Like A Modernized Gen I

The Tumbleweed Stargazer. Image courtesy of Tumbleweed Bikes.

 In 2008 I laid eyes on my first Fargo. It was ridden to a Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational ride that year at Hickory Hills County Park in Iowa, just a wee bit South of where I live. 

The bike's rider, Jason Boucher, then the Brand Manager of Salsa Cycles, was a very proud 'papa' that day. He was getting out Salsa's latest bike, a bike that would help to redefine the company, give it its own legacy under QBP's ownership, and arguably was the bike that kicked off the whole bikepacking/adventure biking craze which is still happening to this day. 

We got to see an actual production prototype, which was just how the bike came out later in the Fall that year. But we didn't get to see the model name. Jason had covered that up so loose lips could not spill the beans on the bike's name. What he used to cover that name up with- a strip of black electrical tape- became the bike's unofficial name for about a month and a half. "Black Electrical Tape" was a big hit already with many of us 29"er/gravel freaks, and when the name "Fargo" was revealed, well the enthusiasm for this bike was enormous. 

Since that Summer sneak-peek at the GTDRI, the Fargo has gone on to become the longest lived model in Salsa's line. It is there for good reason. The bike is versatile, comfortable, and does what it does very well. However; there was never a bike- a "Fargo Gen I" - like that 2008/9-2010 one. After Salsa started tweaking the bike, all that charm and non-suspension corrected glory went missing. 

The Singular Gryphon- Not influenced by the Fargo!

There have been many very similar bikes which have graced the Earth's byways introduced since. The Singular Gryphon, designed simultaneously alongside the Fargo's timeline, was not influenced by the Fargo. But it never really gained the notoriety that the Fargo did. However; since the Fargo/Gryphon introductions in the late 2000's, we've seen plenty of other players taking cues from the drop bar MTB/Gravel/Bikepacking pages which were largely written by Salsa's Fargo. 

The Bombtrack Beyond, Kona Sutra, Breezer Radar, and many others have tried to bring that Fargo-flavor. Some do it well, others.....? meh! There was just something about those earliest Fargo bikes and many are still coveted rides to this day. However; 2008 was a long time ago in terms of bicycle technologies and standards. So those older Gen I Fargo bikes are starting to get a little long in the tooth. 

Well, Tumbleweed Bikes, who have had one model, the Prospector, for several years now, have just announced a new, drop bar design for fat 27.5" wheels or big 29"er wheels. It's called the Stargazer, but you can totally see this as what a 2008/2009 Fargo would be like if it were updated to 2021 standards. 

 The Stargazer can fit 27.5 X 3.0" tires. (29'ers shown) Image courtesy of Tumbleweed Bikes

The Stargazer has Boost spaced axles front and rear, and those are through axles, of course. There is dropper post routing. The head tube has a 44mm internal diameter to accommodate a tapered steer tube fork. Of course, this final detail could be seen as a regression, but the frame is 1X compatible only. That's the 'modern way' folks, so many will see that as an 'update'. 

But many things which endeared the Fargo Gen I to its fans are still here in the Stargazer. First and foremost is the non-suspension corrected steel fork with a 440mm axle to crown. That fork also has rack mounts along with the triple bosses which are ubiquitous on adventure bikes these days. Rear rack bosses are there, as well as the under-the-downtube bottle bosses. The longer head tube gets those drops up where an adventure biker wants them without the janky 'stack-o-spacers' look. The fork and head angle are right out of the Fargo Gen I stats- 69° and 55mm of offset. 

And the frame and fork are steel, of course. NOT aluminum, not carbon, and nothing weird here- just steel. If you are going after that Fargo theme, steel is a requisite frame and fork material. It is just the way that it is. 

I like that this bike can be fitted with big, fat 27.5" tires or the 2.5" X 29"er tires. I know some may wish for those 3.0" 29"er+ tires, but honestly, those are getting on to be dinosaurs in the bicycle world these days. 29+ is pretty much on its way out, and I can see why Tumbleweed chose to stop at 2.5" for clearance on 29"ers. 

Here's my verdict- At the asking price, this frame and fork is a steal. I think it nails the look and geo numbers are so close, that this may as well be a Fargo Gen I updated. But.....I do not need this! My Gen I Fargo is still a good bike. My Ti Muk can cover a lot of what the Gen I does not. Plus, I'd rather put my money towards a Rohloff "Summer" wheel set for the Ti Muk someday rather than get a whole 'nuther bike, which would be redundant. But for you? Maybe this tics a lot of boxes. Tumbleweed Bikes website.

