I Built My Dream Bikepacking Bike
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- čas přidán 9. 05. 2024
- We made this video about stripping down a secondhand 2020 Salsa Fargo and building it up as a flat bar Rohloff bikepacking bike:
1) for anyone who wants to watch someone who isn't mechanically inclined puzzle her way through a bike project,
2) for anyone who wants to do the same thing, since there isn't much information about it on the internet, and
3) for practice because we got a new camera and tripod!
Hope you enjoy!
*My Rohloff: SPEEDHUB 500/14 TS DB OEM, black, 36 holes in a 700c Velocity Cliffhanger wheel.
*Rohloff Shifter Cable Connection Video: • SPEEDHUB Workshop - Ex...
*Bicycle Gear Calculator: ritzelrechner.de/
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▶ Music: The music in this episode is licensed through Track Club. If you use our referral link, you get two months full-access for free! trackclub.com/referral-landin...
▶ Gear We Love: This list is short, because these are only the things that we love almost to the point of obsession.
(These are affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases, which means you support the channel at no cost to you.)
Ergon Handlebar Grips for Rohloff: amzn.to/4afphgH
----So comfy!
Titanium Cooking Pot: Vargo BOT: bit.ly/45CwDsr
----We never thought we'd get so excited about a cooking pot. It doubles as 1 L water storage with a secure screw on lid (making dinner water math easier), can be strapped on the down tube (or fits in an Arundel Looney Bin), and the lid flips over to become a cooking pot. We recommend getting the cozy!
Peak Designs Out Front Bike Mount: peak-design.pxf.io/GmKMdn
----Why did we waste so much of our lives with Quadlock!? There's a magnet that attracts the phone case (below) so all you have to do is get your phone somewhere near the right place and it grabs it. No more fiddling! Then the mount locks with the case -- it's so strong I have picked up the whole front end of my bike with just the phone.
Peak Designs Phone Cases: peak-design.pxf.io/g1OxXg
----Needed for the Peak Designs mount, but also just nice cases.
Stem Bag: Swift Industries Sidekick: bit.ly/3VpOBuC
----Doesn't suck like other stem pouches we've tried.
Ultralight Down Quilt: Katabatic Palisade 30*: bit.ly/40T1ezr
-----Y'all, this is the comfiest sleeping bag. Warm and the material is soft.
#travel #biketour #bikepacking #cycletouring #cycling #gravelbike #slowtravel #bikecamping #bicyclecamping - Sport
Take it to the bike shop. They would order the right bits. Delivered in a couple of days. Bike build in another half day. A good load of cash.
You took ages. You learned bit by bit. You know exactly how it all goes together. Any problem on the road and you’ll have it sorted really quickly. Your knowledge doing the whole build is invaluable. I am super impressed. The ‘warts and all’ video is superb. Thank you.
Thank you! I’m glad people are liking seeing the mistakes/learning process. And the knowledge gained will help forever!
I cannot agree more. During Covid I built an ICE Fat Trike with a Rohloff. Yikes!!! What a learning experience. However, if anything ever goes wrong with it on the road I understand its operation and installation completely. For the kind of touring you do you will be SOOOO glad you understand everything about your steed! Great job with the build. Be safe.
I've built many bikes before but it's been a while now. Probably the longest time I've been withouth building anything. About two years or so. Now I am building one for my wife and I ran into problems. I completely forgot that there is always problems while building a bike. It's fun to see someone else make their mistakes too. None of yours were big mistakes. Just minor parts missing. I think building a bike is just as much fun as is riding one. Happy riding!
It really is part of building a bike… at least I think it is with my limited experience. And yeah, I definitely found myself wanting to spend more time tinkering with the bike and had to eventually just stop and get out and ride it!
Nice work! As a former full-time bike mechanic, I have two things to recommend:
1. A torque wrench. It’s incredibly easy to over or under torque bolts, which can cause things to loosen and fall off when you’re riding, or worse, break when you’re installing them.
2. An understanding of when to use grease, carbon-grip (you aren’t using carbon that I can see, but you should still understand the principle), Loctite (and the different types), and anti-seize compound. Anti-seize is especially important if you are using two different metals (like steel bolts in an aluminum stem); if you don’t use it, you can have parts corrode and seize up such that you cannot separate them.
