FatHawk

A busy schedule and fantastic in-town trail conditions have kept me close to home lately. But today, Bonecrusher, Big Daddy and I were able to sneak in a awesome day up high.  Pedaling the fatty, climbing  Bolam, sending  Segment 26 and discovering a new(to me) finish to the stagecoach trail. The colors in the hardwoods are starting to pop and it's definitely cold, brown and grey above treeline. Get it while you still can! This was a long day on big tires and a rigid fork. Where did my summer fitness go?

     

 

Fat & Squishy....Salsa Cycles 2015 Fatbike Demo

* I've got some additional demo write-ups forthcoming. Thanks for the patience everyone. Life has been really busy which delayed this report.  I'm also working on some neat feature pieces that should drop later this fall. Have fun out there, be safe and keep the rubber side down, hairy side up!-Michael

Returning from this year's Interbike tradeshow in Vegas, the Salsa Cycles team detoured to Durango for a demo sponsored by Velorution Cycles. There has been much anticipation and excitement surrounding their 2015 line-up and Durango Fatbikers was on hand to try out the different species of squish and squash in Salsa'a fatty quiver. A steady stream of locals, Salsa devotees and riders new to the brand were on hand to rally rides at the factory trails behind FLC. Lot's of smiles, good times and fat bikes! 

Tyler Anderson of Salsa Cycles discusses the new Bucksaw with Andrew Wracher of Bedrock Bags.

The Bucksaw
I'd be lying if I told you that trying the Bucksaw wasn't a big motivation in scheduling time to attend this Demo. There's quite a "buzz" surrounding Salsa's introduction of the first, full suspension fat bike  to the cycling world. Would it be a plushy, backcountry monster that I just had to have? Or would it prove a buzz-kill? First, the specs from Salsa's website:

BUCKSAW 1

• Mechanically formed AL-6066 frame, high-modulus carbon fiber seatstay, Split Pivot suspension technology
• SRAM X01 drivetrain
• RockShox Bluto and Monarch RT3 rear shock with Fast Black coating
• RockShox Reverb stealth dropper seatpost
• Surly Marge Lite rims on Salsa Fat Conversion hubs with Surly Nate tires
• U.S. MSRP $4999

Ride & Reaction

This bike is a UFO. Make no mistake about it, you'll be spun by what you see when in the presence of the Bucksaw.....is it a cross country rig on roids? or is it a fat bike trying to lose weight?   Whatever it is, I took a few minutes just to stare at and look over this beast of a bike. 

Design, assembly and finish are all well done. Components are solid and the stock rims and tires are quality. The look of the bike is sharp with technology that appears to have come from the Death Star, not Taiwan. But is this thing really a fat bike? Salsa heralds the oft heard feedback- "this thing doesn't ride like a fatty!"  Rather, riders remark that it charges like a cross country bike that you could ride all day. Time for a pedal...

After dialing in fit and sag, I pushed over to the pump track. No better place to feel the squish right out of the gate. A few bluto bounces later and I was concerned. First, I agree that this thing is light years away from feeling like a traditional fat bike ride. However, that's kind of what I enjoy about fat bikes....how they ride. The geometry under my seat was smooth, responsive and felt ready to be pushed hard. The squishy rear suspension made for uber nice landings and absorbed the terrain with ease. But it was the front of the bike that I struggled with. The Bluto shock did not seem "beefy" enough for me. The fit of the Bucksaw was similar to my two other Salsa bikes but I felt more prone to "going out the front windshield" on this fatty. It's difficult to describe, but I was looking for more bike under me up-front.  It seemed like there was not enough bike there for me to trust. For me to push and press down on. The bike seemed to ride best when I was centered back on the bike. Dropping down off rocks and ledges was fun. But if I'd assume a more aggressive, forward stance going into a turn, roller, etc., I felt really exposed- like I was now out in front of the bike like a maiden head. 

Full disclosure, I've had allegiance to the Salsa brand for years now. Although I favor steel frames and rigid forks, I can respect me some squish and definitely see applications for this bike. But those uses look more like a weekend in Moab. Or maybe utilized in a downhill, all-mountain snow environment- can you imagine the Red Bull rampage at Silverton Mountain on this thing ?!? All the day glow ski kids dropping of wooden bridges and cliff bands on the Bucksaw....maybe throw in a derailuer grab? Although not the bike for me, I can respect Salsa's innovation and eye to progress. This bike is definitely expanding the frontiers of fat bike technology and terrain. It's cool to have checked it out and given it a try. On to more bikes.....

The Beargrease

Yes Please!

