Salsa Journeyman - notes after a few rides
Finally put together enough money for an allroad bike purchase, just in time for the covid bike boom. Was between a Topstone, Revolt, and Jorneyman - all in the entry-level spec (Claris or Sora). Journeyman was most attractive to me because of the relaxed position and assload of mounting points. Went shopping and the complete lack of 2020s in stock in all except a couple specs of the Journeyman made the decision for me, and after a month of waiting for it I got my Sora 650b.
I've now had it out on 2 rides - each ride containing anywhere from dirt/gravel to flat singletrack with lots of FL 'wild grass over rutted sand, mowed into a 'trail''. And because its summer, LOTS of flooding. Today actually hit calf deep standing water and lost traction for the first time, had to get off and HAB through the water. Tried shouldering the bike like I was Mathieu VanDerPol, bad idea with a 27lb bike plus gear
I've got all of 2.5 hours of riding on it, I thought I'd share my impressions. Mind you I'm coming from a road bike and this is my first offroading since I was a kid.
The bike is completely stock, save for a lizardskins chainstay protector (its got a couple chain tattoos already, I know its there for good reason). Before ever riding it, I thought I was going to want to replace the saddle and Sora rear mech pretty much right away. And that maybe eventually I'd want a handlebar swap, some 29" wheels for faster gravel rides, and tubeless tires for the 27.5s.
The saddle (WTB Volt) seems pretty ok. Not as nicely shaped as the Fabric Scoop on my roadie, though it's better when I'm seated on the wide part. Definitely more comfy than I thought it would be. But starts to get hot spots after an hour. This will take more time to decide.
29" wheels. I can see the need for them, but not on the rides Ive done so far and have access to more of near my house. Everything is a mix of dirt/fire road and hiking/biking mixed use trails. The rangers maintain them by mowing the wild grass/weeds with a tractor every so often. Its rutted and sandy under the grass and makes for really slow going. 29" might be faster but I'm not sure how much.
Tubeless - this is one I think I might move on quickly. The WTB Nanos are great for traction and puncture resistance so far. BUT they weigh a TON. Wire bead plus heavy duty tubes. I did a quick zip around the neighborhood when setting the seat height (tires at 40psi) and, yes its a heavy bike compared to my carbon roadie but DAMN did I turn into an old lady. Like 5mph slower than my roadie, and I was WINDED.
Sora drivetrain. This one was a huge surprise. I know the 9sp Sora of today is basically the 9sp 105 of a decade or so ago, but I would have thought it would be clunky and noisy. The jumps on the 9sp wide (11-34) cassette are more noticeable than my 10sp Ultegra road setup, sure. But the shifts are fine. I wouldn't say they're the same, but there's not a bad thing I can say about them. Solid and reliable shifting.
The biggest surprise has been the RD. I thought FOR SURE that the Sora spec here was squarely aimed at people sticking to bike paths and the occasional dirt road, and that anyone venturing any further than that was going to lose their mind with the rattling from the lack of a clutch. You know what? It hasn't made a sound. I'm not bombing down rocky slopes or anything, just flatlanding in FL. But even while getting beat up over some really rutted stuff from all the rains recently, not a peep.
Handlebars - Salsa cowbells in 42cm (stock). Jury is still out. Flared drops are comfy, but with the percentage of time I've spent on the tops riding the rutted stuff I haven't been able to enjoy them. I've heard a lot of people say to go wider, and I'll keep my eye out for cast-off Cowbells in a 44cm width.
So far I'm really happy. Yeah I could have a faster, lighter, more dedicated gravel bike. I'd still be waiting another couple months at least. Plus once I invest in some bags I can go bikepacking with the Journeyman no problem. I've got loads of primitive camping nearby accessible by bike. And with the super relaxed upright position, with some slicks on 700cs I might be more inclined to tackle a century on this than my racy road bike. It'll take a lot longer but I might not need a muscle relaxer for my neck and shoulders afterwards.
In case anyone is wondering, I'm 5'10", 33" pant inseam/34" 'cycling' inseam (long legs short torso), on a 55.5cm. the 54cm would have been too cramped, and the reach is way better on the Journeyman than it is on my 56cm roadie. Still a wee bit too far, though nothing a new stem can't fix.
