1984 Salsa Custom #39
Although the name Salsa is primarily associated with mountain bikes, Salsa number 39 is a one-of-a-kind road bike made by Ross Shafer for his wife at the time, and harkens back to his pre-mountain bike days building under the Red Bush label. This bike was a complement to the owner's number 18 Salsa mountain bike from a year prior. This bike is part artistic expression, part display of craftsmanship, and part resourcefulness of available materials. The frame features a Ishiwata aero tube set with unique teardrop profiles for the head tube, seat tube, seat stays, and fork blades. The mitering and joining of the tubing creates unusual shore lines for the brass fillets which were painstakingly finished. The fork features an offset crown which resembles something designed for Batman. Component-wise, the bike is built with an eclectic mix of mostly Japanese components. For a road bike, the most unique aspect is the brakes, with a modified delta tucked under the chain stays and a pair of small cantilevers on the fork. Since this bike was made shortly before the first Salsa roller stems, the front brake cable routes directly through the stem extension. The braze-on front derailleur mount is designed for aero tubing and integrates a cable guide for lateral pull. As quirky as the bike might appear, it admirably served as the original owner's primary road bike for more than 30 years, intriguing many who crossed its path.
More information about Salsas can be found on the Salsa Photo Archive page.
More information about Salsas can be found on the Salsa Photo Archive page.
The Build
Year: 1984
S/N: SR039 Frame: Salsa Custom Road Fork: Salsa Aero Road Stem: Salsa Direct Mount Headset: Specialized Sealed Bearing Bottom Bracket: Shimano Sealed Bearing Handlebar: Cinelli Giro D'Italia Shifters: Simplex SLJ Front Derailleur: Shimano Dura Ace AX 7320 Rear Derailleur: Mavic 801 Brake Levers: Suntour Cyclone Front Brake: Shimano 600 EX 6102 Rear Brake: Weinmann AG Delta Crankset: Specialized Racing Chainrings: Campagnolo SR/NR 42-52 Pedals: Suntour Superbe w/ Cinelli Alloy Clips Hubs: Specialized Cartridge Bearing Rims: Matrix Iso-C Aero Tires: Continental Super Sport 23c Wheel QR: Specialized Seatpost: Dura Ace AX 7322 Saddle: Cinelli Unicanitor Bar Tape: Deda Cork Chain: Regina Hollow Pin Cogs: Suntour Winner Pro Freewheel Bottle Cage: Specialized |
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