It's astounding that it's taken me this long to saddle up on this rig. The Beargrease is Salsa's racing fatty and is definitly the lightest of the brand's fatbikes. For me, the Beargrease has always been that girl in school that you sneak glances at all day. But you'd never approach her, or talk to her....you just think she's out of your league and you resign yourself to admiring her beauty from afar. We'll today that girl got assigned to be my partner in class and now actually has to talk to me. It was time to find out if my feelings were purely superficial or if there was substance to this relationship. Some specs:

BEARGREASE CARBON 1

• High-modulus carbon fiber frame
• Makwa carbon fiber fork
• SRAM X1 fatbike drivetrain
• Surly Marge Lite rims with 45NRTH Dillinger folding 120 tpi tires
• U.S. MSRP $3699

Ride & Reaction

To say that I'm in love with this bike is an understatement.  Quite simply, put this bike between your legs and instantly feel like you're the man (or the woman)! Off we go and the first and most powerful impression I have is this thing is FAST! Was I actually keeping up with speedy Adamski? I dropped off the FLC campus rim and fired up the other side to the  Powerline trail. The bike was incredibly responsive and rode tight. Wooo-hooooo!!!!!! Descending pitches of baby heads and chunder felt smoother due to the damping effect of the carbon frame. Snaking through the chunkier stuff was incredibly fun with a bike that is so responsive. Gaining scary speed, poping off the berms of lower Horse Gulch road, I imagined racing this rig on the snow. This bike would just destroy the groomed, nordic center trails! The ride felt as good as any non-fat cross country bike and the weight (or lack there of) just blew my mind. If I could afford it, this bike would be in my quiver immediately. But for now, I'll just continue to stare at this beauty from afar. Get some if you can!

The BlackBorow 

Dreaming of Adventure

If you're into BBWs then this is the ride for you! The Blackborow is a curvy, beefy, beautiful bike:

BLACKBOROW DS

• Mechanically formed AL-6066 frame with Alternator 197 thru-axle dropouts
• Bearpaw 150mm thru-axle tapered fork with Three-Pack cage mounting
• Stainless steel dinglespeed drivetrain with Rustbuster chain (30 x 18 / 26 x 22)
• Surly Clown Shoe rims with holes and Surly Lou folding tires
• U.S. MSRP $2299

"It's Salsa's Moonlander!"  was my initial reaction when meeting the Blackborow. But after a first date with this beauty, I'm ready to go steady this winter. This bike is the machine you want to go tackle some serious off-piste objectives. As I pedaled the Blackborow around the Rim trail, I let my imagination take me to different seasons. My thoughts ran wild as I dreamt of pedaling up La Plata Canyon with my split board for fresh turns. I also fantasized about making the full descent of Lime Creek road in two feet of powder. This was the bike for that job-this was the bike for some serious backcountry fun! 

On dirt, she handled like you'd expect. Big, slow and when you let her run, your arms best be ready for a prize fight. But in the end, crushing dirt trails is not what this bike is about. This beefcake is about breaking trail up the Ophir road in winter to ski Lookout or grinding over Hermosa Park to Rico for hot drinks. It's about hunting in the fall, schralping through deep mud in the spring  and beach touring with pack rafts in any season.  It's the perfect bike to take deep into the woods, far out into winter or down a remote coastline somewhere. Adventure By Bike! Great job with this one Salsa. It complements your line up nicely. I can't wait to see what pickles the dreamers will get themselves into on this rig. That's where the true adventures will begin!

Up Next!

We'll take some time to learn more about the Durango Bike Company and try their 2015 front-suspension fat bike, The Hooey. 

Be Sure to Like 
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on Facebook!

2014 Arizona Trail Race

An AMAZING video from Aaron Johnson documenting the 2014 AZTR. This movie is powerful stuff and provides a glimpse into the suffering and wild nature that defines this race! I was transported back to some pretty intense moments- Heat and suffering day one, Oracle Ridge, the Gila  push, the climb from the river to PP....  I love how AJ shot and edited this film. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best ultra bikepacking flicks made to date. Check it out and get yourself to the border in 2015!

The Winner, The Rookie, The Veteran

Read the article and listen to the interviews at Bikepackers Magazine

No one likes a quitter. So after scratching from my own CTR ITT, I was still intent on experiencing all I could from this race. I had set out from Durango, enroute to Denver, excited to cross paths with friends old and new. But there were three racers in particular that I had special interest in intercepting: Neil Belchenko, Garrett Alexander and Mark Caminiti. I figured Neil would spend little time with me on his way to victory. Garrett and I had figured a rendezvous somewhere on Sargents Mesa would lift both of our spirits, probably when we needed it the most! Mark was pursuing the elusive, single-season triple crown and I was pumped to witness history in the making.

Although my race ended prematurely in Lake City, I was lucky to have the opportunity to hustle back to Durango and meet these gentlemen as they finished. I spent my remaining CTR “vacation days” stalking dots and waiting to see the finishers emerge triumphantly at Junction Creek. All three racers were gracious and appreciative for the cold beers, food and support I was able to provide at the finish line. And the greatest gift was the stories they shared with me from this year’s race.

