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My New Trek Farley – By Will Ross

(Editor’s Note) – The following is from our old friend Will Ross! Will recently made a career move to the Trek Store of Anchorage and that means that he’s riding a new bike! We asked Will if he could write a story about his new whip and the rather fantastic results are below.

I have two setups for this bike. My endurance setup for races like the Susitna 100 next month and my short distance set up for the inaugural Tour of Anchorage fat bike race and the 45NRTH Fat Bike Birkie.

My new bike is the Trek Farley C with SRAM XX1 Eagle, Bontrager Kovee XXX Carbon cockpit, a Prototype SRAM XX1 Quarq Fat Bike Power Meter, and my choice of either 26″ or 27.5″ wheels with multiple 45NRTH Tire options for each. The Farley C features Trek’s Stranglehold Dropouts which allow for 15mm of chainstay length adjustability for different tire sizes or snow conditions. For the softer days or endurance races, I’ll go for the long setup to provide a little extra traction and stability, and for shorter races with more accelerating and cornering, I’ll go for the shorter chainstay length for that extra responsiveness.

For my short distance race setup, I will most likely be using the 26″ HED Big Deal Carbon Rims with either 45NRTH Dillinger 4 or Van Helga tires depending on conditions, but I also have those same tire options for my Bontrager Wampa Carbon 27.5″ rims. I’ll go for the 26″ on a hillier course or a course with more cornering and accelerating, and I’ll go for the 27.5″ rims on a flatter course where speed is of greater concern. Set up like this, the bike weighs 24 lb. with the 26″ wheels and 25 lb. with the 27.5″.

The endurance setup gets all decked out in bags from our local Anchorage bike packing company Revelate Designs! I’ll be using their new ultralight Pronghorn handlebar bag for carrying the -20F sleeping bag, and their new Vole dropper seat post compatible seat bag for all of my emergency layers. Then I’ll use their proven Ranger Frame bag and Mag-Tank top tube bag for all the go-to essentials. My go-to tire for the endurance setup is the 45NRTH Husker Du 4.8 since it’s lightweight, has tons of float, and low rolling resistance.

Overall, I have been really pleased with the versatility, ride quality, and handling of the Trek Farley. The slack head tube angle with the 51mm offset fork keeps the bike stable on steep descents yet nimble in the tight turns and the ability to change the chainstay length depending on tire choice or snow conditions is an absolute game changer! I’m super excited to let er rip against some world class competition.

Full Specs Below

Frameset – Trek Farley C OCLV 17.5″ w/12x197mm rear and 15x150mm front
Wheelsets – Condition-dependent
26″ HED Big Deal Carbon Rims w/DT Swiss Big Ride Hubs or 27.5″ Bontrager Wampa Carbon Rims w/DT Swiss Big Ride Hubs
Tires – 45NRTH Options – Condition-Dependent but I love having options!
26″ – 45NRTH Dillinger 4, Van Helga, Husker Du 4.8, or Flowbeist/Dunderbeist
27.5″ – 45NRTH Dillinger 4 or Van Helga
Drivetrain – SRAM XX1 Eagle – It gives me all the gear range I’ll ever need and it shifts well even in the extreme cold.

Power Meter – Prototype SRAM XX1 Quarq Power Meter – As a pro triathlete when it’s not fat bike season, I love having power meters and tangible numbers for training, so this is perfect! It also is surprisingly accurate in sub-zero temps!

Cockpit – Bontrager Kovee XXX 35 Bar and stem and a Bontrager XXX Carbon Seatpost – The Bontrager Kovee 35 bar and stem combo is super stiff and precise with just the right amount of sweep, and the seat post is designed to flex to improve comfort and it makes a huge difference over the footprint chatter on Anchorage’s multi-use trails.

Saddle – Selle Italia SLR – It’s light and it fits me. I have 7 or 8 of them floating around the bike stable.

Grips – Ergon GS1 Small – Similar to the saddle, these grips just work for me and my rheumatoid arthritis.

Bags – Revelate Designs – The local Anchorage company that started it all!
Revelate Designs Pronghorn Ultralight Handlebar Roll – For the -20F Sleeping bag.
Revelate Designs Mag-Tank – For all my snacks!
Revelate Designs Ranger Frame Bag – It fits the Trek Farley frame well and has tons of room and compartments to keep everything organized and where I want it.


Revelate Designs Vole Seat Bag – It’s lightweight, dropper compatible, and even has a built-in plastic shield on the underside for debris or potential tire rub with the saddle dropped. Thanks again for letting me share my new ride! Come by the Trek Store in Anchorage and say hi or maybe I’ll see you out on the trails!

Will Ross

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5 Responses to My New Trek Farley – By Will Ross

  1. Catfish February 9, 2019 at 5:14 am #

    Really appreciate the comments regarding wheel size and tire selection. I have a 2017 Farley 9.8 …I love the bike but I’m frustrated by tire selection. The more aggressive side is (barely) covered but there’s really nothing ultra fast — like a jumbo Jim. I use Hodags now … the tread rolls OK, but the sideways are stiff (60 tpi?) which makes them feel slow. With such exceptional attention on making this bike fast, why these tires?

  2. kwilly February 12, 2019 at 4:41 pm #

    Good looking ride Will.

    Will and all the others at the Trek Store Anchorage have made it into my favorite Anchorage bike shop. they have the best staff and mechanic and it shows.

  3. Antti Nulu September 16, 2019 at 1:28 pm #

    I think a SRAM XX1 Quarq Fat Bike Power Meter is still a prototype, because internet do not give nothing answer to farley power meter…

    • Gomez September 19, 2019 at 8:27 am #

      True

  4. Howard Cosell January 23, 2021 at 8:34 am #

    Late to the party, but… what size frame and frame bag are you using? Trying to figure out if I can stuff a medium bag inside my medium frame. Thanks!

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