Dr. Kevin Peterson is associate professor of mathematics and coordinator of Lynchburg College’s 2010-11 Year of Sustainability. He is also a work-a-day cyclist, pedaling 32-miles daily for his commute to and from work. I’ve had the chance to ride with him, and I’ve seen him on the trails around the Hill City.
Not surprisingly, Dr. Peterson possesses a significant amount of facts to make one consider our unsustainable national lifestyles. He shares them because they were what persuaded him to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, which along with commuting by bike, includes using solar power and eating local food.
Read the whole story here.
Review & Photo: Scott Schekman
This is a continuation of my earlier review of the Salsa Mamasita … or perhaps just another step forward in my quest for the ideal single speed (for the way I ride). After I bought a 2009 Salsa Dos Niner frame and built it up as my regular-rider 29er trail bike, I decided to convert the Mama to a one gear bike to see how it would do. After several weeks of riding it, I believe I’d summarize it in two words – RACE BIKE.
"Race Bike!" The Mama drops some gears to show off its true lightness of being.
I borrowed all the components from my Redline Flight rigid SS, and then I installed an 80mm Rock Shox Reba up front.
At one time, Salsa did offer this frame as a dedicated single speed frame and called it the Selma. However, it was discontinued along with the Mamasita. Rumor has it Salsa is bringing back a version of the Mamasita, maybe the Selma will make a reappearance too.
The first ride of this frame built in this configuration was destined to be at the Candlers/Liberty Mountain trail system, my local playground. Candlers has almost everything you could want except large rock gardens.
My very first impression was that I under geared it even though I used the same ratio. It is that responsive to pedal input. When I pedal, it leaps forward. This frame puts the power to the ground and that trait is even more noticeable when it’s set up as a SS. No wasted effort here! I think the only thing that might be better is a full carbon frame.
If this might appeal to your inner racer or you are just desiring a responsive single speed it seems eBay or Craigslist might be your only choice in building up a mean SS race machine from the Salsa Mamasita.
© 2011 Big Mountain Riding
