The latest affordable gravel bike to hit the off-road.cc test deck is this, Salsa Journeyman Apex 1 in a rather stunning pink. This is the 650B wheeled version of the adventure bike, with 2.1″ tyres, a 1x drivetrain, a carbon fork and all the rack mounts you could ask for. It’s ready to roll, the only thing left to ask is – can our test rider pull off that colour?
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Our test Journeyman is the Apex 1 model which comes in at £1,650. For this cash, you get an alloy frame with a carbon fork, a SRAM 1x Apex drivetrain with TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes, WTB ST i23 rims with Novatech hubs and WTB Nano tyres.
Elsewhere around the bike there is a WTB saddle, Salsa own brand bar, stem and grip tape and finally a threaded bottom bracket.
The fork is Salsa’s Fantail Deluxe fork with a tapered steerer, flat mount brake options. There is a crown light mount, fender eyelets, mid blade mounts and Three-Pack mounts for use with the brands’ Anything Cages.
Other features to note are the full-length internal cable routing, personal tastes will discern if this is your preference or not. There are also rear rack and fender mounts and top tube bag mounts on the, er, top tube for your snacking pleasure.
There are six sizes to choose from ranging from 50cm to 59.5cm with each size being built with some size specific component, for example, shorter cranks and narrower bars on the smaller sizes.
Compared to the Warbird, Salsa’s gravel race bike, the Journeyman gets more relaxed geometry, the wheelbase is longer, there is a slacker head angle on the bigger sizes and a steeper seat tube.
Offered in both drop and flat bars, and in two different wheel sizes; 700c and 650b, there looks to be a Journeyman to suit all tastes and most pockets. Dealers are listed below:
We’ll get back to you with a full review soon.
