Size Matters - The Tweaking Continues

Yes, I'm an avowed tweaker. Guns. Cooking. BBQ. Projects around the house. And, bikes. Especially bikes... I just can't leave well enough alone. So many things become projects.

My Niner ONE9 single speed mountain bike is among them. I purchased this bike last year to make the jump to a more performance-oriented bike from the SE BM Flyer. Scored a good deal. It was in good shape. And, I really enjoyed riding it.

But...

The frame was a medium. And at 6'0" with a long torso and short legs, I'm in a weird place with bike sizes. I'm usually a large. But sometimes can squeak by with medium, depending on the geometry. After the first few rides, I began to feel like the frame was too small. Because of my longer torso, the front just felt a bit cramped.

So, I swapped out the short stem for a 100mm Thomson Elite X4 stem. Definitely better. Rode it a number of times - all the while falling more in love with this cool bike. But, over time, it still felt cramped. So a Thomson Masterpiece setback seatpost was ordered. Again, it bought me some more space, but things still aren't quite there.

In the meantime, I am just completely digging on my Salsa Bucksaw X01 (in size large). The bike just completely fits me. Great while climbing, and descending. Comfy for long rides, and nimble enough for fairly tight spaces.

Finally, I reach the simple conclusion - this size Medium just doesn't fit me. Good news is that my riding buddy loves the bike and is a couple of inches shorter. He wants it. Of course by now, I've also become quite fond the the striking atomic blue color. Great. It's a few years old. Not made anymore. And now I need to find a large, in that color. Within two weeks, one pops up on eBay. In great shape, many recent component replacements. And, at a reasonable price. It's go time!

When the bike arrives, I do a little component swapping from my old bike. This benefits both me and my buddy -- I get the parts I want, as does he. Perfect.

It took me a couple of weeks to get out and ride the new whip, but finally this week I was able to get in a couple of laps at DTE Energy Foundation Trail. I had a little time before my buddy arrived to spin around the parking lot and dial in the seat height, pedal tension, etc. Things are definitely feeling pretty good. Then we set off on our ride. The difference in the larger bike is immediately obvious. First is pure, simple comfort. I just have more room to shift weight, pedal, etc. At the same time, it doesn't feel too big. Plenty able to handle tight turns and spaces.

The old M (front) and the new L (rear)
the difference is significant!

After a few miles I realize I'm riding faster, taking turns harder and deeper, and feeling really loose and confident. Now the value of my upgrade really sinks in. I know a lot of experts who advise that when you're in between sizes on a mountain bike to go to the smaller.

The only remaining issue is the fork. The new bike has a RockShox Reba suspension fork. Part of what I like about singlespeeds is that simple, crisp feel. Will I lose this with a boinger up front? After one ride, I will admit that I think it feels softer than my old carbon rigid fork. But, I've only begun to experiment with air pressure and other variables. More tweaking to come!

Salsa Bucksaw X01 Review - Part I

The lines of modern bikes continue to blur as we evolve from a few clearly defined categories toward bicycles that cross and expand functionality. Road bikes with wider tires now enable occasional rambles on gravel roads. While we're a long way from the "one bike quiver" (the holy grail of skis), some surprising new offerings truly expand functionality.

My Salsa Bucksaw X01 is just such a whip. Described by Salsa as "blurring the lines between a fatbike and a full suspension mountain bike" the Bucksaw was designed around 4" tires and nimble performance in a wide range of situations. This is not just marketing BS, it truly does.

But first, some context. This Summer I decided that after 51 trips around the sun, my body was feeling a bit beat up by hardtails. My Specialized Stumpjumper Expert Carbon World Cup is superlight, fast, and handles pretty well, but the hardtail really forces me to choose lines carefully, and often leaves me sore the next day. Plus, I'd been reading a lot about 27.5+ full suspension bikes and they looked mighty appealing.

On a visit to Traverse City, MI, I decided to go out and look around. TC has a collection of solid shops. Specifically, I was interested in the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp 6 Fattie, and the Salsa Pony Rustler GX1.

I really wanted to like the Specialized - good price, dealer had some end-of-season deals, well equipped. But... I just didn't. I found the suspension to be typical of what I've experienced with Specialized. It's as though the front and rear just aren't working in-sync. It had some of the same 'pogo stick' as my buddy's five-year-old FSR. Nope. That's not going to work.

After this, I headed over to Einstein Cycles hoping to check out a Pony Rustler. I had the good fortune to get connected to owner Jason Lowetz (more about Jason and his shop later). I quickly learned he didn't have any Pony Rustler's in stock, and with the new model year coming, wouldn't have one for several months. But, he quickly moved into solution selling mode (I'm a sales and marketing guy, so I get it) and asked me what I planned to do with it and why I wanted to make a switch.

I shared that I wanted to ride places like Glacial Hills up North and Potowatami in SE Michigan, as well as my usual haunts of the DTE Energy Trail and the VASA Trail. What I was looking for was comfort, greater confidence in choosing lines and dealing with rocks, roots, and other obstacles. Here's how the conversation went from there:

Jason: "Dude, you want a Salsa Bucksaw with a second set of 27.5+ wheels!"

Me: "Ummm, but that's a fat bike. I already have a fat bike..."

Jason: "Better still. Get a Bucksaw, sell your fat bike and we'll get you on some SWEET carbon 27.5+ wheels!"

Damn. You got me, Jason. Bike consolidation has been a theme in my stable. Owning, riding, and maintaining multiple bicycles is a hassle. I already had things on my Salsa Beargrease X5 that I felt came up short -- the lack of front suspension, the 2x drivetrain, the mechanical discs. He had me.

But, it got better. Salsa had a few 2015/2016 Bucksaw X01's left that they were blowing out at a ridiculous price. For the same price as a current Bucksaw GX1, I got a bike with a Thomson Elite X4 stem, carbon bars, a RockShox Reverb dropper post, and other component upgrades. Literally $2,000 off.

Quick test ride on a current model to determine if I liked it (I did) and to check size (Large), and the trigger was pulled. Over the next few days, Jason and I arrived at a build for the wheelset. Bearclaw Bicycles Co. carbon rims (Bearclaw is Einstein's own brand of mighty sweet bikes), DT Swiss spokes, and Industry Nine Torch hubs. He cautioned me that I9 fat bike hubs get "mighty loud". Bring it. I love a screaming drivetrain. Saves me needing a bell on the trail!

To say I was excited is a polite understatement. "F_ _k yeah!" would be more like it. I knew I could sell my Beargrease for nearly what I'd paid (I did -- within a day of listing it). And now I'd have one bike that could be my plush, fast trail bike, AND with a quick wheel swap be a fat bike for Winter riding.

Do I like it? What's it ride like? Any shortcomings? Well, now you're going to need to wait for Part II of this review. Yeah, call me a tease. I'm good with that. Good writing is about building anticipation...

One final note on this whole process - Einstein Cycles is AWESOME! Finding a first-rate bike shop for sales and service is a true gem. I still haven't found a downstate shop that combines a great selection of products with a great repair shop. I've found one or the other, but not both in one place. In addition to Jason, shop guys Dan and Dustin are solid sales types, as well as ace mechanics (Dan builds the wheels). The shop has a friendly, mellow vibe, but they take customer service and satisfaction incredibly seriously. This initial impression has been reinforced on every interaction. I wouldn't hesitate to send anyone, at any level, to them. In fact, after hearing about and riding my bike, a buddy ended up buying nearly the same ride and wheels!~