The Bike and Gear(sssssss)

I know some people gotta be interested in the set up especially all you closeted and not so closeted tech weenies and gear-o-philes . . . so i will do my best but remember 'til recently my stable was filled with poorly maintained rigid single speeds. I bought a Salsa Fargo frame from Chenango Point Cycles (http://www.salsacycles.com/fargoComp09.html) last spring and it spent the summer hanging in the shop while i contemplated my set up and ordered parts. After agonizing contemplation this is what i ended up with:

Headset	Cane Creek S8 because its steel baby!
Handlebar	Nitto Randoneur Bar 46 shallow drop with flair
Stem	Ritchey WCS because i had it
Grips	ask Matt - he wrapped 'em and they feel good
Front Brake	Avid BB7 Mountain, 160mm Rotor, 6-Bolt
Rear Brake	Avid BB7 Mountain, 160mm Rotor, 6-Bolt
Brake Levers	Cane Creek Direct V - the only choice really unless you really like the looks of Tektro . . . yeah right
Crankset	Sugino xd600 46-36-22 five arm 110 bolt diameter - the most common in the world
Bottom Bracket	Square taper UN54
Chain	SRAM 8 speed because it is sturdy and common
Front Hub	Shimano XT, 36H, 6-Bolt, Black
Rear Hub	Shimano XT, 36H, 6-Bolt, Black
Quick Release	Salsa Rasta ti
Cassette	Shimano XT, 8-Speed, 11-34T
Spokes	DT Swiss Competition
Nipples	ooh nipples! i just twisted 'em ask Matt
Rims	Mavic A719 - what else is there?!
Tires	Specialized Armadillo Elite somethings in 32 - won't be my only set of treads!
Front Derailleur	Shimano XT
Rear Derailleur	Shimano XT
Shifters	had bar ends - not so much. . . Dave Harrison brazed on some downtube bosses for me!
Seatpost	Thompson Elite of course
Seatpost Clamp	Salsa Flip-Lock
Saddle	Brooks B17 because that is what everyone uses and a WTB would never last 10,000 miles

So that is the bike i flogged the crap out of to see if i could break it - i didn't! . . . yet but it is 4130 steel and can be welded with a car battery if need be . . . that would suck. Then i started really piling on the gear Jandd racks front and rear - front rack was tricky but after Jim was done pounding on it with a hammer while Elliott supervised (i did not watch) it all works,

Planet Bike Cascadia Fenders, five water bottle mounts, Jim's old frame pump, my compass bell so i don't get lost, and strada computer . . . i believe that is all 34lbs of the beast.

So far so good - the bike is very comfortable and the aches and pains are what one would expect when riding 400 miles/week.

ok, enough geek - to be continued. . .