Hi! Thanks for the tips. I did use both a torque wrench and grease and loctite in this process, but didn’t show it (well, I did show grease once). There’s no mixing of metals or carbon going on here.
@@slow_spokes Yes, and keep in mind that the Rohloff can be a bit torque-sensitive, so keep a sharp eye on that too. Again, awesome job!
So rad. I built a titanium Salsa Fargo with Rohloff hub and Gates carbon belt drive. Best bike ever!
Sounds sweet!
This was my dream setup. But lately people are starting to go sour on titanium and say steal is a better material. It is probably just people trying to get youtube clicks.
@@shepherd76 huh, interesting. Titanium’s definitely been catching my eye. But man if I bought everything I wanted for my bikes I’d have no more money to travel the world and go on bike trips so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Does the frame have the option for belt drive or did you have to cut it?
I came across an old Trek Soho and have fallen in love with belt drive. I want to build a Rolhoff with a belt drive. It's hard to find belt drive frames in the USA.
@@jgreenjeans The Salsa Fargo frame has a break that allows the belt to be put into the frame. You are correct that it is very hard to find belt drive frames in the United States.
I just want to say, good on you for having a go! well done! even though you weren't experienced, you jumped in and leant and got it done. You'll be better prepared out on the trail now. excellent!
Thank you! That’s so kind of you!
Very relatable, Calvin Jones has a cameo in just about every bike-related thing I ever do
That man should win an award.
Calvin is the Man!!
u should be proud , i was just saying anyone could do a basics and here you are a full out mechanic
Thanks, I am pretty proud of myself! 😀
I built a Salsa Ti with a Rohloff. It’s taken me all around the U.S. I sometimes throw on a suspension fork and ride single track. It’s my Swiss Army knife. Hope yours sparks as much joy as mine has. 😊
Love this, one day maybe I’ll upgrade to the ti frame. But I look forward to a lot of fun adventures with this bike!
Appreciate this. I’ve been wanting to go with a Rohloff and this is gold. Thank you.
That’s why we made it! It was so hard to find information about it. Hope this helps!
I LOVE my Fargo. Great job. Congrats on your accomplishment. Travel safe!
Thanks!
Thanks for documenting and sharing the experience. The more you know the more you can go!
Thank you! Haha love that.
Only just started watching the vid but just wanted to say well done! Learning to build your first bike starting with a Rohloff is an epicly steep learning curve! Have been a mechanic for a few years and had to write a piece about choosing/fitting a Rohloff to your bike and I learned so much + had someone to check my work + had already been exposed to working on Rohloffs, building wheels, general mechanical work, etc. You are very ambitious, kudos to you!.
Hahaha ambitious or naive, either way it worked out! Thank you, I appreciate it!
I really like this build video. I'm not usually in to them, but I love that you showed what you learned along the way. I commend your vulnerability in showing that you didn't just know everything. The bike itself is rad too.
This comment makes me so happy. Chris was worried that I was going to get a lot of mansplaining, but almost all the comments have been positive about showing the whole process, mistakes at all. Really gives me good feelings about the folks who watch our videos! - Hillary
@@slow_spokes I think it's super relatable. I've built up a few bikes from frames and learned something new every time. I hope it's encouraging for others who would like to learn more about building and maintaining a bike.
Omg I just built pretty much the same bike, and I used the Alternator Rohloff plates but had no idea about the space reducers... Turned out I was just slightly bending the frame when I tightened up the skewers. Part now ordered 😊
Well, that confirms why I made this video. Glad it was helpful!
@@slow_spokes I also made a video of my build but got sick of it halfway through and stopped 😂 I will use my tripod next time and not a GoPro on my head though. Appreciate your filming effort also!
Yeah it’s a tonnnnn of work! It’s fun though, and I figure if it helps one person it’s worth it. Glad you were that person!
Awesome job on the conversion! That was a big project to take on. I know I would have freaked out about making mistakes, but you kept going and solved all the small stuff that come up 🙂
Haha maybe I did a poor job showing how freaked out I was… and thanks!
Getting ready for a Sydney to Darwin...had my Rolhoff belt drive for a week know...love me bike already...now l'll have to learn how to tune...change cable and all that stuff! Exciting time!
If you inspire one person to get a bike and go out there then....!
Happy days!
We’re excited for you! Have fun!
Do NOT set the belt tight at all. It will also be thousands of miles before the Rohloff loosens and quiets down.