Finally put together enough money for an allroad bike purchase, just in time for the covid bike boom. Was between a Topstone, Revolt, and Jorneyman - all in the entry-level spec (Claris or Sora). Journeyman was most attractive to me because of the relaxed position and assload of mounting points. Went shopping and the complete lack of 2020s in stock in all except a couple specs of the Journeyman made the decision for me, and after a month of waiting for it I got my Sora 650b.
I've now had it out on 2 rides - each ride containing anywhere from dirt/gravel to flat singletrack with lots of FL 'wild grass over rutted sand, mowed into a 'trail''. And because its summer, LOTS of flooding. Today actually hit calf deep standing water and lost traction for the first time, had to get off and HAB through the water. Tried shouldering the bike like I was Mathieu VanDerPol, bad idea with a 27lb bike plus gear
I've got all of 2.5 hours of riding on it, I thought I'd share my impressions. Mind you I'm coming from a road bike and this is my first offroading since I was a kid.
The bike is completely stock, save for a lizardskins chainstay protector (its got a couple chain tattoos already, I know its there for good reason). Before ever riding it, I thought I was going to want to replace the saddle and Sora rear mech pretty much right away. And that maybe eventually I'd want a handlebar swap, some 29" wheels for faster gravel rides, and tubeless tires for the 27.5s.
The saddle (WTB Volt) seems pretty ok. Not as nicely shaped as the Fabric Scoop on my roadie, though it's better when I'm seated on the wide part. Definitely more comfy than I thought it would be. But starts to get hot spots after an hour. This will take more time to decide.
29" wheels. I can see the need for them, but not on the rides Ive done so far and have access to more of near my house. Everything is a mix of dirt/fire road and hiking/biking mixed use trails. The rangers maintain them by mowing the wild grass/weeds with a tractor every so often. Its rutted and sandy under the grass and makes for really slow going. 29" might be faster but I'm not sure how much.
Tubeless - this is one I think I might move on quickly. The WTB Nanos are great for traction and puncture resistance so far. BUT they weigh a TON. Wire bead plus heavy duty tubes. I did a quick zip around the neighborhood when setting the seat height (tires at 40psi) and, yes its a heavy bike compared to my carbon roadie but DAMN did I turn into an old lady. Like 5mph slower than my roadie, and I was WINDED.
Sora drivetrain. This one was a huge surprise. I know the 9sp Sora of today is basically the 9sp 105 of a decade or so ago, but I would have thought it would be clunky and noisy. The jumps on the 9sp wide (11-34) cassette are more noticeable than my 10sp Ultegra road setup, sure. But the shifts are fine. I wouldn't say they're the same, but there's not a bad thing I can say about them. Solid and reliable shifting.
The biggest surprise has been the RD. I thought FOR SURE that the Sora spec here was squarely aimed at people sticking to bike paths and the occasional dirt road, and that anyone venturing any further than that was going to lose their mind with the rattling from the lack of a clutch. You know what? It hasn't made a sound. I'm not bombing down rocky slopes or anything, just flatlanding in FL. But even while getting beat up over some really rutted stuff from all the rains recently, not a peep.
Handlebars - Salsa cowbells in 42cm (stock). Jury is still out. Flared drops are comfy, but with the percentage of time I've spent on the tops riding the rutted stuff I haven't been able to enjoy them. I've heard a lot of people say to go wider, and I'll keep my eye out for cast-off Cowbells in a 44cm width.
So far I'm really happy. Yeah I could have a faster, lighter, more dedicated gravel bike. I'd still be waiting another couple months at least. Plus once I invest in some bags I can go bikepacking with the Journeyman no problem. I've got loads of primitive camping nearby accessible by bike. And with the super relaxed upright position, with some slicks on 700cs I might be more inclined to tackle a century on this than my racy road bike. It'll take a lot longer but I might not need a muscle relaxer for my neck and shoulders afterwards.
In case anyone is wondering, I'm 5'10", 33" pant inseam/34" 'cycling' inseam (long legs short torso), on a 55.5cm. the 54cm would have been too cramped, and the reach is way better on the Journeyman than it is on my 56cm roadie. Still a wee bit too far, though nothing a new stem can't fix.
