Salsa rustler4/20/2023 Finally, the Pony Rustler is really fun on those fast, flowy trails we all know and love. It feels more in control and leads to more confidence and faster sprints through the trail chatter. This makes the Pony Rustler feel more in control than a narrow-tired bike with similar travel. When you are motoring through a rock garden the bike’s suspension doesn’t get distracted by the smaller noise, leaving more in reserve to handle bigger hits. Unlike narrow, higher-pressure tires that rely more on suspension to smooth out the ride, the Pony Rustler’s lower pressure tires more easily deform around objects and limit the amount of shock transmitted to the rider. With the Pony Rustler, I always felt the gains in traction overcame the weight penalty. I commonly ride up hills strewn with rough rocks and slippery roots where getting up and over something not only depends on strength and timing but on the amount of rubber you can keep on the ground. This was quite apparent to me in several different scenarios: craggily climbs, rocks and roots, and fast downhill berms. The Pony Rustler uses the wide 45 mm WTB Scraper tubeless rim and 3 inch WTB Bridger tire to create a large contact patch between the tire and trail surface, increasing the amount of grip you will experience. Joe sees it as not just a good bike for trail riding, but one well-suited to bikepacking as well. I think the Pony Rustler just decided to wear different shoes and jacket to make sure we didn’t mistake one for the other.Īnd where did that name come from? Jokingly, Pete Koski, the product design engineer for the Pony Rustler, told me “It rhymes with Horsethief.” I’m kind of glad Pete designs bikes and doesn’t write poetry (that I know of).Īs for that design, Joe Meiser, product manager at Salsa, explains that the Pony Rustler was crafted to add to the growing trend of short travel bikes that can climb and descend, while providing increased traction through the use of plus-sized tires. In fact the two bikes are so similar, they might be better classified as twins. This time around it’s the Pony Rustler, Salsa’s 27plus rig sired from the esteemed line of the Horsethief. Salsa Cycles is not one to shy away from big tires, so it is only natural to see another one of its bikes with a bit of extra rubber show up at our door for review.
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