tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330667.post3151190089078029138..comments2024-03-25T12:22:52.998-05:00Comments on The DirtBlog: Thoughts After My La Cruz Honeymoon...MGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00377768960221628840noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330667.post-63204498857489856892008-02-13T10:40:00.000-06:002008-02-13T10:40:00.000-06:00Hey Josh -- Thanks for the message. I'll look for...Hey Josh -- Thanks for the message. I'll look forward to reading your Cyclocross Magazine review of the La Cruz. If your experience is anything like mine has been so far, you're going to dig it. That said, if you're strictly after a race bike, the Chili Con Crosso is still the racier of the two Salsa 'crossers.<BR/><BR/>But for the gravel road grinders I'll be doing this spring, and the possibly inclement conditions we could experience out there, I'll take those disc brakes any day! And anyone who knows me knows that I'm a sucker for the ride of a great steel frame.<BR/><BR/>Happy trails,<BR/>MGMGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00377768960221628840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330667.post-25794936222697493692008-02-12T20:55:00.000-06:002008-02-12T20:55:00.000-06:00Glad to read you're enjoying the La Cruz. I'm wait...Glad to read you're enjoying the La Cruz. <BR/><BR/>I'm waiting on Mike@Salsa to send one my way to review for Cyclocross Magazine. <BR/><BR/>It might be just the thing for midwest enduro-gravel riding!Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02666242310893633349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330667.post-19821450262428780552008-01-29T14:19:00.000-06:002008-01-29T14:19:00.000-06:00Thanks Cornbread -- that means a lot. I can defin...Thanks Cornbread -- that means a lot. I can definitely still feel which side I went down on, but that said, I'm feeling a ton better than I was even just yesterday. It's amazing what a good night of sleep will do for my body!<BR/><BR/>Thanks again good buddy!<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>MGMGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00377768960221628840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330667.post-82563208952930711202008-01-29T06:13:00.000-06:002008-01-29T06:13:00.000-06:00You write good. :) Seriously, great write up on ...You write good. :) <BR/><BR/>Seriously, great write up on the bike. That is a sweet machine. Nice to see it in action this weekend. We were really hammering those hills. Hope you're feeling better after going down on the ice. <BR/><BR/>Looks like this weekend may not be as hospitable. Bummer.Cornbreadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00915061105465487137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330667.post-89930480385894171082008-01-28T23:50:00.000-06:002008-01-28T23:50:00.000-06:00BTW - Guitar Ted, thanks for the nice comments on ...BTW - Guitar Ted, thanks for the nice comments on the write up. You're doing your job very, very well however, my friend.<BR/><BR/>It's weird, I have two lives. I love bicycles and I love words. Right now, this is the only place where those two loves meet. I don't know why that is... but it's frustrating at times.<BR/><BR/>But then at times like tonight, when friends like you take the time to appreciate my writing, even just doing it as an amateur seems pretty worth it. Thank you friend.<BR/>:-)<BR/>MGMGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00377768960221628840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330667.post-49523400925056335262008-01-28T23:30:00.000-06:002008-01-28T23:30:00.000-06:00Thanks for your thoughts Guitar Ted, and I like wh...Thanks for your thoughts Guitar Ted, and I like where you're going with that SS dealio. Wouldn't that be sweet? Sort of a hybrid Casseroll/La Cruz... kind of a 'Super Casseroll.'<BR/><BR/>Yeah, that'd be the ticket. Man, imagine a La Cruz with a disc version of those pimpy Casseroll dropouts. Now I'm dreamin... I'd better just go to bed.<BR/><BR/>Nighty night...<BR/>mgMGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00377768960221628840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330667.post-7954041798841391512008-01-28T20:42:00.000-06:002008-01-28T20:42:00.000-06:00mg: Sounds like a great weekend and the bike is ce...mg: Sounds like a great weekend and the bike is certainly super cool. I have been in awe of what Gnat and Co. have been pulling out of their collective hat lately.........and they ain't done yet! Amazing!<BR/><BR/>Could it be the perfect gravel grinder? Hmmm......if not, it's danged close. Only a way to convert it to SS duty would make it better in my way of thinking, but that's me. :>)<BR/><BR/>Anywho, glad you are stoked and that was an excellent write up. Guess I'll be handin' over my scribin' duties to you if'n ya kin keep that up!Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330667.post-47401628556766660702008-01-27T21:10:00.000-06:002008-01-27T21:10:00.000-06:00Brrrr... and that's a warm-up for you, 'eh Gnat! ...Brrrr... and that's a warm-up for you, 'eh Gnat! Glad to hear you were able to get out both days to ride. You get the gold star for the most hardcore homeboy here. How 'bout that?