1996 Salsa Town Bike Prototype

1996 Salsa Town bike Prototype

This bike was made for the 1996 Interbike show by Ross and the gang at Salsa. The idea was to make a commuter ready bike with lights, racks, kickstand and fenders which could be sold for well under $1,000. This one-off was built at the Salsa shop but the production bikes, if made, would have been made in Taiwan. The bike "had lots or interest and positive vibe backslaps, but not one dealer willing to commit" according to Ross. This was a similar response that Salsa got with the 24" wheeled bikes in 1994 which never sold, so Ross was hesitant to take out a loan to make it happen. In 2003, Joe Breeze came out with a line of bikes with very similar attributes and continues to sell them today. Maybe Salsa was a little too far ahead of the curve?

Click on thumbnails below for larger images:

Frame		Columbus Cro-Moly

Fork		Ritchey Cro-Moly

Rear Shock		NA

Rims		WTB Power Beam

Hubs		Shimano Nexus 7 rear, Shimano alloy front

Spokes		DT Stainless Steel

Tires		Continental Avenue

Pedals		SR Low Fat

Crank		Ritchey Logic with pant guard

Chain		Sachs

Rear Cogs		Shimano 16 tooth cog

Bottom Bracket		Campagnolo sealed cartridge

Front Derailleur		NA

Rear Derailleur		NA

Shifters		Shimano Nexus 7 Twist Type

Handlebars		SR Alloy high-rise

Stem		Salsa

Headset		Chris King

Brake set		Shimano Nexus Roller Cam rear, MAFAC canti front

Brake levers		Shimano Nexus

Saddle		Selle Italia Turbo

Seat Post		Control Tech

Colors		Dark metallic blue / clear fade

Size		18"

Serial #		SM2083