rdubbz

Salsa La Cruz I ordered today, pick it up Friday. This will be a long week. I also ordered some gatorskin 25c tires for it.

pictures as promised. I rode about 60 miles today and it felt like I only rode 10. This bike's amazing. The size is just right.

The first ride. sorry if this pic's crap, it was taken with my phone.



Pictures with stock tires.

bikinpolitico

I like everything about this bike accept the pie plate. Ditch that at the first opportunity.

Also, it is billed as a sometime cyclocross racers, but keep in mind there are some 'cross races you can't use disk breaks on.

ScottE22

Cool ride!

And stupid question - what's the simplest way to remove the pie plate? My commuter still has it and it needs to go.

Sheik_Yerbouti

That depends on what it is made of. If it is plastic, you just break it off.

If it is a real pie plate made of some kind of metal the removal becomes more difficult. You will need to remove the freewheel or cassette to get at it. If you don't know how / don't have the tools you would want to go to a bike shop and have them do it.

But why bother removing it if it's not causing any problems? I might just save your rear wheel in the rare chance the derailleur gets knocked into it.

bikinpolitico

Get yurself a freewheel remover (one of these depending on the type of freewheel you have), a chain whip, and a crescent wrench and remove your rear cassette (follow these instructions if you have never done this-https://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=48). The pie plate will slide right off.

Other more fun option with the plastic variety is get a mallet and chisel and wack away at it until it falls apart.

bikinpolitico

Cause they're ugly, and tacky, and might give you cooties.

bikinpolitico

One other thing, it is your derailleur that will be the loser in this potential altercation. Your wheel will probably be none the worse, but your deraileur will be toast.

Learn how to adjust your delimited screws or never touch them if you don't know what you are doing and had your LBS adjust them. If you do this, you don't need no stinkin' pie plate.

JR97

Nice ride. I love the color. The one thing I wish more road bikes.. and even mountain bikes would do is mount the rear disc caliper on the other side of the seat stay. My Schwinn handles the rear that way and solves the dilemma of having brazons for a rack/fenders. The only other bike I've seen that puts the rear caliper on the inside is the Trek Portland. Simple solution to a huge commuter rack issue.

Granted, there are plenty of disc friendly racks out there, but there are plenty of bad ones too.

Andy_K 

I love that bike!

Wino Ryder

Tell that to the dear sweet lady who lives down the street who likes to ride her bike a few times around the neighborhood.


Leave the damn pie plate on!!

dwr1961

I have a 'cross bike with discs... You will love yours.

Happy Riding!

bikinpolitico

We are engaging in the sharing of bike porn here, so style has got to trump. Your little old lady ain't on Bike Forums so I doubt she's going to heed my remarks.

kwrides

Nice bike!

ScottE22

Mine's plastic. I was thinking "break it off" but was wondering if there was a more - umm - elegant solution. Clearly there isn't...

ok_commuter

I think it's a lovely compliment to the SLC that the only thing you didn't like was the plastic thingy. I broke mine off day one. It was fun.

The bike is a dream. You'll want to hug it every time you go out to ride.

I'm using an Old Man Mountain Sherpa rack on the back and velo orange fenders (45). Great for commuting, but I think it will really shine for light touring and centuries.

Post pics of yours, of course.

EDIT: I rode Gator 25s when I first got the bike. After a few months, I was doing a little more trail riding so I put the original knobby 31s back on, which I sort of like. I put the 25s back on today and they feel sooo nice (though hard as a rock). You should note that JohanHobbes exchanged email with Salsa and they think 25 is to narrow for that rim as it creates too vertical a sidewall profile. Me, I have no idea why I should care about the verticality of my sidewall profile. Does it make the rim more vulnerable?

Jonahhobbes

They did indeed. I'll try and dig out the email when I get home. I run 32's but then again alot of my commute is on rubbish roads and I've tried thinner tires but its just not for me on New Zealand roads.

You will love the bike, one of the best things I ever bought. I love it. Mine is called Red

rdubbz

Thanks guys, I can't wait to get this. I post some pics next weekend.The pie plate doesn't bother me to much, so I may just leave it on for now as it serves some purpose. I'm kind of thinking I should've ordered some 28c tires now...oh-well, can always put them on my other bike if they don't work well on the salsa.
One concern I have is the LBS fitted me for a 49cm bike. Seemed somewhat small, but thay said salsa's aren't the same sizing as traditional sizes. I'm 5-11 and 32" inseam.

bikinpolitico

Two things:
First, I won't worry about tire size too much. I think durability has more to do with the brand and model than size. I've run 23mm Conti Gatorskins commuting on some pretty crappy roads without problem. They were great tires. So run the 25s until they wear out and then switch to 28s if you feel you need them.

Secondly, the size does sound small, but I'd listen to the LBS first as sizes don't mean much anymore. Just make sure you test ride it once it comes in and if it is indeed too small, be firm with your LBS about getting a larger bike.

ok_commuter

I'm 6-1 with a 32" inseam and am on the 53cm, so 49 is probably good so you're not reaching too far. There is a comparison chart on the Salsa site from their site to "traditional" sizings. I normally ride more like a 58 and once had a touring bike that was a 60 and very comfortable. You'll only know for sure once it arrives, but I bet that's a good size for you. Have a fit guy (not just "some dude") at the LBS check you out on it if possible, and make sure it feels great - not just OK.

GearsForFears

I would remove the dérailleur as well. Just to be safe.

wils0nic

Thanks. I'm going to bust up an old bike I've got in the shed tomorrow. Time for a new bike anyways.

rdubbz

pictures as promised. I rode about 60 miles today and it felt like I only rode 10. This bike's amazing. The size is just right.

The first ride. sorry if this pic's crap, it was taken with my phone.



Pictures with stock tires.

bikinpolitico

Very nice and love the color, but I think you need more spacers.

rdubbz

oh and no pie-plate.

dscheidt

It increases the chance of the tire rolling off the rim when it's exposed to side loads. LIke high speed cornering, for instance. It can also cause a fall even without coming off the wheel, if there's too sharp a transition from the curved bottom part of the tire, and the rather flat sidewall.