Salsa Cycles La Cruz

Price Paid:  $0.00

Model Year:
2007

Bike Setup:
53cm frame, King rear hub, XT front hub and rear der. Avid BB7 brakes, Mavic Open Pro wheels. Rest are from my road bike parts bin.

Summary:
I had a bicycle built up based on parts from an older LeMond road bike after I wore out the rare parts on it.
I've been using it as a true cross bicycle - riding a little under 10 miles to and from my trail.

Strengths:
Lots of fun to ride on trails. It's nice to have a road bike with disc brakes.

Weaknesses:
Finish isn't durable. It's been easily abraded by my bike lock and the brake cable housings.
I'm more used to shorter mountain bicycles. It's been a process getting used to riding a taller bike. If you're used to riding riding suspension bikes it will also take some adjustment riding on trails.

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at Cyclepath NW (oregon

Model Year:
2007

Bike Setup:
Stock except for a 11x27 rear cluster, narrower bontrager handlebars, specialized stem, fenders, rack, lights and panniers.

Summary:
Note - bike is actually a 2009

I recommend this bike. It's really a SUV of a bike (SUB?). I use it for commuting and cyclocross racing. It's not a full-on cross racers - it's a bit more relaxed and the disc brakes are not legal in all series. All in all a great compromise for an amateur racer that wants a great commute bike.

Strengths:
Strong and stout
Great Orange color
Brakes are awesome
Good 105 groupo
Strong Wheels (Salsa 29er delgado with XT hubs)
Very stable ride

Weaknesses:
Stock gearing too tall for hilly terrain
bike is somewhat heavy
Disc brakes limits selection of rear racks (can't install a burley moose rack for their piccolo)
Paint is weak. I've worn the gloss of the top tube from shouldering the bike over obstacles and it seems to chip easily.
Also, I had to replace the handlebars, stem and saddle to make it fit me.

Similar Products Used:
GT gtr with Sram Rival
Fuji cross comp

Price Paid:  $580.00 at Bikeman

Model Year:
2007

Bike Setup:
Ultegra 6600, CK head and Hubs, Discs and DT Swiss wheels

Summary:
This is also for the Las Cruces... which seems to have been split up into the Chili Con Crosso and La Cruz. Best of both worlds, race and commuter. It allows several different set ups with disc or canti mounts, light weight. My whole bike is 17lbs and it soaks up a lot of the bumps while remaining stiff. It is easy to shoulder for cross and urban situations.

Strengths:
Light, strong, adaptable. Great geometry.The paint job makes you easy to spot by drivers.

Weaknesses:
no longer available. The La Cruz may be the next best thing.

Similar Products Used:
Fuji Cross Pro, Kona JTS, Soma Double Cross

Price Paid:  $660.00 at Privately

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
PA Provincial Cross Course

Bike Setup:
Salsa Las Cruces
Full Ultegra 9 Speed
Salsa Bell Lap Bars/Cro-Mo Stem/Seatpost
Bontrager Race CX Crank
Crankbrother's Candy C
Random Disc 700c Wheels
Avid BB5 Road Brakes

Summary:
This is a review for the 2007 Las Cruces, the precursor to the La Cruz. The main difference is that the Las Cruces has canti and disc mounts and a Scandium frame. A very race driven bike. The geometry is set up FAST. You think about turning and the bike shoots that way. Definitely great in those tight courses. Cables are routed just right and the bike shoulders well, I have a bigger frame (60 cm) so I can even shoulder well with a water bottle off of the down tube. The bike is also very light for it's size yet still feels really nice and stiff. I built it up with Ultegra 9 and Salsa components and it's a pleasure to ride. Got an amazing deal on it off of eBay.

Strengths:
Light weight
Stiff, race geometry
Easy to shoulder
Makes a pretty good commuter too

Weaknesses:
You NEED a chainguard, my chain took some good hacks out of my chainstay until I got one.

Similar Products Used:
None