Another El Mariachi fanboy 8 years done on mine, about 2 or 3 with gears and the rest as SS. Fargo forks to match, brilliant bike.

Not sure why Salsa stopped making it

voodoo_simon wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 7:27 pm Another El Mariachi fanboy 8 years done on mine, about 2 or 3 with gears and the rest as SS. Fargo forks to match, brilliant bike.

Not sure why Salsa stopped making it

Not sure didn't they have some snap at chainstay? The timberjack just doesn't look as nice
Think it's Alu?

jay91 wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 7:25 pm

GregMay wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 3:37 pm I think my El Mar is now 9 years old - never had gears since I bought it. No reason it ever will. By far my favourite, if not most often ridden, mountain bike.

Always wanted a el mar they still sell for a lot on eBay

Good reason too. Closest thing you’ll get to a Selma.

*sighs*

jay91 wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 7:53 pm

voodoo_simon wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 7:27 pm Another El Mariachi fanboy 8 years done on mine, about 2 or 3 with gears and the rest as SS. Fargo forks to match, brilliant bike.

Not sure why Salsa stopped making it

Not sure didn't they have some snap at chainstay? The timberjack just doesn't look as nice
Think it's Alu?

Mine did, I had it welded and sold it dirt cheap. Think it's still going tho.

Nice to see how many like an El Mar on here. Mine’s about 10 years old and only ever been singlespeed. I’ve had a handful of steel singlespeeds over the years and the El Mar is by far the best.

I like a bike that does it’s job without drama and lets me get on with the ride without having to engage much of my brain (one of the reasons that SS works for me). The El Mar does that brilliantly. It’s pretty neutral and handles whatever I throw it at. I like the dropouts too.
It does need a respray though, any recommendations?

I would say that a Krampus is a bit of a cult singlespeed bike. Whilst I like the Jones and it works very well SS, the Kramp is a hoot SS, particularly with a short stem and Surly Sunrise bars - defo a modern Klunker.

I used to think SSers were overgrown BMXERS.
NOW HOWs about Fixed off road?

I owned two El Mariachis previously (one rigid that ended up singlespeed, and a full bike I got for a very good price). They were sold when I had my Stooge phase, then I went to Jones. My Orbea became top bike, so the Jones went singlespeed but I couldn’t justify leaving it anywhere at all so wanted a cheaper singlespeed built from spares.

I managed that with the Swift I had for a very short period of time, but the ride wasn’t for me, so I saw an El Mar for a great price and I’m back on them. The best part is the colour match with my Warbird. I believe the orange makes it a 2015, which had some subtle geometry changes compared to the 2013 and 2014 I had.

I do wonder if I’d spent more time nailing the setup first time round whether I’d have gone through so many bikes. Salsa sold them with 100mm stems and 700mm bars. Mine has a 45mm stem and 785mm bars.

jay91 wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 7:25 pm Always wanted a el mar they still sell for a lot on eBay

I saw a frame only for £450 today. I’m sure I paid £400 for frame and headset in 2013

i wanted the ss full buld but it was to much money at the time

AlasdairMc wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 11:36 pm

jay91 wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 7:25 pm Always wanted a el mar they still sell for a lot on eBay

I saw a frame only for £450 today. I’m sure I paid £400 for frame and headset in 2013

they seem to hold there money well

ledburner wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 11:30 pm I used to think SSers were overgrown BMXERS.
NOW HOWs about Fixed off road?

There was a chap at SSUK in 2019 running fixed - he had it off to a fine art (pretty rocky trails in places). The nearest I've got to this is a fixed gravel bike, definitely a good laugh as you end up in all sorts of trouble. I've yet to do the 'freewheeling' trick though....

wayne - EDS bikes and this years organier where you will be defending your title I assume.

Followed him for a lap/chatting away as it was hilarious to watch
liked it when he had pedal srikes and lifted the whole bike up as he just kept going

Did not tempt me to try it,

https://bikepacking.com/plog/fixed-gear-colorado-trail/

Hopefully will be doing SSUK this year

I switched from winter single speed mode to gears on my Krampus for some upcoming loaded trips.

It's way more fun to ride single speed.....but it is relatively flat around here.

I sold my SS El Mar on here a couple of years ago. That was a cracking bike

Save the kittens!

Blatantly ripped off from the interweb

I've been back on Singlespeed for about 3 weeks I think. Things I have re-learned so far,

- its hard work, I am on 34/22 as my current frame limits me to a 34t front ring (not smaller when SS) and on the edge of the peak district, its reet hilly.
- I recall how rewarding it is when it goes right and you manage to keep momentum.
- shorter rides feel like longer rides, so presumably I will get stronger

Postie is due to drop me off a frame with a little more range in the chainring choice, current intention is 30/20 or 30/19. Probably the former whilst I get more used to it.

Yes the winter transition to the SS is always a tad harsh but I do bloody love mine.

Lazarus wrote: ↑Mon Dec 06, 2021 3:05 pm Yes the winter transition to the SS is always a tad harsh but I do bloody love mine.

I'm really enjoying it, its hard but good

If wishes were being granted, no chance would I be wasting them on the ability to ride single speed

If you can ride a bike you can ride SS but , like gears , the question is what ratio and how far