Even so, 24 gear inches might not be quite low enough for precipitous mountain climbing with a full bikepacking kit in tow. Journeyman Flat Bar Sora 650 is Salsa’s versatile all-road bike. Shimano Sora shifters and derailleurs are durable and feel great, and you’ll find ample gear range for carrying you and your cargo uphill. The flat handlebar allows for a comfortable and confident riding position and the 650b x 2.1” tires provide sure-footed traction when the going gets rough. And, as with the Apex model, the Journeyman Sora 650b also gets WTB i23 rims, and a Salsa Cowbell drop bar.
After our escapades with mud and mechanicals, we spent the better part of day one going up and down gravel roads. I’m happy to report that the fork and tires do a good job of managing vibrations overall. I certainly never noticed any overt harshness to the point where I wished I was on a carbon or steel frame. There are a few things I like about the Apex 1 build, and some others I don’t. The stem, saddle, and seatpost are all solid, and the Cowbell is a decent handlebar, although I’d prefer the Cowchipper, my personal favorite. The WTB rims are also fine, although I’d spec a slightly wider inner width rim if I had my way.
Table of Contents
Salsa Journeyman models from 2021
We inspire and inform through original bikepacking routes, stories, and coverage of the gear, news, and events that make our community thrive. We believe travel by bicycle has the power to encourage conservation, inclusivity, and respect for all people and cultures. This Journeyman Flat Bar Sora 650 bike’s gearing range it’s 2 × 9. The cassette has 11T – 34T, while the chainring has 30T – 46T. On another note, this bike it’s featuring the Sora, FSA groupset, which is a pretty standard model. With a weight of 11.34 kg , Salsa bike it’s much heavier than average.
The fork on this bike it’s made out of carbon, so, its weight it’s considerably lighter than one made out of steel. My other complaint about the build kit is that the yellow model is specced with wire bead versions of the Teravail Sparwood tires. This makes them non-tubless compatible, which is quite frustrating. In addition, the pink Apex and blue Sora builds come with WTB Nano Comp tires, which re also non-tubeless compatible. Fortunately, Salsa fitted each of these demo bikes with tubeless tires for us. If you want to purchase a solid Gravel bike, it is important to know that the average cost it’s 2149$.
Fork material
Don’t get me wrong, I really love these tires and recently chose them to ride on another bike for a weeklong route in the northeastern US. However, they can get a bit squirrely in loose and steep situations. Two of us took a dive while descending a very rubbly and steep section of road in the mountains. While the Sparwood is generally fine on hardback and loose gravel, when it comes to deep railroad gravel on steep roads, they loose their stability, as many tires in this category would. The 2x Sora gearing was a little better with 24 gear inches in the 30×34 gear. Kudos to Salsa for speccing a 46/30 chainset, instead of a larger compact road double, as many gravel bikes often get.
However, even though the average price of a Gravel bike is lower, you might still be able to get a top-quality bike. In short, before purchasing your ideal bike do some research about its components, and also check for reviews online. If we make a quick analysis of the average weight of a Gravel bike, we get 8.45 kg (18.63 lbs). A lighter bike will give you some extra advantage when climbing.
Salsa Journeyman Flat Bar Claris 650 2020
And for those on a budget, it offers a lot of capability for a minimal investment. Generally speaking, the Journeyman holds its own when pushed on the rough stuff. The Journeyman lacks suspension correction, which rules out that option. A few weeks ago Joel Caldwell, Peter Hall, Jacques Boiteau, and myself set out one rainy morning for a week-long ride in Montana’s remote north-central prairie and river breaks. Three of us happily rolled out on the Salsa Journeyman fitted with 27.5 x 2.1″ Teravail Sparwood tires.
Mounts for fenders, racks, Anything Cages, and other accessories mean that you have options for carrying your ride supplies or camping gear. 650b wheels with 47 mm tires offer quick acceleration and a large contact patch for grip on loose surfaces. Shimano”s Sora 2 x 9-speed groupset prepares you for steep climbs or speedy flat sections. This formula made Journeyer one of the most popular gravel bikes out there — take one for a ride and see why. The Journeyman is Salsa’s aluminum all-road bike designed with the versatility to fulfill a wide variety of missions, from gravel racing to rail-to-trail excursions. All feature the ability to run wide, loose-surface-friendly tires; 700c x up to 50 mm or 27.5 x up to 2.2in tires.
