Gear I Use: Bikes
This is the first installment in a series of posts listing the gear I use on a regular basis and why I keep using it. Bikes are the soul of this website, so it seems appropriate to start the series with bikes.
Salsa Fargo
I don’t mean to brag, but I think I got my Fargo dialed in just right. This bike is my de facto bikepacking rig but it also plays a special role in my day-to-day cycling life. Be it riding around town, commuting to work, or crossing the Scottish Highlands, this bike just feels like “let’s go”. This bike is so dialed, I only consider swapping parts when they wear out.
I pretty much love everything about this bike. I love how it handles, how it looks, and the whooshing sound from the 29″ tires. I also like that I put together a no-frills build that includes cable-actuated brakes, affordable but reliable SRAM GX groupset, and versatile rims. All of this allowed me to keep room in the budget for premium items like a Chris King headset.
You can find all the details about this bike on the post I wrote when I put it together.
Surly Karate Monkey
What can I say? Steel bikes are definitely my thing. The Monkey is a recent addition to my stable but we have grown to be close friends very quickly. This bike is a promise of gnarlier adventures. Why would anyone put a Jones Loop handlebar on a trail bike? “Why Not” is my answer.
I have taken this bike around on local mountain bike trails but I have not been bikepacking with it yet. I’ll have to update this post once I get more time on the saddle with this bike.
Specialized Secteur
For a while, this was my main bike, but it hasn’t seen as much use after I built the Salsa Fargo. My favorite thing about this bike is that it rides like a road bike but it doesn’t have the more aggressive position of traditional road bikes. I purchased this bike 7 years ago and this was one of the first road bikes with disc brakes. Crazy to think that it took this long for disc brakes to be universally available on road bikes.
I still have fun taking this bike out on paved road and workout rides. I do commute on it occasionally but it’s not as convenient as my city bike or the Salsa Fargo. I can carry a limited amount of groceries on the Fargo and an unlimited amount of beer on the Sirrus – if I decide to do some shopping on the way home. I can only carry a change of clothes on the Secteur.
Specialized Sirrus
You might think I have a thing for Specialized bikes, but I don’t. It just happens that my city has a few decent Specialized dealers and the bikes they have fit my needs.
This bike is my de facto grocery-getter, bar-hopper, bus-rider bike. The short handlebars and short wheelbase make it perfect to maneuver around town. I don’t feel bad leaving it unattended for extended periods of time, throwing it on the bus, or squeezing it in crowded bike racks. It is currently fitted with a front rack, Wald basket, and Troutmoose basket bag, making it even more versatile for city riding.
