A new toy (bike)

[SlowDave]

A new Fargo followed me home from the bike shop.  Honest, I just went to test ride one.    I have been fascinated by them for quite some time.  I love my 26" Litespeed but thoughts of a 29 have been on my mind for a few years.  I really wanted to play around with a drop bar off road bike.  The test ride convinced me.  Now the hard part, convincing the wife.  The call went like this, "Honey would you mind if I splurged a little?"  She has seen me looking at bikes on line lately so she was prepared for such a request, without a pause "How much?"  I think she was expecting another Ti bike so I could tell she was relieved.  I am a lucky guy to have such an understanding wife.    Time for a quick ride before I pick the kids up from school. 

[donmeredith74]

Sweet! Photos please...

[SlowDave]

I will take some pics today and try to figure out how to post them. 

I am going to go riding for a few hours this morning and try to get the fit dialed in closer.  All of my MTBs have been XT so getting used to the Sram components may take a while.  I had some issues with the front derailler last night and down shifting with the Apex shifters is a bit awkward.  Maybe there is some cable stretch already.  Maybe I am just not used to them yet.

[bmike-vt]

Front derailer has been an issue with me too. Requires some serious cable tension to get it to stay put. It wants to drift down after you click it all the way through. Local shop has been flummoxed by it. I've got it working but getting some chain rub in the 11t/39t. I have bar ends on the Pugs, Campy on the road bike, and now SRAM on the Fargo. Had a SS in the mix but had to sell it to get the Fargo. Takes a few minutes to remember what I'm doing when I jump between the Fargo and the road bike... but aside from the derailer issues I like the SRAM.

Fit is a work in progress. Have the bars just above saddle height and am finally getting comfortable on the single track.

[Outsider]

Good choice. The Fargo is the ultimate bikepacking bike.

[BazB]

i've had some front mech issues for a bit aswell, took a little time to get used to the sram. it's a nice bike, i have a large 2011. BB lasted maybe 800ish miles though ...pretty poor, seems the megaexo doesn't like anything but fresh air. Waiting to get some enduro bearings through LBS.
i really really like the double tap for offroad in the drops.   
Mostly used for daily gravel/road commute plus circuits of the local xc trails. Circuit is 60km. 40 km (in and out) mix of sealed and gravel, trails are typical xc and around 20 km. Its a comfortable ride allround, though on road i do run out of gears with the compact double. I can live with that I think. Running manitou forks with lockout on it. Haven't done any overnighters yet, my bob trailer is long gone and my old alu rack is toast so waiting for some revelate gear in the post.
Decided to go with a new rack (salsa wanderlust on the rear) at the back instead of seatbag... not a 100%, but for the ideas i have it could be more versatile plus the seatbag wasn't going to be a good fit anyway. If i do eventually afford a packraft the rack should be good for that. Also Doubled the bartape which feels more natural for me offroad.
Plan to experiment with salsa anything cages on the forks to hold my hammock/tarp etc, i'll post pictures when i try that one. Could work well I think with minimal weight.
Next up is to pick up a vistahcx and topocanada torrent...
After that i'll probably have to move out west again since thats where everyone else seems to be riding!
happytrails people! 
bazB

[paxton coyote]

I've got a new 2011 Fargo & love it! Same issues on the front shifter though, I've got 500 miles on it in 2 months & ride mostly gravel & cow trails with it. Running a Jandd frame bag with a 50 oz. Camelback bladder in it as well as my Topeak Mt Morph pump & various tools, Jandd gas tank bag with camera, Jandd seat bag with extra tube, patch kit & levers & for longer triips I run a Jandd Mt handlebar bag with another tube, snacks, jacket or whatever. I also have 3 SS King water bottle cages on it & have the Salsa Anything cage but havn't tried it yet.

One word of WARNING! Buy & carry an extra derailer hanger as I've already broke mine once & that sucked having to wait a week to get a $15 part to ride! I love the geometry of the Fargo, even caught a little air on it today & it performed perfect, hope to try a front suspension fork on it someday.

[SlowDave]

I have been riding it everyday and I am slowly getting used to it's little quirks.  I went on a 30 miler yesterday with lots of climbing and she performed much better than anticipated.  I think the wheels need some attention as I am hearing what appears to be a couple of loose spokes.  I think I have the seat dialed in as good as it is going to get.  I see a Brooks i the future.  Some times downshifting I skip a gear so there is some adjusting needed there.  The bike is definitely growing on me.

I had a devil of a time getting my Crank Bros Candy 3 pedals to work.  I was using shoes with cleats for the Time pedals on my Litespeed.  I had just assumed they would work but they won't stay clipped.  I changed over to Crank cleats and shimmed them, that worked on the Candies but won't work for the Time.  By the way, I felt like I was riding a little BMX bike when I went from the Fargo to the Litespeed.

If someone can point me to the picture posting instructions I will post some.

One More thing, is there a cheap source for Surly racks?

[annoying crack]

If someone can point me to the picture posting instructions I will post some.

Read this : http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,668.0.html

I'd love to see some pictures of that bike!

[paxton coyote]

 I've got pics on my blog if anyone is interested in seeing my new Fargo, I turned it over to 500 miles tonight in 57 rides, front shifting is getting worse so will hit local shop Fri to get a quick tune-up, been riding a singlespeed for way to long so this shifting is still being learned by me!

 www.paxtonpeleton.blogspot.com 

[SlowDave]

Paxton, nice blog and pictures.  I have a Brittany too.  I just got back from 4 days up in Burney California.  Between rain showers I rode logging roads and some pavement.  A nice week end.

[bmike-vt]

Replaceable! by mbeganyi, on Flickr

really digging the fargo... but really missed my soma juice singlespeed this moring.
sigh. walk out of the woods and then home.
now trying to find someone that has parts so i can still do the mixed terrain ride i had in mind for fathers day.

[SlowDave]

Ouch!

Mine is slowly coming together.  I put a nice rack (love that name) and a Node 2 computer on it.  The rack is built like a tank and has the weight to prove it.  I am always slow learning a new computer but I am beginning to suspect this one has a defect somewhere.  Sometimes it will not give a cadence reading, usually at the beginning of a ride.  I was having a devil of a time getting it to reset trip readings.  The other day I just gave up before a 50 mile ride then in the middle of the ride it decides to reset.  Some pieces of technology are meant to be hauled out into the desert and shot at.

I make a point of saying hi to other cyclists when I am riding.  I do the same hiking or running.  I always chuckle to myself when the Lycra clad roadies pretend I don't exist.  They even do this when I am on my road bike.  Anyway, it seems worse when I am on the Fargo.  Mostly it is the guys and gals with all the furrin writing on there outfits.  I wounder if any of them understand what is written or does it just look cool.  Could it be the sure sign of ignorance, contempt for what they don't understand?  Maybe they just don't give a sh!t about the guy on the funny looking bike.  Who knows, who cares?  I am rambling again.  Next time they don't respond I will say "I said hello!".  If they still don't respond I'll ask "Is it my breath?".  Enough procrastinating it is time to go riding.