Like A Modernized Gen I

The Tumbleweed Stargazer. Image courtesy of Tumbleweed Bikes.

 In 2008 I laid eyes on my first Fargo. It was ridden to a Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational ride that year at Hickory Hills County Park in Iowa, just a wee bit South of where I live. 

The bike's rider, Jason Boucher, then the Brand Manager of Salsa Cycles, was a very proud 'papa' that day. He was getting out Salsa's latest bike, a bike that would help to redefine the company, give it its own legacy under QBP's ownership, and arguably was the bike that kicked off the whole bikepacking/adventure biking craze which is still happening to this day. 

We got to see an actual production prototype, which was just how the bike came out later in the Fall that year. But we didn't get to see the model name. Jason had covered that up so loose lips could not spill the beans on the bike's name. What he used to cover that name up with- a strip of black electrical tape- became the bike's unofficial name for about a month and a half. "Black Electrical Tape" was a big hit already with many of us 29"er/gravel freaks, and when the name "Fargo" was revealed, well the enthusiasm for this bike was enormous. 

Since that Summer sneak-peek at the GTDRI, the Fargo has gone on to become the longest lived model in Salsa's line. It is there for good reason. The bike is versatile, comfortable, and does what it does very well. However; there was never a bike- a "Fargo Gen I" - like that 2008/9-2010 one. After Salsa started tweaking the bike, all that charm and non-suspension corrected glory went missing. 

The Singular Gryphon- Not influenced by the Fargo!

There have been many very similar bikes which have graced the Earth's byways introduced since. The Singular Gryphon, designed simultaneously alongside the Fargo's timeline, was not influenced by the Fargo. But it never really gained the notoriety that the Fargo did. However; since the Fargo/Gryphon introductions in the late 2000's, we've seen plenty of other players taking cues from the drop bar MTB/Gravel/Bikepacking pages which were largely written by Salsa's Fargo. 

The Bombtrack Beyond, Kona Sutra, Breezer Radar, and many others have tried to bring that Fargo-flavor. Some do it well, others.....? meh! There was just something about those earliest Fargo bikes and many are still coveted rides to this day. However; 2008 was a long time ago in terms of bicycle technologies and standards. So those older Gen I Fargo bikes are starting to get a little long in the tooth. 

Well, Tumbleweed Bikes, who have had one model, the Prospector, for several years now, have just announced a new, drop bar design for fat 27.5" wheels or big 29"er wheels. It's called the Stargazer, but you can totally see this as what a 2008/2009 Fargo would be like if it were updated to 2021 standards. 

 The Stargazer can fit 27.5 X 3.0" tires. (29'ers shown) Image courtesy of Tumbleweed Bikes

The Stargazer has Boost spaced axles front and rear, and those are through axles, of course. There is dropper post routing. The head tube has a 44mm internal diameter to accommodate a tapered steer tube fork. Of course, this final detail could be seen as a regression, but the frame is 1X compatible only. That's the 'modern way' folks, so many will see that as an 'update'. 

But many things which endeared the Fargo Gen I to its fans are still here in the Stargazer. First and foremost is the non-suspension corrected steel fork with a 440mm axle to crown. That fork also has rack mounts along with the triple bosses which are ubiquitous on adventure bikes these days. Rear rack bosses are there, as well as the under-the-downtube bottle bosses. The longer head tube gets those drops up where an adventure biker wants them without the janky 'stack-o-spacers' look. The fork and head angle are right out of the Fargo Gen I stats- 69° and 55mm of offset. 

And the frame and fork are steel, of course. NOT aluminum, not carbon, and nothing weird here- just steel. If you are going after that Fargo theme, steel is a requisite frame and fork material. It is just the way that it is. 

I like that this bike can be fitted with big, fat 27.5" tires or the 2.5" X 29"er tires. I know some may wish for those 3.0" 29"er+ tires, but honestly, those are getting on to be dinosaurs in the bicycle world these days. 29+ is pretty much on its way out, and I can see why Tumbleweed chose to stop at 2.5" for clearance on 29"ers. 

