2010 Salsa Ala Carte gravel conversion 2

This is a Salsa Ala Carte I built for one of my best friends as a surprise gift. I really like how it turned out, but I am really nervous about its fit, as it is still with me for the moment.

The Ala Carte is a 26” MTB, but it is very popular for gravel conversions, so I gave it a shot. I got it as a whole bike in very poor condition, spray painted pink, but I know some skilled people who managed to get that off and unveil the beautiful original color scheme. I love patina and I also adore rat rods. Obviously, all the parts are either new, almost new or as good as new, with custom wheels and all.

Funny thing is that the bike was bought from a guy who is a cop and the dude had some really really strange and erratic behaviour. There were more people who wanted the bike, it seems I was the only one not to underbid him, so he talked to me. He would call me in the middle of the night with video, just to show me things on the bike and rave how I was ”a serious guy”. I would say ”it's okay, just send the bike, as I've seen what is to be seen and a video can't help”, he'd do the same again two more times. He made me send him money in advance for the shipping and still managed to ship it to a centre, not at my home. Because of that, I had to drive to pick up the bike and I was so furious at his idiocy, that I wasn't paying attention when I closed the trunk and I slammed the lid on my right thumb. Two days later, I had to teach myself how to drill small holes in my nail, to relieve blood pressure = fun times! Man, I suffered for this bike; physically and mentally! )))

I have never ever built a gravel bike before this, nor have I ridden one!