Stuff like the Rohloff and the Pinion seem to sell themselves. German engineered stuff that just goes. Maybe I'll have one someday.
I’d recommend it! I figure it was expensive, but there’s a chance I’ll have it for the rest of my life. I only have one main daily driver/bikepacking bike so it made sense to invest.
Hi, great build!! I also built a titanium Salsa Fargo with Rohloff hub and Gates carbon belt drive. If I was you I would also change your chain for a Gate belt. Then you really have a maintenance free Fargo!
That might be the next step. Wasn’t in the budget this time around.
You cannot put a belt on a bike that is not design to do so.
The Fargo frame is.@@guygatineau281
Solid build! I bet you learned a ton. He heavier rear wheel won't matter a bit once you load the bike with stuff.
Thanks! That’s what I figure… though I am looking at ways to distribute the load a bit more. Hard with a carbon fork!
Well done!! I can relate to this so much - discovering you need different parts or tools and having to put the project on hold.... always an adventure! Thanks for sharing :)
Thanks! I’m sorry the bridge club didn’t work out for me or we’d be twinsies. :)
@@slow_spokes Ahaha that would've been sweet! But I'm so happy you have a new setup you love :)
This was awesome. Happy riding!
Thank you! Glad you liked it!
Fantastic bike and idea. Congratulations!
Thank you!
Great video! You learned a lot with this project. There are so many variations these days that it's really challenging to get all the components right in the first try. I've been modifying bikes for a long time now and still get BIG surprises. Loved watching you get excited as you overcame various surprises. I recently converted a 29" adult sized BMX bike to a 3-speed rear cassette and added a derailleur... with a shifter under the seat. As simple as that sounds, it went all kinds of wonky on me, LOL. You did an awesome job and now I'm looking at Rohloff hubs because they look pretty cool.
I mean, that conversion sounds complicated to me but only because it’s not standard! Glad this inspired you to look into Rohloffs!
@@slow_spokes Actually it was super simple and inexpensive. Had to get a tool to remove the freewheel and the three-speed freewheel threaded right in. Got a derailleur for $12, LOL. Now I've got a 3 speed 29" BMX that doubles as a commuter! Proud of you for jumping in and making your dream come true.
I really enjoyed the bike build!
Thank you! It was fun to build and shoot, so we’re glad you liked it!
Excellent video. Really interesting and well done with the build
Thanks! 😊
Nice bike and she's gorgeous,so a good video 🤙
What a good video! ❤ Nice to see those things that didnt work out the first try! 😊 And I wish you many safe miles with this beauty!😍
Thank you! First overnighter with it is coming up this weekend!
I have a Salsa Fargo frame with flat bars. Enjoyed it since 2011.
Awesome!
@@slow_spokes I mainly wanted to affirm that changing a drop-bar bike like a Fargo to flat bars is a good and workable idea.
AND......that's why I use the bike shop! Good luck with it.
Very useful content!!!
You really did learn a ton! Good for you!!
Thanks!
Respect dealing with a Roloff is not for the faint of heart, I got to ride a demo bike once with a Roloff and it was cool. I hope you have a very sturdy lock to protect all that time and effort. Tailwinds
A sturdy lock, and a tracking device. :)
I was like you. Derailers and I do not get along. I have a Priority 600 now with a pinion gear set in the middle pedal set and a belt. It has 12 gears and I love it. I bet I have put 5,000 miles on it with just changing tires.
They’re just so frustrating! Glad you have a new set up and like it!
Love what you have done with your shop.
Our living room? 😂
@@slow_spokes Honestly I see that and you are treating bikes as they should be treated. Thanks for you great videos.
Haha unfortunately our floor is a little worse for wear, but it’s been nice to work on it in the warmth this winter. Thanks for watching :)
Salsa dropouts saving the day!
Yeah I didn’t realize what a good system that was until I started this project! -Hillary
Really useful video, thank you! I have almost the same bike coming up, just with carbon drive and crazy bars. Really looking forward to get it up and running.
Good luck! Sounds like a great project.
Great Idea 👌
@10:07 of the drive side drop out plate, upper screw is missing the inside steel hex nut..... NM! saw at the end you got it! Well done!
