Salcano Bikes....Any impressions?

[Klierslc]

Hi Folks,

I am currently in southern Afghanistan and don't have a whole lot of extra time, but there seem to be an abundance of Salcano bikes around. I am an avid cyclist back in the states and ride an old Trek 930 hardtail on the trails and a Lemond Zurich on the road. I don't like running to stay in shape so I was considering picking up one of the Salcano bikes to ride while I am on the FOB--There is a pretty long road around the flightline and some dirt track trails as well--could easily put in 20 road (dirt and paved) miles with a couple miles of "singletrack." The available bikes are rigid frames or hardtails with sunrun components (china) and generic grip shifters. Not really my cup of tea, but it will work for the short term. Frames are welded steel but are suspiciously light--I weigh 235 or so and don't really relish the idea of a frame coming apart under me.

Interweb shows that they make some decent bikes but the Excel appears to be on their lower end. http://www.salcano.com/EN/Urunler.aspx?idurun=944

Anybody have any experience with these?

 

[p nut]

Hi Ten steel and garbage components. May work for what you're doing, but they look like pretty crap-tastic bikes. Hope they don't cost much. Any other choices there?

 

[Klierslc]

I got one put together yesterday--needed some pretty serious tuning and maintenance. It took three partials to make this one--had to retension the rear wheel, true both wheels, repack the bottom bracket, major adjustments to both derailleurs, replace two brake pads, and make a seatpost extension (17 inch frame) The grip shifters will now go into all gears (barely) but it will get the job done. First ride will be this evening after I put the second toe cage on.

Very unimpressed with the components so far but at least I now have something to ride. No cost out of pocket at this point, just been a project in the evenings.

 

[Klierslc]

Took the first ride yesterday--the frame is pretty comfortable for a rigid and the terrain I was on didn't lend itself to a lot of shifting so I was pretty satisfied. If I got into some steeper country I would feel the components a little more I think. I put in 10 miles or so with no issues except that even with the seat post extension, the frame is too small-- 6'5" on a 16 inch frame.