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Today was the Salsa El Mariachi‘s first trail ride, and it went well. Riding all the single track at Stony Creek and the two hardest climbs was great, and the rigid fork played a huge part of it. Being fully rigid and a single speed this bike feels completely different from the Titus, but in a good way. It fits me better than the VooDoo Dambala did and is the most comfortable rigid bike I’ve ridden. While not something that I’d set out for 40 – 60 mile rides on (at least not as it’s currently set up), it’s really fun on trails and I can see myself riding this quite a bit.
What size el mar are you riding? I currently am riding a 26″ Titus Motolite and it fits me pretty well, but I am looking to get a nice endurance capable steel 29er hardtail and think that the el mar may be the best contender, but geared with a suspension fork. You might have replied to some of my posts on mtbr.com, but I am not sure. I see that you have set it up with a sus fork now? how does it ride over the long haul with the sus fork?
forgivenick: This is an 18″ model, and I’m about 5’10” or so. I ride a large Titus Racer X 29er as well, and this is a wee bit smaller bit still very nice. I’m liking the suspension fork quite a bit, because I’m able to ride through rougher with a bit more confidence. The handling didn’t really change, it’s just not as harsh. I’m now able to keep up with friends riding geared bikes on twisty parts of local single track, whereas with the rigid fork some choppy descents were a bit hard to deal with. There is a little bit of squish when standing up and climbing (the rigid fork was great about this), but I think it’s worth it to go with the suspension fork. I will keep the rigid one around and probably even switch to it occasionally, but for now I’m prefering suspension.
Sorry, but while I read MTBR it wasn’t me responding, I don’t really post much there. That said, I’d highly recommend looking at one of these if you’re wanting a steel 29er. I’m really liking riding it, enough that it almost makes me want a geared version. For what it’s worth, a friend of mine switched from a Motolite to a Pivot Mach 429 last year and it’s worked out extremely well for him. He uses it for all manner of racing, including endurance stuff like Lumberjack 100.
Cool. Thanks c0nsumer. Its weird because I thought I would have gotten an email notification when you replied, but I never did, just happened to check your page here again just now.
Thanks for the reply. I am almost as tall as you and will definitely be pursuing a medium as well. I wish I could test ride one first of course, but that is difficult unless you know someone nearby who rides one. Whats the longest ride you have done on yours and does it seem like the geometry is comfortable to be riding on it all day? Mine will likely be geared with it going ss in the winter/mud months to decrease the maintenance and money spent on replacing drivetrain parts.
forgivenick: Hmm. I’m not sure why… I don’t really have any special commenting stuff set up on WP, so maybe it’s got no way to do so?
I figure a medium should be fine for someone about my height. Is there somewhere around you which might have one, or at least a bike with a similar top tube? If you were near by I’d let you try mine out, but I suspect that you’re a little too far. This is something I could see myself riding all day, but I’d have to put a different saddle on it for that. (The WTB Laser V is great for shorter rides, but anything 2hr+ is a bit much on it for me.) The longest ride that I’ve done thus far on it is right around two hours, and that was limited by time and my frustration at not having gears on it. Here in SE Michigan we’ve got loads of great single track, but some of the best routes involve connecting it all with dirt or residential roads. Single speed on flat roads gets to be a bit tedious.