Just found you over coffee this morning. Congradu-effing-lations on a job well done! Something like this can be quite intimidating but you’ve shown that a rudimentary bicycle is the “every-man’s” machine👊🏽
Wow, thanks! The number of kind comments on this video is really lifting our spirits. Glad you liked it and glad you found us in the bottomless pit that is CZcams. 👊🏼
Wow, the motorbike is really nice, the result of upgrading it myself. very good
Very cool, I like it!
Glad you liked it!
I just had a local bike shop help me build my dream bike. It's a Fargo also. I kept the Derailleur, went with a 2 x 10 set up, friction/ index shifters, and Jones Bars. It is the most comfortable bike I've ever owned. We plan on some long tours with it. I also bought a Wren suspension fork to use on the rougher routes.
It really is so comfy!
great video. learned a lot. I'm more of a 2x/3x cyclist, but I have a whole new level of appreciation for the internal gear experience.
Thanks! Yeah I wouldn’t go back to a 1x.
I just updated my Fargo after trashing my drivetrain on the GDMBR. Almost went Roloff but decided on sram 1x electronic and very happy. Light, fast and super accurate shifting and quiet. Only down side is battery life of durailer but the battery’s only weight 0.4 ounces each.
I love the fargo
Beautiful color on that Fargo. And I like the bar and tire choice.
Geared hubs are cool. But if you really want to minimize fuss, a friction shifter will ensure perfection and be much cheaper.
Rhollhoffs last forever, but once forever is up, and it will be one day, I really like being able to repair, service, replace every part on my bike through even the most basic inventory of the smallest and most scantily clad bike shop in the middle of central mexico.
So a 1x10 (or 2x10) and friction shifters just can’t be beat.
Carry a small rear mech alignment tool and you’re unstoppable.
Learn how to index your gears.
When you can confidently take your entire bike apart and then put it back together yourself, any anxiety about mechanical issues while on tour go away completely. Anything else is just delaying the inevitable.
It’s like the feeling of freedom of riding a bike added to the freedom of knowing how to fix any problem with your bike all at once.
I have indexed my gears so many times, taken it apart to clean it and fixed it on the road. I got tired of it. Chris’s bike had a friction shifter when it seized up and he couldn’t use more than one gear for the rest of our ride.
If the Rohloff ever breaks down, I’ll come back here and let you know. :)
@@slow_spokes bikes are very simple. A rear mech is just a spring. A shifter is just a rotating barrel taking up cable slack. Or with a ratchet if it’s indexed.
A lubed part will never seize. But a neglected part will.
But if the geared hub works for you I think that’s great. I was only providing an alternative perspective to any passerby who might be looking for a low tech / economical way to have an equally reliable bike for international travel on a tighter budget.
I think an internal geared hub has a lot of pros also. And it’s great that it’s working for you. Really adds to the look of your bike which I think is a stunning build. 😍
Happy trails!
Nice! I'm also building a Fargo right now but I don't hate derailleurs as much as you so I'm going with a Shimano Deore m5100 with an 11-51 casette, though I do love the Rohloff hubs a lot. I'm also using the full 3 inches of tire clearance. Awesome build and I hope you have thousands of miles of fun on it!
Love that. I’m on mixed terrain a lot and want the option for mudguards (so helpful on my winter commute), hence the narrower tires.
Rohloff is the best !
LOVE it!
A bike riding adventure, and a bike fixing adventure. Well done.
Thanks!! It’s been fun.
Nice video. Thank you for sharing your journey to build this bike up. I’ve always wanted to take a crack at a Rohloff but the cost always gets in the way.
Thank you! Yeah, I’m hoping that the fact that it can last 300k+ miles and I might have it for the rest of my life offsets the cost eventually. That said, you do have to change the oil and oil change kits are about $40 per year.
This is such a cool project! I love seeing someone take on a bike build with so much enthusiasm and creativity. Can't wait to see the finished product! Fantastic video! It's really inspiring to see you tackling this project step-by-step. Your explanations are clear and helpful, especially for those of us who aren't as mechanically inclined."
Thank you so much! It really was a fun project, and fun to share it, too! I’m glad you liked it. -Hillary
@@slow_spokes I'm glad you read my comment and replied
@@slow_spokes I saw you have a profile on Instagram and saw that it was irregular
Oh, we're way more regular here on CZcams. We read every comment on CZcams and try to reply. We feel like Instagram is often about unrealistic perfection and beauty, and CZcams is more real. It allows us to tell stories in the way we want to tell them. So we prefer it over here, but we'll probably post more on Instagram one day.
