Salsa Cycles Campeon Dura Ace

Price Paid:  $975.00 at Revolution Cycles Co

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Fast Group Ride

Bike Setup:
Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels, Rival crank 50/34. Force cassette 12-25. 105 shifters. FSA carbon seat post. Specialized Toupe saddle. Speeplay zero pedals.

Summary:
Purchased this bike to replace my Jamis Elite. This bike flat out flies. I parted my shimano 105 components from the Jamis, but have put an Ultegra front derail. and a Sram force cassette on a set of Fulcrum Racing 7's. Right now it weighs 19lbs, but getting down to 16lbs won't be a problem.

Strengths:
Stiff frame. I think one of the best attributes is the way you can quickly power over short climbs. When you step on the gas you can feel the frame try to surge away from you, but is no way unstable. Descending is nothing but comfortable and nothing is unpredictable. I love the graphics on the frame as well!

Weaknesses:
None that I've found. Even the fork has a carbon steerer.

Similar Products Used:
Jamis Elite, Look 595.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at online

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Pescadero by way of OLH

Bike Setup:
Full Dura Ace
Swamped out the gigantic Salsa bars for Ritchey Bio Max Pro
Verdestein tires on this bike rock.
Go between the Kysrium Equipe wheels and Ritchey WCS pros.

Summary:
you know that scene in Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts instructs Richard Gere to tell his friends that his Maserati corners like it's on rails? Replace the Maserati for a Salsa, and you've got the same scene. Corners like it's on rails. The first time I rode this bike up a hill, I went so fast, I didn't know what to do with myself. In fact, the handling, acceleration abilities and climbing-like-a-monkey features of my Salsa are so amazing, that I'm straight up selling my Speacialized Roubaix that I bought as a backup training bike because it just wasn't as fun to ride as my Salsa. It spoiled me. The only downside-- the scandium is stiff (read: responsive) but it gets kind of annoying after 4 hours in the saddle to feel every bump in the road. but when we're talking about a fast, 18lb steed, I can deal. Oh, and the Ksyrium wheelset was a great finishing touch for the price.

Why doesn't Salsa market their full bikes more?!

Strengths:
handling: descends and corners like nobody's business. climbing: vrrrrm! responsive: i go off like a rocket (and I'm not even really that fast of a rider.)

Weaknesses:
a bit too stiff for long rides (however, a guy I ran into at a race with the same bike said it's the most comfortable one he's ever owned-- go figure).
The Salsa seat post contraption is a bit too much for me to figure out.
I bought a small bike... and it came with 44cm handlebars (wtf?).
It didn't come with Salsa skewers, which would have made sense and completed the package nicely.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Roubaix.
Giant OCR 3

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