Blog August 8, 2019 All-road explorer. Gravel bike. Bikepacking rig. Reliable commuter. Since its release in March of 2018, we’ve seen thousands of riders use the Journeyman for just about everything and that’s exactly how we planned it.The versatility designed into the Journeyman frame and fork allows riders an incredible amount of flexibility when choosing their journey, but the sheer number of options for Journeyman riders is no accident.The Salsa product team was fresh off the release of Timberjack, our feature-packed trail hardtail, and its success sparked the idea that a similar approach could serve the all-road crowd.Related: The Best Road Bikes 2019 for the Money Reviews“With Timberjack, people were able to experience a fully-engineered, complete thought that was available at a more accessible price point,” said Salsa Brand Manager Justin Steiner.Salsa engineer Sean Mailen worked on the Timberjack project before taking on Journeyman, so he came in with a mindset of developing a quality bike that was accessible to more people.“Just because it’s a lower-cost frame doesn’t mean you can’t use modern geometry and features to develop a great foundation,” he said.Related: 14 Best Mountain Bike BrandsWith that in mind, the team set out to apply the magic formula to an all-road platform. For inspiration, Mailen looked to Warbird, our gravel race bike.The design and engineering team wanted to design and build a quality bike from the ground up, rather than trim features from an existing platform to lower the cost.The goal was to deliver the features that a Warbird customer might expect but at a more accessible price point.“We borrowed the tubeset from our previous Warbird aluminum model and were able to design a bike around it that gave people a similar experience, yet was attainable enough to welcome new riders into the Salsa brand. That was important to us,” he said.Related: The Best Bike Computer Reviews: Measure Performance, Connect with Friends with GPS Cycling ComputersJourneyman’s origin means it can handle any gravel ride or race, but it’s designed to do much more.“We knew that many of the people buying a Journeyman may not have other bikes, so we wanted Journeyman to be a capable daily driver in addition to its other qualities.We incorporated features for riders who would use Journeyman for more than one kind of riding,” said Steiner.The result of all this studying, thinking and designing was one accessible bike that can effectively carry out a wide variety of riding duties.Related: The Best Lightweight Road Cycling Shoes ReviewsJourneyman’s appeal is in the number of ways that riders can truly make the bike their own.For starters, Journeyman riders can choose between 700c x 32–51 mm wheels and tires for a fast-rolling setup or 650b x 47–57 mm wheels and tires for the ability to roll on higher-volume rubber when terrain or ride conditions are a bit more challenging.A journeyman is also available in drop-bar or flat-bar configurations. The drop-bar creates an aggressive riding position, while the flat handlebar suits riders seeking a more relaxed, upright ride.Related: The 5 Best Road Bike Helmets Available to Buy nowAnd because every journey has a different purpose, Journeyman is loaded with cargo-carrying options. Haul your camping gear, groceries, laptop, extra food, and water, or get creative. Here are a few examples of what’s possible with Journeyman:Keep it light and fast with for gravel rides and races with a few bottles and the Salsa EXP Top Tube Bag.Spend all day exploring local paths and trails with a bottle, Salsa EXP Top Tube Bag and handlebar bag for your lock, layers, and snacks.Cruise over to your favorite local watering hole with a top tube bag for your lock.Head out for an overnighter at a nearby campground with a rack and panniers for your sleeping gear and cook kit.Take on the farmer’s market and come home fully-loaded with a rack and pannier setup, Salsa EXP Series Half Frame Pack, Top Tube Bag, and Anything Cage HD.Ride through the long, hot days of summer with plenty of water and snacks, plus your tools and tube in a Salsa EXP Series Rescue Roll.Journeyman’s possibilities make it an ideal ride for anyone including its engineer. Mailen often rides his Journeyman to work and to take his daughter to childcare. “It’s one of my favorite bikes that we’ve done for its ability to do everything it’s just a jack of all trades.”