Congratulations! Thank you very much for sharing, how inspirational for other women :-)
Thanks! ☺️
Nice work. Bout to do this as well once I find a used XL donor frame
Enjoy!
Thanks for the vid. :) Just curious... how much more do you have to do (as compared to a bike with a RD) when it comes to changing flats when out on the road?
I haven’t gotten a flat yet (fingers crossed) but taking the wheel off is much easier than with a derailleur since there’s only one cog back there. It just takes a 15 mm wrench to both sides of the wheel, move the chain aside and it comes right off. No fiddling with the derailleur.
Congrats! I have two rohloff bikes. First one is 10 years old now and never had an issue.
That’s good to hear! The more I ride it the more I like it.
@@slow_spokes yup! and if you ever dislike the twist shifter, look into the GEBLA Rohbox. It allowed me to use mechanical brake levers to shift the hub instead of the twist shifter.
Awesome video! Just curious if you'd be able to share what website you used to calculate gear inches (at the 7:10 minute of your video)?
Oh good question. I’ll put it in the description but here it is too: ritzelrechner.de
4:03 - Awwwwww, who's a good dog! He gets to chew on a nice juicy bone! lol I'm totally weak for a good doggie haha.
Anyway, I hate derailleurs too. I dumped them back in the '90s when the Rohloff came out. But I couldn't afford one at the time, so I got a bike with a Shimano Inter-7 and loved it. About a year ago I finally got a Rohloff. I just did its first oil change. And I will _never_ go back.
And by the way, you look totally like me, ordering parts and finding out... Crap! These don't play together! lol.
Superb job, getting it all to work 🙂 That's a super looking bike!
Thanks! Leo is a good boy. He’s the best dog in the whole world :)
I wish there was a better way to tell compatibility between parts but alas… trial and error it is. 😁
I didn't even know rholloff hubs were a thing :P Cool video thank you
Thanks! Also check out the Pinion hub. It’s got a lot of the same benefits but some different features.
Good on you for tackling a fairly advanced mechanical conversion and sticking with it even when you ran into some issues. Having done the work yourself, you have a far better understanding of how it all works and will be able to diagnose issues down the road, say a loose bolt that holds the adapter assembly or what not, than if you had had a bike shop do the conversion for you.
Thanks! It’s already been a huge help the few times I needed to do anything, and I’m really glad for the experience. Working on bikes is fun!
Guess I will subscribe, love the channel name. Real people doing what they enjoy, best way to learn.
My list, cycling around the world, Mindy cycling, Fire and Ice Outdoor Gear.
Thanks! Glad you’re here!
6:46 Just a heads up, these barrel adjusters might be fragile, unless they fixed that, at least those on TRP Spyke (the MTB version of this caliper) were fragile, I accidentally hit my hand on it and it snapped. But having it adjusted all the way in helps to reduce damage, but on a full suspension bike the cable movement due to the suspension movement cause it to bend, so if adjusted ut it bends.
Go Gates carbon drive. I did really makes the bike maintenance free. If the bike has a split seat stay. I did a Rohloff belt drive titanium touring bike. I ran in to alot of the sam issues you had . Rohloff doesn't make installation very easy even getting the shift box set up is a hasle getting the cable to wind around the cable wheel in the right direction. You did it. Great job.
Unfortunately, it seems like there is no split there. You can try using the Veer split belts, but last time I checked, they didn't have proper gear ratios for climbing.
That manual was still useful. Just use Google translate and point your camera at it. Take screenshots if needed
Great job interpreting the bolt diagram for the alternator dropouts. I just had something similar for a tubus rear-rack and I needed my doctorate-wielding girlfriend to help me interpret the thing lol
Oh man, that Tubus diagram truly is a nightmare. Maybe it reads different for the Germans who created it, but it was comically intimidating.
Very very cool 😊❤
Thank you ☺️
So refreshing to see you make the same goddamn mistakes I remember making when I started maintaining my stuff. Well done! Next step Gates belt.
Thanks! You’d think there’d be a list somewhere of all the common mistakes. :)
7:54 Lovely system for sure. More brands should do this. Adjustable chain stay length, hub width compatibility.
Yeah it’s such a great idea!
