Salsa hasn’t had a true road bike in their lineup for some time now. Sure, they have the Warbird, which is a gravel racing road bike, but with that, comes a more stable geometry with a longer wheelbase. The Warroad is a straight up endurance road bike, with two wheel sizes and multiple build kit options. Warroad is a new platform for Salsa, designed to take on chunky, imperfect asphalt, with what Salsa is calling their “Endurance Road Geometry.”
Luckily, we have a lot of Imperfect Asphalt here in Los Angeles, making it a perfect backdrop for Warroad, so I pinged Dermy and Greg to hit the hills and mountains to capture the Warroad in its intended element.
When you compare the Warroad to the Warbird, geometry aficionados will see enough differences to merit a new platform. For example, the Warroad has a 71° HTA, versus 70.75° on the Warbird, 415mm chainstays, versus 430mm on the Warbird, and the bottom bracket of the Warroad is 72mm compared to the Warbird’s 70mm. It doesn’t stop there either. The Warroad is completely engineered from the ground up, to offer a stiffer ride, resulting in more nimble handling and snappier pedaling. The downside of this is the Warroad won’t offer the same all day in the saddle comfort as the Warbird.
What’s in a name? Warroad is named after a small town in Minnesota, on the Canadian border.
Warroad Frame Features
• Class 5TM Vibration Reduction System (VRS)
• Three bottle mounts on 56-61cm frames
• Two bottle mounts on 49-55cm frames
• Bottle or accessory mount on underside of the down tube
• Mounts for EXP Series Toptube pack
• Clearance for 700c x 35mm or 650b x 47mm tires
• Fits Salsa Wanderlust rear rack using Salsa Rack-Lock
• Full fender mounts
• Accommodates 1x and 2x drivetrains (Di2 compatible)
The Warroad fork was also designed from the ground up.
Warroad Fork Features
• Three-Pack mounts
• Low-rider rack compatibility
• Full fender coverage
• Internal dynamo light routing
Warroad Frame Specifications
• Frameset weight: 4 lb. 2 oz. (includes fork,
headset, seatpost collar and axles)
• 12 x 100mm front spacing
• 12 x 142mm rear spacing
• 1x, 2x, and Di2 compatible
• Dropper post compatible with 1x or Di2
• Flat-mount brakes
• Sleeved internal cable routing
• Available in 7 sizes: 49cm, 52.5cm, 54.5cm,
56cm, 57.5cm, 59cm, 61cm
Warroad comes in a variety of build kit options, ranging from Force 1 650b, to Tiagra 650b, and a frameset.
Build kits
Warroad Carbon FORCE 1 650 – $4,399 USD (MSRP)
Warroad Carbon ULTEGRA 700 – $4,399 USD (MSRP)
Warroad Carbon 105 650 – $3,399 USD (MSRP)
Warroad Carbon TIAGRA 650 – $2,399 USD (MSRP)
Warroad Carbon Frameset – $1,999 USD (MSRP)
Head to Salsa for more information and your local dealer to see Warroad in person. Expect a full-length review of Warroad to come shortly.
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