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| The ol' Fargo Gen I keeps pluggin along...... |
Well, as it turns out, the Fargo Gen I has been mostly in this current configuration since about 2014. Whoa! I would not have guessed that! I suppose I should have paid more attention to the signs.
One of those was when my Velocity Bottle Trap on the fork broke at Gravel Worlds last year. I mean, after almost six years, should I have been surprised? Then I started thinking here as I researched this post, "I wonder how long some of these other components have been on the Fargo?" As it turns out, they have been on there quite a long time! No wonder my red anodized Retroshift, (now Gevenalle) perches have faded to a nice, soft pink color!
The crank set had a "wobbly" middle ring last year and I thought I had "bent it back in" to being mostly straight, but the other day I looked and it was worse than ever. So, hmm.......maybe it isn't bent? It was loose chain ring bolts! I tightened them up and now that ring is as straight as an arrow. Again- no surprise after six years. Wow! Six years of abuses. I mean real bad stuff, because this bike has been through the wringer. I've had countless muddy encounters, days full of dust, and miles and miles of riding. Funny the drive train still functions.
Then there is that Luxy Bar. It has been pounded for six years going..... Probably high time I removed it and retired it to the wall of old parts in the Lab. We used to be strictly warned back in the '90's to switch out aluminum MTB bars every two years or sooner. I know some folks run old road aluminum bars forever, but these bars are getting on in age. And there are great choices I can use now to replace them with that I actually have sitting around here. In fact, some older Cowchippers I have that are newer and less abused may be going on to replace the old Luxy.
I just replaced the stem with a Redshift Sports Shockstop stem I've had around. So that's a good thing since that old Origin 8 stem was also getting on in years. I've got a newer Salsa Ti Regulator, so the seat post is fine for now. Wheels? They've been changed out several times. That said, the set I am running now is getting pretty old and I had better start thinking about new ones. Tires are fine, but I'll probably be switching those out soon too.
The last thing I've been holding out on is the upgrade on the drive train. This bike is still stuck in the 9 speed world. Could be worse. I may not change that. But look for a refresh on this old rig to be happening soon. Once I'm done, it'll be off for more adventures!
Go 3X11!
ReplyDelete@Exhausted_Auk- Actually, those were my intentions until I sold my 11 speed bar end shifters to Tony for his Fargo!
ReplyDeleteI still run 3x9 on two bikes: my circa 2011 orange salsa Vaya, running 26-36-48 with 11-34 cassette and bar end shifters and my surly ogre townie, which was built up with an old 3x9 XT setup from about 2009. The wide range is great on both, the vaya because it gets ridden on singletrack a fair amount as part of the vayasplorations I do when I leave the house with no goal in mind and the ogre because it pulls a trailabike.
ReplyDeleteIm considering upgrading the vaya to 2x11, but mostly so I can get hydraulic brakes, but I cant seem to find the right gearing. I would love 34/50 cranks with an 11-46 11 speed cassette. Or 30-46 with a 10-42 11 speed cassette. Wide range is a necessity for the riding I do on that bike.
Always thought of this one as my favourite of all your bikes. Jack of all trades, Master of Most
ReplyDeleteRegarding memory... there is of course "an app for that".
ReplyDeleteI use one called ProBikeGarage (I have no affiliation). On Android and IOS, it syncs with Strava and can import all of one's bikes that are listed in one's strava account. Once bikes are loaded in, one can list every component for said bike and the app will then keep track of both how many miles the part has accumulated (via Strava) and/or how long it has been since you installed the component. Within each component, there is a place to add notes, which again, may help with memory down the road (i.e. "What brand lube did I put on that chain on that bike, and when did I do it?") You can also schedule "service intervals" based on elapsed time or Strava miles which will then send you a notification that it's time to perform that service.
Components can be switched between bikes and still track their life cycle. Each component can also be "retired" while still being listed as a component assoctiated with that bike. Therefore it acts as a full inventory of components added to a bike over its lifetime, and how long/how many miles each component has performed.
When you own several bikes and can't remember when you last did something on a particular bike (added tire sealant, bled brakes, tightened chainring bolts, removed bottom bracket, etc) this app (or one like it) is the promise of helpful technology realized.
@rth009 - "vayasplorations" That's awesome!
ReplyDelete@youcancallmeAl - Thank you!
@ENB - What's that old saying? "The data you get is only as good as the data you put in". Something like that, right?
There's my downfall. I'd have to actually remember to update the app when I swapped out stuff.
I'll take that Luxy for your old Gryphon if you ever pull it!
ReplyDelete@Ted Claney - ha ha! Yes, I'm sure I could get a small line-up of folks for that handle bar. But I would genuinely feel bad about selling it, as I stated, it has been abused for so long that I have no idea if it would hold up or no. So, thank you, but no. I'll be hanging it up.
ReplyDeleteI had a similar moment months ago before heading west when it comes to handlebars. I had been riding the On One Midge bar.... the classic one pre 31.8, for a number of years. I noticed how more comfortable it had become in the last two years. Something told me to remove it. I did notice some buldges beyond the clamp and that led to me measuring the width. The bar had lengthened. So I started measuring other aspects. Ultimately, I swallowed that pill of replacing a classic. I went the other way of trends to an aero narrow-ish bar. Two reason: I like to climb in the drops and the oval flat area across the top. I do not tend to ride the top of a drop bar. The oval top makes a perfect platform for multiple riv-nuts.
ReplyDelete