Bikeradar - The world is for riding

We've been really enjoying this Limited Edition incarnation of Salsa's El Mariachi. The standard model (£600) comes with Salsa's Moto Grande straight blade steel fork but in 'Tomatilla Green' or 'Superior Blue' rather than the LE's rather fetching 'Fiesta' overcoat. This LE version (only 100 have been made) is single gear specific and comes with a nice painted and steel '25th Anniversary' Salsa stem. The standard model is more adaptable than the LE version; choose between multiple gears or one gear. Frame weight is just under the 5lb mark for the 'Small'.

We like what Salsa have done with the geometry here. Rather than mimic typical 26in wheeled frame angles, they've steepened things up a bit, making the best of the inherent extra stability of 29ers and keeping both the high and low speed handling lively in technical singletrack.

It's a beautiful bike to ride, in a purist back-to-basics sense, incorporating the zest of the best steel framesets with the added confidence and easy rolling bump taming character of bigger diameter wheels and tyres. The frame tubes are True Temper OX Platinum steel and inevitably a complete build is at its best with lightweight wheels, fat treads and top qualityfinishing components.

We specced our frame with Novatec's new Tram 700 wheels, Bontrager Jones XR 2.2in treads, On One's Fleegle handlebar, FSA Afterburner cranks, Diatech's hydraulic discs, an Easton alu seatpost and Fizik's Nisene saddle.

Check Salsa's geometry charts before you buy as even the 'Small' frames have long top tubes (22.7in). The steep head angle and more than average fork rake makes for superb handling and it mimics the steering responses of an average 80mm travel suspension fork.

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