The reason I found this website is I was continuing to review the Salsa Casseroll and have been reading everything about it. It’s the perfect solution for me. Your post came up in a Google search. I was at a local bike shop last night test driving one when I discovered the 2010 and soon 2011 models are using lower grade components. The ride further solidified my choice in bike and if I could find a used 2009, I’d probably buy it. But your post has made me realize that the best solution for me is to build it myself.

I have ordered a quality maintenance and repair book. Since purchasing a 2011 frame would basically be like having the “same” frame as the one shown above in your masterpiece, is it asking to much for you to post your detailed parts list? It would be a huge help as I could then work from a baseline to accommodate any changes in framing size and for my own custom preferences. I know it’s a lot (and was a long time ago — you may not have this information anymore) but I promise to post my list someday when I finish.

I think you can pretty much always find the specifications of a new frame on the internet nowadays. The Salsa website has got all information on tube angles, steer tube and seat post and bottom bracket diameters, fender clearance, etc. All you need to know is there.

Finding the parts that match is not all that difficult, it just requires a lot of time to check the specs in details on the internet for the parts that you want to buy. Also, it’s usually no problem for major parts like cranks, brake levers, etc., but some of the smaller parts are less obvious when you do it for the first time. I had to scratch my head for a while to figure out exactly which cables I needed (they’re different for braking and shifting) as well as which ferrules I needed.
This is a very time-consuming task, and you really have to see it as a project and be motivated to spend the time and do it right. Forums like bike-forums.net also have a lot of information.

I found the whole experience of researching, buying parts and building the bike particularly rewarding personally.

I hope this helps.

One thing that would be incredibly valuable to me before attempting to replicate your work is knowing how you chose the parts to use? I think many of us could order a bike frame and use your documentation, experience, and suggestions above and give this a good attempt (and always take it to a bike shop if we got stuck) but knowing which parts to use and knowing the appropriate ones that match a particular frame would be much more of a challenge. I am a novice and I’m wondering where you got your information in determining the allowable set of parts. Any help you can provide may just be the motivating factor I need to do it myself. Does the frame come with compatible part sepcs? It’s always so much more enjoyed and appreciated when you do it yourself… and this post has given me inspiration.

Thanks in advance.