Here's my verdict- At the asking price, this frame and fork is a steal. I think it nails the look and geo numbers are so close, that this may as well be a Fargo Gen I updated. But.....I do not need this! My Gen I Fargo is still a good bike. My Ti Muk can cover a lot of what the Gen I does not. Plus, I'd rather put my money towards a Rohloff "Summer" wheel set for the Ti Muk someday rather than get a whole 'nuther bike, which would be redundant. But for you? Maybe this tics a lot of boxes. Tumbleweed Bikes website.

Friday News And Views

Not a Pugs, but perhaps what the Pugs should have evolved into.

Tumbleweed Prospector:

I cannot recall when it was that I came across the Tumbleweed Bicycle Company, but it was months ago, and I remember thinking that this bike that they were working on was exactly what the Surly Pugsley should have morphed into. The steel fat bike idea with versatility built in and made to work with "standard" components, even more so than an original Pugsley.

There are several really cool features of the frame, one of which is that, like the original Pugs, you can swap the front and rear wheels out. So, if you ran a Rohloff in back, you could run a single speed hub up front, in case something went pear shaped with the Rohloff. Or you could run two different single speed ratios, or other configurations as well.

Then there is the bottom bracket. One of the things that even the OG Pugs does is that it forces your feet wider apart than typical bicycles do. This is sometimes referred to as the "Q" factor. Anyway, 100mm bottom brackets don't work for some folks, so they cannot enjoy fat bikes. This Prospector has a 73mm bottom bracket, like many mountain bikes do, so the cranks are "normal" and this allows for more folks to get on a fat bike that otherwise wouldn't.

This is the special bottom bracket yoke which allows for a 73mm BB to be used on the Prospector.

That is a brilliant idea, and the specially made yoke that gets everything to work out- drive train, cranks, tires- was designed by Anna Schwinn. She's a really bright bicycle person that has done some really good work on All City, Foundry, Zipp, and other bicycle company's stuff. In fact, she also designed the drop outs for the Prospector. Cool.

Anyway, if I didn't already have way too many bikes, this Prospector and I would be searching for gold in the hills. It's a cool bike with great features and multiple wheel size capabilities. Check it out sometime.

My daughter says it looks like something from Dr. Who.

WTB Galaxy Saddle Limited Edition To Support Buddy Newman Scholarship Fund:

Sometimes really cool people leave this orb way too soon. This must have been the case with a guy named Buddy Newman who worked his magic for WTB. So, in a way to memorialize and honor this fellow, WTB is offering this Team Volt "Galaxy" custom saddle, with graphics designed by Buddy Newman, and is using the proceeds of the sale of this saddle to support the high school mtb team Buddy was on in his days in high school.

"The WTB Galaxy saddle is a Team-level Volt saddle, features titanium rails and DNA Padding, and is available in a limited quantity of 135mm width. Now available for purchase through WTB’s online store for a retail price of $129.95, the Galaxy saddle mirrors the MSRP of a non-custom WTB Volt Team saddle. Proceeds from sales of the Galaxy saddle will pay for racing fees for the Nevada Union Miners mountain bike team."

 Check one out if you are in need of a cool saddle for your bicycle, or heck.....put it up as part of your own Dr. Who shrine!

Registration Update:

With the course recon happening tomorrow I thought I would give an update on the registration now. Going back to the Current Winners and "Plus Six' riders, we did not get 25 slots filled. We got only got 14 in. So we had 11 spots get kicked down to the Veterans registration. That boosted their limit to 66 riders.

Well, with today and tomorrow left to receive cards yet, we have only reached 37 entrants in the Vets category. I would seriously be surprised if we receive 29 cards in total between today and tomorrow, but you never know. At the rate they have been coming in, I would venture a guess that we will not be having a lottery drawing for the Vets class Sunday. Maybe I am wrong, but maybe not. If I am right, all the Vets that I have received properly filled out cards from will transfer in. Any left over, unclaimed Vet spots would then get kicked into the Rookie pool.

If I get even one card over 29 between now and Saturday afternoon, there will be a lottery drawing. I will have to determine the format depending on how far over the 66 rider limit we go, because if we only go over by one or two, I will just draw out one or two names to reduce the pile to 66. I think that makes more sense than the other way. However; if I miraculously get 10 or more over the 66 rider limit, then there will be a full on, traditional drawing of names. Okay?

I suspect recon will take me till early evening or maybe later Saturday, so the determination of how this gets done may not be made until as late as Sunday afternoon. Either way, the Vets will be locked in, one way or the other, by Sunday evening and the Rookie cards will start coming in Monday through till two weeks from this Saturday. Then, on October 31st, it will all be over when the Rookie Lottery drawing takes place.

