Update: Salsa El Mariachi Ti build

I finally got my Salsa El Mariachi Ti built up pretty much exactly as I want it. I'm so stoked with how this thing came out. It's my dream hardtail and I'm sort of sad there is so much snow on the ground right now, cause I want to take this thing for a real trail ride. This bike is going to be my do it all single track shredder. Allow me to walk you through my build!

Let's start with the cockpit!

Thomson everything! What else is there

I decided on a Thomson carbon riser bar mated to a Thomson X4 100mm 90 deg. stem with a red anodized dress up kit for the bling factor. I just love the finish on Thomson stuff. It's lightweight, stiff, strong, classic stuff.

On those bars I hooked up some SRAM foam contour lock-ons and Avid XX brakes with matchmaker clamp for the X7 shifter (yes, that's correct, shifter, singular, when there is one there at all.). I plan to upgrade to an X9 shifter at some point for the better shifting feel. This bike will be run single speed often, so the geared drivetrain was selected to be merely reliable, functional, and cost effective, rather than light weight and blingy. 11 speed was out off the question because the freehub body would make SS conversion more difficult.

The cockpit was securely attached to a Salsa Cro-Moto Grande fork with a tapered steerer tube with a 15mm thru axle, secured by a Cane Creek 40 series headset, I would like to upgrade to a Chris King headset when I wear this one out. The other bit highlighted in this picture I'm particularly proud of.

My first wheel build, pre-tensioning.

I built my first set of wheels ever for this build. Short of welding up the frame myself, I did everything from scratch on this build, and stay tuned, because that's the next step. The wheels are white 32 hole Stan's NoTubes ZTR Crest rims, laced 3 cross to red Hope Pro II Evo Hubs with DT Swiss Revolution spokes using brass nipples. I finished them off with yellow tape and stan's valves.

I mounted up a Continental X-King 2.2 ProTection front and Continental Race King 2.2 ProTection rear, set up tubeless, of course.

I stuck with a Thomson Elite Setback for my seatpost and secured it with this Salsa Lip-Lock seatpost collar. The red anodizing is a little off from the rest of the red parts on the bike, I'd be lying if I said it didn't bug me a little sometimes. Not pictured is the Fizik Tundra saddle with K:ium rails.

Down below, a Truvativ Stylo 1.1 crankset with 175mm arms hooked up to a RaceFace N-W XX1 style chainring and Shimano XT race pedals spins a SRAM PC-1091R chain.

Out back, the chain transmits power from the cranks to the wheels via a Shimano XT 11-36 Cassette, and shifting duties are accomplished via a SRAM X9 Type 2 short cage rear derailleur when the bick is in geared mode. In SS mode, the derailleur, shifter, cables and housing come off in one piece thanks to the full length housing and the cassette is replaced with a spacer kit and 19 tooth surly cog. White bottle cages complement the white rims.

The rear wheel is secured to the frame with a Pedro's Tulio skewer. I will never forget my multitool again. Also pictured are the fabulous alternator drop outs that allow for proper chain tensioning in SS mode and the highly manipulated chainstays that contribute to the awesome ride quality this thing has.

23.5 pounds as equipped.


I can't WAIT for spring!