[Closed] The Recreation of My Salsa (It's a road bike...don't be scared!)

Nice classic lines, like it

Probably not the lightest bike on the block, but I bet it's bloomin smooth. Only reason I'm restoring my old Gios is to hang new stuff on it so I get modern braking/shifting with 'old skool' comfort. Is that Ultegra?

Very, very nice. How Old is it?

Thanks y'all.

The frame is five or six years old now (can't remember exactly) but I do recall that it was either the penultimate or the final year that Salsa made the La Raza from Reynolds 853 steel.

Regarding the kit...it's actually a full Dura Ace 7800 build (from Merlin) with the exception of the hubs which are 7900 series. Speaking of the hubs they've been built onto Mavic Open Pro rims with DT plain gauge spokes (by Velo Ecosse, Edinburgh) and I have to say that they're the nicest wheels I've ever ridden on.

The headset is a Chris King unit (fitted by Alpine Bikes, Edinburgh) which I confess was chosen mostly for bike tart value. Alpine Bikes are also worth a mention because not only did they fit the headset for free, but they did it on a next-day basis too. They also gave me lots of advice on freeing the stuck seat pin in that frame using Coca-Cola. As you can see, their advice worked. I'm well impressed with them.

Very nice. 😀

But a photo fail - get it in the big ring..!

Very nice.

Do tell me more about freeing stuck seat pins with coca-cola!

Why would I put it in the big ring? That's just for show, surely?! ;o)

Anyway, Mr Blond...freeing stuck seat pins with Coca-Cola:

The 'sciencey bit' is that Coke is so massively corrosive that it eats away the corrosion causing a seat post to stick inside the frame. Therefore to achieve the soaking in Coke that seized components require, you strip the frame, turn it upside down and pour Coke down the hole in the bottom bracket which leads to the seat tube. Take note of where coke then gushes out of elsewhere in the frame, and using whatever imaginative means are at your disposal, block them up. You should then be able to fill the frame with Coca-Cola. Leave the frame for around 48 hours, periodically re-filling the frame with Coke to ensure that the level of Coke inside the frame is sufficient to exceed the length of your seat pin.

After 48 hours, remove Coke from frame (messy) and attempt to free seat pin with the usual methods...a vice being particularly handy at this point.

At least, that's how I did it anyway!

NB: I wish to make plain that I no way endorse or support The Coca Cola Company or it's products.

NB: I wish to make plain that I no way endorse or support The Coca Cola Company or it's products.

Other cola based drinks are available.

matthewjb - Member

Other cola based drinks are available.

aye but their rubbish.
Drinking flat Coca Cola (no replica's allowed) is a great way to settle an upset tummy.

Not using cola leads to this 😳
[img] [/img]

Out of idle curiosity why plain guage spokes?

Plain gauge spokes because I'm heftier than most...

Lovely frame.

Leave the frame for around 48 hours, periodically re-filling the frame with Coke to ensure that the level of Coke inside the frame is sufficient to exceed the length of your seat pin.

Ta, I'll try that 😉

I never tried Coke, that seatpost had been stuck in my frame for twenty years.

Plain gauge spokes because I'm heftier than most...

So your contention is that plain gauge spokes build stronger wheels? What makes you think that?

I snap butted spokes more than I snap plain gauge spokes... I suspect plain guage spokes flex less that butted spokes but I'm happy to be proven wrong on that...

Mmm 853 roadbike...

Oh and cynic-al...what's capillary action?

Please disregard anything further I have to say tonight. I just drank a mis-pronounced mojito (no wonder the barman gave me a filthy look) having eaten very little today. Yes, eating IS cheating...so I'm a lightweight...and now I have to impress the prettiest girl I know...

I think it looks lovely. Only things I can point out is that it might look better with nicer bottle cages, and maybe blue (to match the frame) bar tape?

I see what you're getting at RealMan...I think seeing it in the flesh might answer those points. The bottle cages are currently very shiny and set off thE groupset and headset rather well. I did consider carbon ones but decided that they just wouldn't look right. As for the bar tape...experience teaches that black is the most appropriate colour for bar tape...besides it matches the saddle!

RM - where a fluid is drawn into a narrow tube (in this case against gravity) by surface tension (or something):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capillary_action

Oh, I see. Then in this case it's not capillary action...cos the frame is upside down and filled with Coca-Cola the whole thing just sits and soaks.

zaskar - Member

Mmm 853 roadbike...

Exactly my thoughts 8)

Now a massive road riding fan but would love a go on something like that - Lovely retro look to it 8)

vewry interested in cola story. does it work? anyone else tried it? i have a stuck seatpost in a mint frame and its upsetting me.

I have heard of it before and it makes sense but I've not tried it.

Hi, I have a field with a gap in the fence in the corner which requires a fancy blue gate, where did you get yours from?

Only things I can point out is that it might look better with nicer bottle cages

Elite bottle cages are, quite simply, the only ones worth having. Light weight, strong and actually hold bottles (unlike poncy carbon jobs).

Well...the Coke trick worked for me TrackNicko...I don't know that I can say any more than that!

vewry interested in cola story. does it work? anyone else tried it? i have a stuck seatpost in a mint frame and its upsetting me.

If your frame is mint then don't mix it with coke
[img] [/img]

I'll get my coat....

waheeeeyyyy. well i guess i have nothing to lose so ill give it a go!

cheers all!