<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the props on the write-up too, buddy. No sweat on the crank either, just like I said in the email I just sent you. I could just tell that something felt distinctly "different," from my CCC, and since I knew the geometry is identical between the bikes, that couldn't be it, and I also found my seat hight didn't work out quite right when measured from the center of the BB. That was the kicker. When I had to raise my saddle 10 miles into the first ride, that got me thinking about why, because I knew it was measured out right. <BR/><BR/>It was only later, when I was shooting pictures, that I found the reason, and was like, <I>"well will you look at that?!!"</I><BR/><BR/>Crazy stuff, I tell ya'.<BR/><BR/>This bike is gonna' be perfect for our trip down to the Big Wheel Ballyhoo... Yeah... Lookin' forward to that one.<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>MGMGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00377768960221628840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330667.post-78475603991962899482008-01-27T20:27:00.000-06:002008-01-27T20:27:00.000-06:00MG, great write up. Thank you. Glad you like it....MG, great write up. Thank you. Glad you like it. As you know, I'm loving mine. I got out both Friday and Saturday on mine with just over 50 miles total. Not bad considering it was 1 degree (10 below zero with windchill) when I started. Saturday was much better with temps in the mid 20's. <BR/><BR/>I'll check on the crank length.<BR/><BR/>Again, thanks and I'll be in touch.GNAThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11030083238539453615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330667.post-64763463918861708242008-01-27T19:47:00.000-06:002008-01-27T19:47:00.000-06:00Thanks Jason. And you know, I got super lucky on ...Thanks Jason. And you know, I got super lucky on the fall this morning. Had it been summer, with me in shorts and short sleeves, and it'd have been my skin that'd have been cheeze gratered... I've got a sewing machine! And the crank deal. Pffffft... It was just one of those weird "hey, I knew something felt a little 'off'" sort of things. I was joking to Cornbread that I had to get pissed off that I was getting dropped to actually pedal hard enough to climb with him. Granted, Cornbread is packing an unusually large hammer for January. It's freaking insane in fact how hard he can pedal that singlespeed Bianchi he's riding, but that's beside the point. I can usually keep up. And it was clear I had to get pissed and go totally into the red to even come close. It might not have been 100 percent the 172.5mm cranks, but I'm blaming at least part of it on 'em. That's my story at least. We'll see if I can stick to it when the 175s come and I have to back my big words up. ;-) (Cornbread, you know you got my ass covered...)<BR/><BR/>Oh, and Jason, you definitely need one. After riding this thing, it's amazing. It's got the "Salsa handling," but it's got a very distinct personality of its own. And that fork is a lot responsible for it, I suspect. That fork is amazing. What can I say, I'm a fan of steel, even if it's a little heavier. <BR/><BR/>I love Salsa's Scandium bikes for racing, and I've still never ridden bikes that feel faster, but when you ask me to define the "feel of steel," I'll point right over to my La Cruz and my El Mariachi and say "there it is" and send 'em out on a test ride. <BR/><BR/>And eight times out of ten they'll have a smile on their face when they come back. Those two will want something lighter. You put them on a Scandium bike.<BR/><BR/>Hey Ganzel. Give me five minutes to check a price and I'll be sending you an email. I'll make it affordable. ;-)<BR/><BR/>Thanks guys,<BR/>MGMGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00377768960221628840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330667.post-60802085112675526422008-01-27T17:44:00.000-06:002008-01-27T17:44:00.000-06:00So... You've got some cranks for sale?So... You've got some cranks for sale?debaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10449478302461980082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7330667.post-2464969956119446592008-01-27T16:19:00.000-06:002008-01-27T16:19:00.000-06:00Sweet write up man. Bummer about the shifter and c...Sweet write up man. Bummer about the shifter and crank. Luckily that was it and no serious body harm.<BR/><BR/>I just got a R700 for my Campeon. Build not done yet, but watch my blog for feed back.<BR/><BR/>I will say this Salsa has got the paint dialed in too. That looks freaking SWEET! I'll also say they (Salsa) MAY want to include some pic that show the frames close up so as to get a better feel for the color and paint job. The pics on the Salsa site do NOT do justice to the frame.<BR/><BR/>Great pics and write up. I'll be making sure folks swing by to take a look at it. Now I want one. But do I NEED a 4th bike? HELL YEAH! ;)Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10931403291668582311noreply@blogger.com