Brad Smith

Hahah. OK, here's the deal (which I will fully admit is a stupid reason for not taking the photos): It currently has a junk stem on it while I wait to figure out which length I want to get of the Thomson stem. I kindof want the photos to be of the final bike with everything on it. I'll abandon that now and get some photos taken tomorrow when it's light out. If you don't see photos by tomorrow night sometime, you can all come beat me up.

RickV

Here's my Casseroll with parts bought on ebay, craigslist and scrounged from another bike. I've only taken it for a few rides but I can tell it's going to fit my needs well. My first steel bike since owning a Schwinn Collegiate as a kid. It's not in it's final form either, but who cares, it's a blast to ride as-is!

donnamb 

You're an awful tease.

Very nice.

Brad Smith

If there's one thing that gets me to take photos, it's being accused that I'm making up the fact that I even own the bike.

Anyway, you'll find a full set of photos I took this evening over at my Flickr photoset. I've included a few of them below. When I finally get the bike in what I consider "completed" form, I will be back with some better photos (lighting is pretty bad on these). Enjoy!







Everyone happy now?

Allen

No, more pics please.

I have that same rack, it's a real workhorse, I've hung over a hundred pounds on it before, no problems.

Fishy

Thanks for the pics - that's a terrific looking ride.

Enjoy!

Chuck G

Very nice bike, thanks for posting pics

donnamb 

Such a beauty, Brad.

gbcb

Ooh, that's pretty! The Tubus rack looks really nice -- I think I'll have to look into one for myself.

ht001

Excellent! Thanks for posting photos! The bike looks fantastic! Now stretch that ITB so you can get out and ride it!

xB_Nutt

Looks great!! I like the red bar tape, I might have to copy you on that. How does it ride?? I got my Casseroll yesterday and will begin the build this weekend. It is going to be very similar to yours, but with a few old school touches thrown into the mix...

benshih1

Nice. Here's mine. Vega rack on back. Honey Brooks. Cheap Mavic wheelset. Mostly 105 components. I got the really expensive Nitto wattlebottle holders. I'm considering a Rivendell bar bag.

RickV

Brad,

Are you using Planet Bike fenders and, if so, any problem with clearance? I have long-reach brakes but even with those, my fenders just barely clear the tires near the brakes. It takes very little to get something stuck between fender and tire--even grains of sand make a grinding sound. I'm curious to hear your experience.

Thanks,

RV

RickV

P.S. I have 28c tires on, so I'm not up to Salsa's stated spec of being able to use 32c tires.

Brad Smith

Rick,

I have the Esge (now SKS) fenders, no the Planet Bike ones. I have no clearance issues with them and my 28mm tires. Hope that helps a little.

M_S

Casseroll complete comes with 32s stock.

Gibbygoo

Hey Brad, how about an updated parts list. What handlebars are those?

ok_commuter

Can somebody explain to me why Salsa would build this go-anywhere-do-anything-with-it frame but not allow wider than 32s? I never got that when I was looking at the C'roll. I could in theory go up to 45 on the La Cruz!

DataJunkie

Hmm...
Mine is almost complete.
Well... the first version is. I am using left over parts in my garage to get it up and running faster.

I am running 23mm tires with a couple inch saddle to bar drop.
Somehow I managed to make mine look more like something that would happen when a sport touring and a track bike mated.

My legs are a tad long and I usually end up with either a large saddle to bar drop or a bike too long on the top tube with a short stem. Ah well.

M_S

Because it's a road bike. The La Cruz is a cyclocross bike, and is designed with off road in mind.

The casseroll will do you fine on hardpack dirt roads and the like, but the idea is to have something that is more road oriented than a cyclocross bike, and sportier than a loaded tourer.

John Dark

It's only 32 with fenders. Without fenders, it's either 35 or 37, depending on which section of the Salsa Cycles website you read.

Brad Smith

They are FSA Wing Pro (31.8 x 420mm). I'm replacing them in a few days with a Salsa Short & Shallow 31.8 x 440mm for fit and posture-related reasons after a pro fit. I would imagine over time as things improve with my core strength and posture things may change with the stem/bar combo I use.

Gibbygoo

Thanks for the update Brad. I am building up a Casseroll this week and wondered what your final build list was. (as pictured) I've been on too big of a Cross-Check for a while and hoping the Casseroll works out well. I'll post some details when it's ready. I might create a new thread...The Great Casseroll Build of '08.

Brad Smith

Here are the final specs as it is currently built:

Frame: 2007 Salsa Casseroll 53cm
Cranks: Shimano 105 (FC-5603)
Brake Levers/Shifters: Shimano 105 (ST-5600)
Front Derailleur: Shimano 105 (FD-5603)
Rear Derailleur: Shimano 105 (RD-5600-GS)
Brakes: Shimano Long-Reach Caliper (BR-R600)
Chain: Shimano 105 (CN-5600)
Cassette: Shimano 105 (CS-5600)
Wheels: Custom built Mavic and Shimano
Rims: Mavic Open Pro (black)
Front Hub: Shimano 105 (HB-5600)
Rear Freehub: Shimano 105 (FH-5600)
Spokes: Stainless
Tires: Continental Ultra GatorSkin (700 x 28c)
Tubes: Specialized tubes (or whatever I find on sale at the time)
Headset: Chris King NoThreadSet (1-1/8"), black with red bearing cap
Stem: LH Thomson Elite X2 (1-1/8", 10º rise, 90mm), black
Handlebars: FSA Wing Pro (31.8 x 420mm)
Bar Tape: Fi'zi:k Microtex and Bar Gel in Red
Seatpost: LH Thomson Elite (27.2 diameter, 330mm), black
Saddle: Brooks B17 Champion Special (black with copper rails)
Pedals: Bebop Stainless Steel
Rack: Tubus Cargo Rack
Fenders: SKS/Esge Fenders for up to 32mm tires (black)
Headlight: Cateye HL-EL500
Taillight: Cateye LD-1100

It's a great build. There are some things I am changing in the next couple of weeks, some as a result of a pro bike fit at the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine (IT Band issues):

Pedals: I'm swapping from Bebop Stainless pedals to the Speedplay X2 pedals. I know this is an odd switch on a commuting/touring bike, but I need to widen my stance at the suggestion of a pro bike fit. Mountain cleats on mountain shoes cannot be moved as much as needed.
Stem: I'm switching away from the Thomson Elite X2 stem for the time being, not because I have had issues (it's awesome), but again for fitting reasons. My core strength and resulting posture is a problem at the moment, so I am switching to a Salsa stem of the same length (90mm) with a rise of 25º while I work through the issues.
Handlebars: Swapping the FSA Wing Pros in the 420mm width for the Salsa Short & Shallow in the 440mm width. Needed the wider bars (wider shoulders than worked with the 420mm) and the shorter bars to improve reach for posture-related issues.

All these posture issues, as they get resolved through strength training and therapy, will gradually allow me to shift back towards more of a drop, etc.

One final change that might be coming: A Garmin Edge 705. Perhaps.

Psydotek

I hate you.

I still haven't gotten around to building mine... Argh, maybe i'll finally get the frame prepped this week. That's been the only thing stopping me since i've been too lazy to drive over to the LBS and get it done.