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Friday News And Views

Not a Pugs, but perhaps what the Pugs should have evolved into.

Tumbleweed Prospector:

I cannot recall when it was that I came across the Tumbleweed Bicycle Company, but it was months ago, and I remember thinking that this bike that they were working on was exactly what the Surly Pugsley should have morphed into. The steel fat bike idea with versatility built in and made to work with "standard" components, even more so than an original Pugsley.

There are several really cool features of the frame, one of which is that, like the original Pugs, you can swap the front and rear wheels out. So, if you ran a Rohloff in back, you could run a single speed hub up front, in case something went pear shaped with the Rohloff. Or you could run two different single speed ratios, or other configurations as well.

Then there is the bottom bracket. One of the things that even the OG Pugs does is that it forces your feet wider apart than typical bicycles do. This is sometimes referred to as the "Q" factor. Anyway, 100mm bottom brackets don't work for some folks, so they cannot enjoy fat bikes. This Prospector has a 73mm bottom bracket, like many mountain bikes do, so the cranks are "normal" and this allows for more folks to get on a fat bike that otherwise wouldn't.

This is the special bottom bracket yoke which allows for a 73mm BB to be used on the Prospector.

That is a brilliant idea, and the specially made yoke that gets everything to work out- drive train, cranks, tires- was designed by Anna Schwinn. She's a really bright bicycle person that has done some really good work on All City, Foundry, Zipp, and other bicycle company's stuff. In fact, she also designed the drop outs for the Prospector. Cool.

Anyway, if I didn't already have way too many bikes, this Prospector and I would be searching for gold in the hills. It's a cool bike with great features and multiple wheel size capabilities. Check it out sometime.

My daughter says it looks like something from Dr. Who.

WTB Galaxy Saddle Limited Edition To Support Buddy Newman Scholarship Fund:

Sometimes really cool people leave this orb way too soon. This must have been the case with a guy named Buddy Newman who worked his magic for WTB. So, in a way to memorialize and honor this fellow, WTB is offering this Team Volt "Galaxy" custom saddle, with graphics designed by Buddy Newman, and is using the proceeds of the sale of this saddle to support the high school mtb team Buddy was on in his days in high school.

"The WTB Galaxy saddle is a Team-level Volt saddle, features titanium rails and DNA Padding, and is available in a limited quantity of 135mm width. Now available for purchase through WTB’s online store for a retail price of $129.95, the Galaxy saddle mirrors the MSRP of a non-custom WTB Volt Team saddle. Proceeds from sales of the Galaxy saddle will pay for racing fees for the Nevada Union Miners mountain bike team."

 Check one out if you are in need of a cool saddle for your bicycle, or heck.....put it up as part of your own Dr. Who shrine!

Registration Update:

With the course recon happening tomorrow I thought I would give an update on the registration now. Going back to the Current Winners and "Plus Six' riders, we did not get 25 slots filled. We got only got 14 in. So we had 11 spots get kicked down to the Veterans registration. That boosted their limit to 66 riders.

Well, with today and tomorrow left to receive cards yet, we have only reached 37 entrants in the Vets category. I would seriously be surprised if we receive 29 cards in total between today and tomorrow, but you never know. At the rate they have been coming in, I would venture a guess that we will not be having a lottery drawing for the Vets class Sunday. Maybe I am wrong, but maybe not. If I am right, all the Vets that I have received properly filled out cards from will transfer in. Any left over, unclaimed Vet spots would then get kicked into the Rookie pool.

If I get even one card over 29 between now and Saturday afternoon, there will be a lottery drawing. I will have to determine the format depending on how far over the 66 rider limit we go, because if we only go over by one or two, I will just draw out one or two names to reduce the pile to 66. I think that makes more sense than the other way. However; if I miraculously get 10 or more over the 66 rider limit, then there will be a full on, traditional drawing of names. Okay?

I suspect recon will take me till early evening or maybe later Saturday, so the determination of how this gets done may not be made until as late as Sunday afternoon. Either way, the Vets will be locked in, one way or the other, by Sunday evening and the Rookie cards will start coming in Monday through till two weeks from this Saturday. Then, on October 31st, it will all be over when the Rookie Lottery drawing takes place.

Have a great weekend, y'all!