Salsa Cycles Podio

Price Paid:  $830.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Anything with Hills

Bike Setup:
Campy Chorus, EC90 Fork, Chris King headset, Bontrager Carbon Seatpost and Mavic Carbones right now. I am going to buy lighter wheels this month so climbing should be a great strength of this bike.

Summary:
I bought this frame on the recommendation of a friend and have bee impressed. The Alpha Q fork was very flexy in the steer tube (scary flexy) so I got an EC90 to replace it. Thye should have spec'd it with this fork. My third ride was a century and it was amazingly complian for a mostly AL bike. It climbs well and just feels right underneath me.

I get plenty of "cool bike" comments. Should also be a great RAGBRAI bike.

Strengths:
Light, strong, attractive, compliant for long rides. Fast enough for a group ride. Sloping TT and short wheelbase give it quick handling (which I prefer).

Weaknesses:
Alpha Q fork had to go.

Similar Products Used:
Custom made Steel Road Bike (Perna)
Tommasini El Dorado
Litespeed Tuscany
Cannondale Crit Bike

Price Paid:  $830.00 at Universal Cycles

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Salsa Podio

Bike Setup:
Probably the best set up ever: Dura Ace 7800 group, Chris King headset, Ksyrium SL with Salsa Ti Skewers, Thomson SP, Deda Zero stem, Deda Newton bars, Mich Pro Race 3 tires, Speedplay pedals

Summary:
Just got the Podio (2009 frame by the way). Crotch Rocket. The bike kicks like it is demanding you to go faster than you are. I have a Dura 7800 on it so it's dressed up nice. I am very happy. I knew it would be good. My Chili con Crosso is an amazing cyclocross bike, that's what made me check out Salsa for a road frame.

Strengths:
Snappy but comfortable. Super light and easy to keep a line. Well designed. Value and value. I can't believe a frame of this caliber only cost me 830. Better feel than a steel custom I had.

Weaknesses:
Not enough press. I gambled on this and won. People need to know how good this frame is. Also, exclusive dealings made me go mail-order instead of going through my local shop that I wanted to go through and support. Salsa needs to change that. The fork requires some gluing or something like that. Great fork but weird installation.

Similar Products Used:
I had a custom locally made steel frame (I don't want to say the company) and it was great. I also was riding my old Trek 5000. The Podio has reinvigorated my love of the road.

Price Paid:  $850.00 at Passion Trail Bikes

Favorite Ride:
Milk Run

Bike Setup:
2009 Podio
Sram Red Gruppo
Spinergy Stealth PBO Carbon
FSA K-Force

Summary:
An extraordinarily precise and compliant road racer. Light weight and extremely stiff out of the saddle. It accelerates with a pronounced snap. I built this ride as a stop gap solution to an S-Works or System Six ride. After the initial ride and several mid-range rides (65 miles) I am sold. Way to go Salsa! This bike incorporates all of the benefits of a high end carbon ride with the compliance of the very best steel or ti frames. 5 stars!

Strengths:
Light weight. Stiff. Amazing ride quality.

Weaknesses:
Clear coat.

Similar Products Used:
Marin San Marino
Specialized Tarmac S-Works
Specialized Roubaix S-Works
Cannondale System Six