Salsa Campeon (acabado!)

I finally got my hands on the finished build of my Salsa Campeon. My buddy Tom did an incredible job and really hooked me up with a stellar build. I think more than half the battle for him was getting some of the parts off of the Trek and dealing with the issues with my new crank. But he did it- 'cause he's the man! And because I give him money, although not as much as I should. So I guess it IS just 'cause he's the man!! :)

I'm super pumped about this bike. The fit is spot on and good to go. Tom took some measurements from my Trek before the build so other than doing some minor seat post adjustments tonight, I didn't have adjust a thing so far. Only a real ride will tell for sure how saddle, post and stem heights/lengths are. But for now, all is good. Now I just need a new freaking rear rim! Hope to take care of that tomorrow.

I have to give a HUGE thanks to Jason and the folks at Salsa Cycles for hooking me up with the frame. It's freaking bad ass! I can't wait to start pounding out the miles on it!

Here's the Shimano R700 crank. Real glad we didn't give up on getting this one working. It looks great and I think the 50/34 gearing is really gonna help out my legs in the long run. Amazing what a 1mm spacer can do! Yeah, those are mountain pedals. I don't do "road" pedals. Personal pref. And I'm cheap.

This bike ain't for me to race. It's to log miles and train on. It could be raced no problem. But in the words of Jerry Seinfeld- "I choose not to race!" at least on the road! Those guys are nuts! Give me 24 hours of dirt!

The bike is NOTICEABLY lighter than my Trek and a lighter set of wheels could probably get it even lighter. For now I'll just happy to get a rear wheel with no cracks in the rim. It's amazing what a little dirt and road grime can hide!

Here's my interpretation of the 360 degree views
that some web sites give you...

Nothing but the best here on The Soiled Chamois. Was it just me or did part of that soundtrack sound like the Sanford & Son soundtrack? Zoooommmm! Zooooommmm!

I had to buy gently used a Thomson seat post off of Tom. My Bontrager carbon post was too short for the amount of post that is exposed on the compact frame. I would have ended up busting it off once my ass started shimying on it. Speaking of the compact frame. I thought I would feel or look freakish on it. Not at all! I mean I look freakish, but that has f*ck all to do with the frame! It feels great. My reach in the drop feels a smidge better than the Trek too. All and all I'm just super happy about he bike.

Now I just have to deal with the fact that I can't ride it, and there's cold and snow in the forecast over the next few days. Although it was freaking 61* here today! Yikes!

Later.