Great video! Interesting bike build. Not sure if you did, but I would recommend torquing all bolts. by the looks of the lack of amount of greased used, you bottom bracket might creak a bit in dry weather. what will happen when things go wrong and you do not have a traditional systems where parts can virtually be found anywhere? I've never bike packed so im just curious.
I definitely greased the bottom bracket quite a bit, but I'll keep an ear out for creaks. The only part on my bike that is non traditional is the hub itself, and they rarely break down if properly taken care of. If it does break down, I'll have to send it to Germany, which will be a challenge. Thanks for the recommendations!
The Salsa Fargo is a great bike.
Agreed!
Great experience! How are you liking the Denham bars?
I love them! I also think inner bar ends could get the same benefits with more flexibility. But I use every position all the time and I’m happy for them!
It's so incredible to see the process from the perspective of a complete newbie, reminds me of my first bike build and early maintenance experiences. Lots of silly little mistakes here and there, but you always get it right in the end.
I also build myself a gearhub all-terrain bike last year, however, since I'm on a budget, I had to use a much cheaper Shimano Alfine 11, which turned out to be not reliable at all. Also, Shimano don't seem to care about selling them anymore and you can hardly get any parts for it (and you need those because Shimano doesn't sell a full package and I ended up ordering 5 or 6 little kits of cheap plastic stuff, washers, etc to make it work).
On the plus side, my whole bike costs less than the Rohloff hub alone 😉
That’s what I had heard about those hubs. I figured the reason I was going for the IGH was to reduce the headaches and it didn’t seem like the Alfine would do that. Too bad Shimano’s not supporting them anymore!
If you go on a trip, take a spare rolhoff shifter cable. It can break. Nicely done with your build.
Good to know! That’s going on the list. And thanks!
@@slow_spokes Also become familiar with changing and adjusting the Rohloff cables. Doing it on the road for the first time would not be fun.
As a 45 yr heavy equipment field mechanic, I commend you in the reconstructing a bike to fit your needs. A lesson I would use to potential private owners of equipment would be that they shadowed my working on their machinery so they became familiar with all aspects of their equipment. Understanding the many components and phasing of any machinery is without saying, invaluable. It can be imagined first like making an octagon with the points first, drawn as best one can at specific dimensions, then connecting each point with a line until the said illustrated drawing looks like that which is perceived as such octagon. Then sit back and visualize as to what it's intended purpose might be. My point here is, first comes the desire to learn a task that can be unfamiliar, second, no matter the project, keep an open mind with whatever skill set in your bank, patience. Always remember as we have most all been taught, the square block goes into the same receptacle intended and you will do fine at anything you approach. Great job young lady.
Thank you so much!
Good job and good riddance to deFaileurs. Now ride like hell, it will take 12,000 miles to really break it in and loosen up. Too many riders get a wrong impression and give up way too soon. Mine has 20,700 miles with 8,200 on two tours with the bike at 120 lbs. LOL. It has half the grinding feel now.
I would shorten those rack bolts sticking out, 2 or 3 mm.
Would be nice if you had done a slow walk around side view of everything, especially the sides of the rear. Nice that you also got the 15 mm nut axle setup, that is way less prone to leaking or breaking. I got the long brace arm version for extra strength.
I put my shifter on the top tube so zero cable flopping happening, can shift with either hand. On the bar it ruins the brake lever alignment.
I also have the TRP cable Spyre caliper with compressionless housing, stops on a dime. My first resin pads went 5,300 miles.
My front hub is a SA XL-FDD dyno drum brake, 32,000 miles of any weather no fuss bliss. With 2.3/ 2.0 spokes and locking nipples, they will never break.
Most people have that gear range, way too slow for me riding 99% on paved roads.
Your bike now looks just like the > Rolling Existence < couple who have been to half the world.
That’s good to know about it breaking in! I heard if they fail they fail early, and so far I have probably only 1000 km on it. But so far it’s been great.
The rack bolts are long because I had fenders on and they use the same holes. The fenders came off for some single track earlier this spring but the bolts are still long for when I plan to put them back on before some upcoming adventures.
How did you get it on the top tube? In any case, I have ergon grips designed for the Rohloff (the right side is shorter) so there’s no issue with the alignment.
Cable actuated disc brakes are definitely on the list! I just ended up using the brakes that came with the bike and replacing the levers to convert to flat bar. Long term I’m definitely in the market for better brakes.
