THE SALSA FARGO
The Salsa Fargo wasn’t the first drop bar 29er mountain bike, but it's arguably one of the most influential bikes that defined the category.
For nearly two decades, the Fargo has been tested in just about every situation a rider could throw at it.
From fully loaded, week(+) long adventures, to unloaded days on mixed terrain, the Fargo has been praised for it's consistent and predictable handling (both loaded and unloaded), generous tire clearance, and exceptionally comfortable ride feel.
The modern Fargo features a suspension corrected fork, Boost spacing front and rear, and clearance for BIIIIIG tires.
Contemporary Fargo's also use what Salsa calls their 'Alternator 1.0 dropouts', which brings adjustable wheelbase lengths, and even more versatility to an already adaptable platform.
With the dropouts positioned forward, the rear end becomes shorter, making the bike more nimble and quick.
When you slide the dropouts back, the bike feels more stable.
The Alternator system also opens the door to different drivetrain configurations.
In addition to geared setups, the Fargo can run as a single speed, with a belt drive, or configured around a Rohloff hub.
Nearly 20 years after its inception, the Fargo continues to adapt and remain relevant in an industry that is constantly striving for innovation.
It's popularity grows as rider satisfaction is proven time and time again.
Even with the introduction of it's carbon cousin, the Salsa cutthroat, another bike inspired by the Great Divide Mountain Bike route, like a faithful friend, the Fargo sticks around.
Knowing how many of our customers are gravel riders, bikepackers, and long distance adventurers, having Fargo's on our floor has always felt kind of mandatory.
For that reason, in 2026, we brought in the Fargo 1x12 GRX 610 in Brass.
As the season winds down and only a few remain in stock, we sat down with longtime Fargo owner and Vancouver cycling community pro, Tyrone Siglos, to talk about his journey to the bike, endurance riding, and what's possible on a Salsa Fargo.
Salsa Fargo GRX 610 in Brass, on sale $3000.00 CAD down from $4749.00 MSRP
INTRODUCING TYRONE
Tyrone has been part of the Vancouver cycling community for years, wearing plenty of different hats along the way.
A former bike courier, he now works with Hub Cycling as an event and volunteer coordinator.
He is also the creator and organizer of a very popular bike scavenger hunt called 'Riley's Rips'.
The event encourages individuals to get out on their bikes and to explore the community around them.
Around the time of the pandemic, Tyrone bought his Fargo secondhand from a friend after setting his sights on the BC Epic.
The 1,000 kilometer route winds through BC’s interior, from Merritt to Fernie.
Best known as an ultra distance race, the Epic can be completed in as little as two days, though many riders choose to tour the route at their own pace.
Before setting out on that adventure, Tyrone first put his Fargo to use doing food deliveries for UberEats.
He outfitted his rig with a rear rack and a pair of large panniers to haul meals to the mouths of hungry customers.
The extra traction of his Fargo's wide tires proved especially useful for Vancouver’s unpredictable weather, in Winter months, riding through heavy rain and the occasional dump of west coast snow.
After his Fargo had sufficiently proved itself as a practical courier bike and a trusty companion, it was time for the journey that inspired it's purchase...
THE BC EPIC
The BC Epic was Tyrone's first bikepacking trip.
For those of us who got our start with a gentle overnighter, rolling up to a grand depart as a first time bikepacker is a brave decision.
Adding to the level of difficulty, Tyrone decided to yo-yo the route...meaning not only did he complete it, but he turned around at the other end and rode it all the way back home.
Did we mention he did it single speed?!
Being his first bikepacking trip, Tyrone remarked that he wasn't yet comfortable with technical and chunky terrain, but having a reliable rig like the Fargo was the ticket to inspiring confidence.
The tires he ran were 2.8's, perfect for the rail grade washboard trails, enormous puddles and most memorable, four and a half feet of snow that appeared through the Grey Creek Pass section.
The Fargo’s geometry was another big advantage on a ride of that length.
Its relaxed, upright design prioritizes comfort over an aggressive position of a road or gravel race bike.
This makes long days in the saddle easier.
As Tyrone points out, any aerodynamic advantage lost by sitting upright is often made up for by being comfortable enough to keep riding.
“You could certainly make it more aerodynamic if outright speed were the goal, but that's not really what the Fargo is designed to do. It's designed to ride mountain bike terrain, carry your gear, and keep you comfortable while doing it for a very, very long time.”
On a long enough ride, comfort is performance.
That mindset may have helped Tyrone set the year’s FKT (Fastest Known Time) on the route as a single-speed rider, completing it out and back.
Not bad for a first timer...
ADVENTURING FURTHER
Tyrone continues to pursue long distance riding, balancing his passion for adventure with his work at Hub Cycling and within the community.
He has become particularly fond of riding his Fargo through The Fraser Valley.
While recounting one of his favorite solo rides to Bridal Falls, Tyrone shares that the valley has no shortage of camping, decommissioned FSR's and plenty of singletrack that is perfect for him and his Fargo to explore.
The more Tyrone rides, the more his Fargo becomes his own.
Covered in stickers, accessories, and personal touches, the bike reflects his adventures along the way.
One detail stands out, a handwritten message on the top tube that reads “you love this”, a simple and gentle reminder for when the trail gets tough.
Component wise, Tyrone says little has changed about the bike since its purchase, with most of the upgrades focused on his bikepacking setup.
One meaningful change however, was swapping the stock cranks for 155mm Appleman cranks, which he finds considerably more comfortable for long days of spinning.
His only other major mechanical change is switching back and forth from a geared drivetrain to single speed, a setup he plans to return to when he takes on the Epic again in pursuit of that FKT.
When we asked Tyrone whether he would buy a Fargo again, there wasn't any hesitation.
“Oh hell yeah! The Fargo has kind of ruined me. It would be so hard to replace it.”
The only bike that might tempt him away from his current steed?
A titanium Fargo.
Literally the same bike, just in a lighter, albeit, more expensive, material.
Otherwise, he doesn't see much reason to look elsewhere.
The comfortable, sturdy and adaptable platform of the Salsa Fargo has allowed Tyrone to do everything from daily transportation, courier work to major bikepacking trips and long distance gravel adventures.
Perhaps that's the greatest, and most noteworthy mention about this bike, it does not have one defining purpose.
IN CONCLUSION
A couple of years after the journey that turned the tides of fate and brought a little Fargo into his life, Tyrone is ready to take on the BC Epic again.
His first out and back ride earned him an FKT, a record another rider has since claimed.
When discussing it, Tyrone humbly and playfully laughs, “now that I know I had it, I want it back.”
There's no doubt that his Fargo will be along for the ride.
“Once you get a Fargo", he says, "all you have to ask yourself is, where can I go with my bike?”
Thank you for your time, Tyrone.
We wish you the best of luck chasing that FKT back!
MORE INFO ON THE SALSA FARGO
Where to buy: Salsa Fargo GRX 610 in Brass
Manufacture Website: Salsa Cycles