for your gravel or MTB.
The whole system can convert just about any bike to a more capable tourer and these updates come at a time when we’re all pining for some time away from home on our bikes. Check out the full range at Salsa today and head to your local dealer for ordering.
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Salsa Updates its Fat Bike Lineup
It’s a little early to think about snow but if the pandemic taught us anything about bikes and availability, the name of the game is planning ahead! That means if you have any snow or sand excursions and rides planned for this winter, get on it now. What better time for Salsa to update their fat bike line with new colors and specs for 2021, starting at $1599 for a complete Mukluk Deore 11 model which is a deal when you consider the $1999 price of a Mukluk Carbon frame alone. There’s literally something for everyone’s taste and budget so head to Salsa to see all the specs.
Radar
The New 2020 Salsa Warroad Gets New Build Kits and Colors
Last year’s Warroad brought endurance all-road performance to the Salsa catalog and this year, the brand revamped the new frame with some vibrant paint options and updated build kits. Due to the current pandemic, they’re even offering up consumer direct shipping via your local bike shop and Salsa’s Adventure At Your Doorstep program. Head on over to Salsa to drool over this AXS build at the high end and a Tiagra build for more budget-minded buyers.
Curious about what we thought about Warroad? Check out our review.
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What It’s Designed For: Matt Acker’s Very Muddy Mid South Salsa Stormchaser SSGX
As you can imagine, the Mid South was intense this year. Between the Corona Virus pandemic and the weather, the team running the race had to scramble to adjust to the ever-changing circumstances. At the last minute, our coverage team decided to pull the plug, and we didn’t get a whole lot from the weekend, but luckily Jared Harber was able to shoot Matt Acker‘s winning Stormchaser. I wish we could have also shot Hannah Finchamp and Payson McElveen’s winning bikes, but as I said, it was a chaotic event!
This bike was just about the only thing Jared shot from the weekend and while we didn’t really get a lot of other coverage, we have a few things that we’ll be sharing shortly. I really wanted to share not only Jared’s amazing photos but Matt’s thoughtful insight into his build, which he rolled into 8th position, so read on below.