And yeah, I find we are like 50% on roads and I don’t mind sacrificing some of the top end for more climbing comfort. I would like one more gear on the top, but I can’t have everything.
Thanks for your comment - I appreciate you taking the time to share all this!
-Hillary
Awesome video and nice job trying things out on your own and understanding when you need help.
On a quick note, these fargo's are not E. D. Coated internally and they will rust from the inside out, something salsa knows. Frame saver will help, it's a spray to help prevent rust internally
That’s really helpful, thank you!
A really good bike and I guess you can sell on the parts taken off (or keep them for spares and another project).
Good job indeed, I did something similar and it took me an year to put together all the parts…you did much better
Well thanks! I learned a lot!
Way to go, doing it all yourself. Can't believe they dont just send a video on how to install. I'm thinking of a Molko bars , had switched it to a trekking bar but not quiet what I wanted. .Internal gears must be nice, but just staying with my touring chain rings..
Thanks! ☺️
First time hearing about rohloff! What a fascinating bike you have! Do you have a link for that handle bar? They look so comfortable!
Here you go! There are some links at the bottom of this article to where to buy them. www.cyclingabout.com/koga-denham-bars/
@@slow_spokes Thanks much!
I was gonna say that you measure the bolts by how long the threads are and you got it. Luckily I have a bike shop a couple blocks away from me to pick up most things that I need plus there is a bike shop across town that the guy likes Rohloff's and single speeds too. Most of my bikes are single speeds.
Its a good exercise to prepare for any fixing that you may need on tour.
Would you try slick 29'er for fast and comfortable rolling?
Are there trigger shifters for Rohloff? Twist Shifters aren't as smooth and crisp. Can they cause fatigue in hands?
The bike geometry seems nice and upright.
When my tires wear out, I will most likely get new, slicker tires. They’re kind of old and patched right now but I’m thinking I’ll get another year out of them.
There are trigger shifters for Rohloff, but I didn’t have that in the budget. I also knew this was going to be a big project didn’t want to get overwhelmed, so I decided to save that for a later stage.
These are good questions!
Great Job - yes for bike touring the Rohloff is the way to go. Excellent effort as well. Highly commendable. Do use copper grease so that your pedals can be undone in the future. Also did you use a cleaner after draining out the rohloff - you are supposed to drain then clean then add new oil then put on a new gasket.
Yes! I did use the cleaning oil. Thanks!
Interesting choice of the transmission. Did you consider going with Pinion gear box and Gates carbon belt drive instead of rear hub and a chain? I think for long travels those are a more durable choice...
I did! I spent a lot of time researching and comparing the two and they are pretty similar, each with drawbacks. I decided against the pinion because it’s slightly less efficient than the Rohloff, there are fewer bikes it can work with, and it has less of a track record of durability. The Rohloff has been around twice as long and the only thing that causes them to malfunction is not keeping the oil changed. Gates carbon drive was a no this time because of the initial cost. Maybe one day. That said, they’re both great options.
Good job ! Rohloff hubs are really difficult to adapt. I've made it on a Surly 1x1 (singlespeed) frame and it was hard (diskbrake position issues).
If your fame can handle belt drive then it's a must have.
Thanks! Yeah I might look into a belt drive in the future, but I’m worried about one breaking in the middle of nowhere.
@@slow_spokes I wouldn't let that worry hold you back honestly. Belts almost never break and if they do its easy to fold a spare one up nice and small so you can always take an extra for basically no size/weight penalty
@@joshuaandress3666 I was wondering if it wasn’t actually something I should worry about. Thanks!
@@slow_spokesIt's very very rare to break a belt drive.
but if you worried about, get a spare one, it's not that heavy.
If you're very very worry, chain is good, but think about to have a spare rear sprocket and the lock/unlock tool with you for long bike trips. They are very specific to Rohloff hubs, if you can find chains, chainrings, cranksets in most bike shops, these parts are quite uncommon.
Fargo loves you.
you shouldn't shift under load on traditional gears either, so that's a win for the rohloff.
I have a 20 years ond plastic shifting system, it works fine, no adjustment needed on the go. shimano exage300.. my "modern" Deore XT shifting system is, what I always have to adjust. My hub shifting bike has ony 3 gears.. so I use it only for city commute.
How do you maintain correct chain tension ? It seems that you need to add a chain tensioner.
