Following up yesterday's upbeat post about Silca Pumps getting onboard with everyday financial realities, here's some more good cycling news: Salsa has introduced a butt-kicker of an entry-level gravel bike, aptly dubbed Journeyman. Available with drop or flat bars and wheel/tire options spanning everything from road-only to true mountain, this bike covers 80% of all bases for 80% of bikers. No, you will never win the local crit nor a downhill race on this thing – but really, how many of us do crits or competitive downhilling? It will amply cover a local charity metric road century, a friendly gravel grinder, or even keep up on a recreational group ride on most mountain bike trails. Referring back to last month's post on The Case for One Bike, the Journeyman checks a lot of boxes.Here are some more details: article at Dirt Rag, press release at Salsa, and the catalog page at Salsa.
Now about price points... $900 and $1100 (for the two different component build-ups offered) are not cheap by any means, especially for someone just dabbing a toe into the waters. However when you consider that this one bike does what it would've taken at least two bikes to do competently twenty years ago, it looks a bit more reasonable. Fold in yesterday's posting about the value of quality tools and it becomes even more reasonable.
It's not just Salsa that's doing this either. Look around down at your local bike story, there are many other brands cranking out similar does-everything-OK jewels. The bike industry is moving in a very good direction lately.
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