Salsa Journeyman 650B Sora (2x)
And, contrary to some opinions I’ve read on the interwebs , the Apex 1 drivetrain is pretty solid. But, as per the norm, Salsa geared the bike slightly too high. While generally fine on most of the gravel roads we were riding, once the going got steep, the 26 gear inches provided by the lowest 40T/42T chainring/cog combo wasn’t low enough.
Turn any ride into a storied adventure with Salsa’s Journeyman. The Journeyman’s Fantail Deluxe carbon fork softens road chatter to keep you feeling fresh on longer rides, and includes three-pack mounts for carrying water and smaller items. Paired with the Journeyman’s generous tire clearance — up to 650b x 2.2 or 700c x 50 — you’ll find yourself venturing farther and longer than ever as new route opportunities unfold. The Sora build gives you dependable Shimano and FSA drivetrain components matched with flat-mount mechanical disc brakes, Salsa’s comfortable Cowbell handlebar, and a cushioned WTB Volt saddle. And, you’ll find two bolts on the top tube designed to accept Salsa’s EXP Series Toptube bag for accessing snacks on the move. An all-new aluminum frame and our Waxwing carbon fork create a ride that’s fit for gravel roads, bikepacking routes, or getting from A to B around town with as much fun as possible.
Salsa Journeyman Flat Bar Sora 700 2019
Even loaded, it felt quick and rather snappy on the Montanan gravel roads. We certainly weren’t hammering, nor did we want to, but we were pushing at a relatively good clip to make up time lost during the morning mud fest. TheJourneymantakes the years of combined experience from theSalsa Fargo,Vaya, andWarbirdand brings an all-new entry level All-Road platform. This incredibly versatile platform comes in mutiple wheelsizes, and handlebar configurations. TheJourneymanis perfect for bikepacking, commuting, adventure cycling, gravel riding, and virtually any other style of riding you have in mind.
To sum up, when you purchase your bike, make sure to check if it has reviews, and also do some components research. Ultimately, I think the Apex 1 and Sora builds are both an excellent value. In the end, all three of our Salsa Journeyman 650B bikes made it to the finish line with zero flats and only the two mechanicals we mentioned due to a bout with death mud. Given the terrain on this route, several falls, and sheer chances, I’d say that’s a fact that shouldn’t go ignored. We entered the Upper Missouri River Breaks, a remote and rugged landscape pocked with hoodoos, steep doubletrack, and sometimes technical rutted out dirt roads.
The Gear Index
In short, the average Gravel bike weight is 34.2% lower than this one. When it comes to gears, the Salsa model has a 2 × 9 gearing range. As for the cassette, it has a range of 11T – 34T, and the chainring has 30T – 46T. On another note, this bike it’s featuring the Sora, FSA groupset, which is a budget model. The wheels on Journeyman Sora 650 are the 650b aluminum type.
In addition, it’s nearly impossible to find a smaller chainring in the odd asymmetrical bolt pattern that SRAM gave the Apex 1 crankset. A 36T ring would be much friendlier to the knees when riding up steep roads with a bikepacking load. Priced from $950 to $1,500, the Journeyman is Salsa’s entry-level bike platform within its all-road lineup. It comes in either 700c or 650b, and in flat-bar or drop-bar variations. If bikepacking or dirt roads are in the mix, one of the five Salsa Journeyman 650b models will likely be a more capable option than the 700c x 38mm models.
Salsa Journeyman Flat Bar Claris 650 2022
These brakes are also very popular, and a lot cheaper than hydraulic disk brakes. However, they don’t have the stopping power of hydraulic brakes. Journeyman Flat Bar Sora 650 is part of the Salsa Journeyman model. You can easily view all of the Salsa Journeyman bikes models from 2019, here.
Salsa Journeyman Flat Bar Claris 700 2019
Browse our latest bike comparisons, or add your own and compare. You can easily view all of the Salsa Journeyman bikes models from 2018, here. Your safety is a top priority so always wear a helmet when you ride your bike. You want to be visible to other drivers, so avoid wearing dark clothing.
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