Salsa Cycles are proponents of inclusivity and building the greater bicycle community. So when a recent third-party audit of their product names identified a potentially offputting name in the form of the Journeyman, they decided to remedy the issue with the bike’s second generation. Now, the Journeyman becomes the Journeyer, which is defined as “a traveler going on a trip, a wayfarer.”
The name change is just a small part of the story, though. Along with the genderless name, the bikes receive updated frames and forks while keeping the prices attainable for anyone eyeing up their first journeys by bike.
Frame Updates
While the Journeyer still uses a 6061-T6 aluminum frame, it has some notable improvements including the addition of thru axles for the Sora builds and above. You’ll also find the addition of internal dropper post routing to make it possible to add a dropper post to all models.
Up front, there are three fork options now, with quick release models getting a Fantail aluminum fork, and thru axle models receiving either the FAntail Deluxe aluminum or Waxwing Carbon fork for the high end models.
Cargo capacity for a bike like this is an important consideration, so Salsa improved the capacity of the inner part of the front triangle slightly on sizes 53 and up. According to Salsa, the Journeyer actually has a more compact front triangle, but the space seems to have been better utilized on the larger frame sizes.
All sizes include two Three-Pack mounts on the fork, a top tube mount, an under-down tube accessory mount, and rack and fender mounts. Inside the front triangle, the Journeyer comes with capacity for:
- 57 cm & 60 cm – Three bottles inside main triangle
- 53 cm & 55 cm – Two bottles and Anything Bracket Mini inside main triangle
- 51 cm – Two bottles inside main triangle (unchanged from Journeyman due to Journeyer’s more compact front triangle)
- 49 cm – One bottle inside main triangle (this is less than Journeyman due to Journeyer’s more compact front triangle)
Geometry
Following trends in gravel geometry, the Journeyer is longer and slacker than the Journeyman and includes a lower bottom bracket for increased stability. Thanks to shorter seat tubes and top tubes on the smallest sizes, the bikes will fit a wider range of riders as well.
Salsa also points out that the industrial design of the bike now more closely aligns with the Warbird with hydroformed aluminum tubing, giving the Journeyer a higher-end look without Warbird pricing.
12 Drop Bar and 6 Flat Bar Builds (plus frameset!)
Whatever your build preference, it looks like Salsa has it covered. Complete bikes start at just $999 for the Flat Bar Acolyte or Flat Bar Altus builds, and range up to $2,799 for the GRX810 model. Each model is offered in your choice of 700c or 650b wheels and tires, and the frameset sells for $799.