At about 11:15 I talk about the tensioner screw. That’s Salsa’s system to tension the chain. Screwing them in farther swings the plate back and puts tension on the chain.
This may have already been asked and answered. I’m curious why you didn’t go with the belt drive. It seems like chain maintenance would be a thorny issue on a long bike trip especially if you are riding in rain and grit. Nice build video. Thank you.
Thanks! Belt wasn’t in the budget this time around. Belt and dynamo hub are the next steps.
What size Fargo did you purchase and would you mind sharing your hight / standover measurements?
Size medium, 5’5” and 31.75” inseam. I have 2.2” tires on. I’m in between medium and small, figured the medium would work better for a flat bar. I love the reach but I am finding the standover height is slightly too high for me. I can’t wear thin soled shoes and can’t increase my tire width. I’ll make it work for a while but will probably eventually find a small frame to try out.
Listen to Rammstein for a week.
OMG! those hubs are EXXXXXXpensive.
Love the build and that you learned something in the process. As for the derailleur debacle, SRAM has made some huge advancements in that field lately. Maybe read up on it, if for nothing else out of curiosity.
Never found the Salsa Fargo appealing. Threw my 17 year old Rohloff on an old no-name (no decals or hints as to what the make was) steel frame, where i brazed on some disc mounts, during the winter and am out and about again.
What didn’t you like about the Rohloff? Truly just curious.
@@slow_spokes It's not the hub, it's the frame of the Salsa Fargo that I don't like :)
@@antoniom.andersen6704 oops! Haha what did you not like about the Fargo - that’s what I meant to ask. Brain fart. :)
Great to see people try on and build their own bikes.
A couple of question.
1: what was the purpose to use a flatbar instead? Did you have wristproblems with the dropbar? Just curious..
2: what was the purpose to go for more wider and nobbier tires, is it because of your change of routes?
Thanks! Here are some answers:
1. A couple reasons. I have narrow shoulders and the position drop bars puts me in puts strain on my chest muscles/shoulders unless I have very narrow hoods. Those narrow hoods mean I have very little cockpit space for feed bags/phones/lights/cameras/etc and less control on rocky and technical sections. Flat bar geometry has me in a slightly different position so my chest muscles don’t get so strained. That said, I like having hoods for chill road sections so I got an alt bar with a narrower width between the hoods and I really like it. Also, while you can find after market shifters for Rohloffs with drop bars or find another creative solution, it’s easier to mount the shifter on a flat bar.
2. Those tires came with the frame :) But yes, we end up often on weird paths and trails that it’s nice to have more aggressive tires on. However, when these tires wear out I will likely buy something slightly smoother.
Thanks for your questions!
@@slow_spokes spot on answers. Thank you soo much. Im going for my first long travel this summer and seek for some answers and you straighten out two of the last. 🥰
@@gurkpojken I’m glad! When we first got into bike travel we started watching CZcamsrs who biked in Turkey to see what kind of tires they were using. That’s what started our CZcams journey and our obsession with bike travel. I hope you find that you love it as much as we do!
I may do this to a Salsa Mirakesh. I do have one question. Why did you not go to a Gates belt drive ?
Wasn’t in the budget mostly, and I didn’t want to be stuck somewhere with a broken belt and no way to get a replacement.
Long live Calvin of Park Tools.
Agreed
Would you consider providing a detailed breakdown of the component costs ?
If you email me I’ll send you the spreadsheet I used to plan for the costs.
Email is in the channel profile.
9:16 Yes, you are right. also the 1.25mm is the thread size, M number is the diameter.
Go for a suspension stem, The 15 or 20mm of travel really helps take the sting out of washboard roads
I have to admit, I’ve gone for a suspension stem, I can’t understand all these rigid stems being put on particularly if you like going off on rougher roads
That was so cool. Would you tell me how much did you buy your Rohloff wheel?
Thanks! It was about $1300 with the Rohloff and wheel.
@@slow_spokes Many thanks for your quick response.
Could you please send me the seller's link?
It was on eBay, so the link doesn’t exist anymore unfortunately.
@@slow_spokes Thank you for taking the time.
Dried grease, the dust in the BB, plus dust and there will always be a little rust in any BB.
Good to know!
You do it the other way around as I learned it. I've learned to read the instructions last, when all else fails...
😆