The Winner- Neil Belchenko

 “Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.” That’s how Joe Polk from MTBcast has described Belchenko’s last two seasons of ultra-endurance, multi-day mountain bike racing. With some of the sport’s biggest names sitting out this year’s CTR, Neil knew the 2014 race was his to lose. While most racers were focused on surviving and finishing the 500 plus miles of trail, the 26 year old from Crested Butte, Colorado was looking to set a high bar for the “new course” (* With the addition of the Taryall Detour in 2013, this year would mark the first time the CTR would run southwest with the additional 125 miles and 5k in play.) A self-proclaimed protégé of Jefe Branham, Neil has dedicated himself to learning everything he can from bikepacking’s veteran racers. He trained hard all winter and delivered an impressive performance in this April’s AZT300; besting the course record and earning himself a 3^rd place finish. He entered the 2014 CTR with a singular, obsessive focus and if it all went according to plan, he was guaranteed to be on top of the podium this year. But as is the norm in these races, Belchenko encountered seemingly insurmountable challenges and came incredibly close to scratching only 45 miles out from the Junction Creek trailhead! An indefatigable spirit and commitment to his goal saw Belchenko through as he turned in one of the CTR’s most historic performances. A bridesmaid no more, Neil has unquestionably established himself as one of the sport’s top racers.  Here’s more in his own words:

The Rookie- Garrett Alexander

Garrett Alexander’s first, multi-day bikepacking race was this year’s CTR and by all measures, the experience was a complete success! The 29 year-old hails from Durango, Colorado where he’s completing the final requirements for an Engineering degree from Fort Lewis College. Garrett is a familiar face within the four corners cycling community; traveling to race almost every weekend of the season, wrenching part time at the Durango Cyclery and helping hundreds of young riders each year through his work as a DEVO coach and Explorers instructor. Known for his pink spandex, sexy fatbikes and superb bike polo skills, the G-man has now added a new highlight to his resume- 2014 Colorado Trail Race Fourth Place Finisher! Some have suggested that this year’s smaller field of participants, a less-talented pool of racers and a higher volume of CTR scratches are all evidence of a “soft year” for the race. Regardless, Garrett’s solid performance from Waterton Canyon to Jct. Creek resulted in an inspirational rookie run.

I first spoke with Garrett about tackling the CTR last fall when we worked together coaching our local high school mtb teams. Garrett has traditionally been a short track, cycle-cross and one-day ultra racer. With Twenty2 Cycles out of Glenwood Springs as his keystone sponsor, Garrett has exceled this season with third place finishes at the Rumble at 18 Road and 18 Hours of Fruita. He also has enjoyed success in the 2014 Colorado Endurance Series, taking fourth place at the Salida Big Friggin’ Loop and tying for third at the Colorado Trail Classic in July. Yet, when Garrett told me he was seriously considering a go at the CTR, I wondered if he could successfully translate his sub-24 hr. stamina and super human speed into a multi-day, ultra-endurance race pace and strategy. As the curtain falls on this year’s CTR, Alexander has proven he is a multi-day, endurance beast that is sure to be taken seriously in future races. As his skills improve and Garrett continues to log more time in longer backcountry events, he is sure to prove a formidable challenger for many years to come. I took a moment to speak with Garrett about his rookie experience, the hardships he faced and the success surrounding his inaugural run on the CTR:

The Veteran- Mark Caminiti

They broke the mold after making Mark Caminiti. He is undeniably the most successful, ultra endurance mountain bike racer in the history of the sport. The stories of Mark’s grit, determination and perseverance are legendary.  If the bikepacking community ever creates a Hall of Fame, Caminiti will undoubtedly be inducted in the inaugural cohort. A quick look at the numbers to gain perspective on Mark Caminiti’s success:

 Participant in the inaugural, 2007 CTR- He scratched but returned to ITT the route in 2008 (although he doesn’t count the 08’ run as one of his finishes because  “I really was just touring but in self-support race practice mode.”)

 5 Colorado Trail Race finishes- 3 consecutive finishes including 2014

Arizona Trail 750 finishes- 3 consecutive finishes including 2014

Tour Divide finish- 2014.

7^th person to complete a “career” triple crown

4^th person to complete a “single-season” triple crown

10 overall triple crown event finishes

4 consecutive triple crown finishes in a row

But the Caminiti legacy looms larger than just finishing times and triple crown events completed. Mark’s willingness to share wisdom, experience, systems and strategies with racers both new and old is as well known as his racing accomplisments.  For all his triumphs, Caminiti’s humility, as evidenced by his chagrin with “facebook bragging” and “glory blogging” is just as inspirational. It’s hard for a mid-packer like me not to be a little star-struck by Mark. But his openness, accessibility and welcoming energy quickly diffuse any effort to treat him like a celebrity.  He walks the talk and challenges all to do the same. Additionally, Mark has garnered a large fan base through his colorful MTBcast call-ins and cryptic haikus of suffering often posted mid-race on bikepacking.net. When ultra-racing’s Mt. Rushmore is carved and busts of Stanstead, Lee, Refsnider and Branham are chiseled into the mountainside, the hardest, toughest granite should be reserved for Caminiti. Mark’s accomplishments represent a lifetime of dedication, experience, stubborn resolve and endless suffering. It was absolutely fascinating to meet him at the finish, share some time and learn more about this living legend:

    Michael Ackerman is a professional educator, adventurer and photojournalist living in Durango, Colorado. Read more at mountainjah.blogspot.com