The Radavist

Chaffee County, Colorado is home to a near-perfect mountain bike climate. Meet some of the local figures who keep the wheels turning (and learn what a “banana belt” is) in the second episode of Salsa‘s For the Love of Dirt film series…

The Rangefinder is Salsa’s entry-level hardtail mountain bike that launched last year amidst supply chain shortages and a boom in bicycle sales. It’s hard to know when supplies will return at a normal capacity or if your local dealer will even get any of these in but we still wanted to tip our cap to Salsa’s graphics department that did a great job on these new colors for 2022. See more at Salsa where you can see the build specs for Deore and Advent kits in 29 or 27.5+ platforms.

This week’s Readers’ Rides is Christopher‘s Salsa Fargo all loaded down for the North Central Washington 250. Check out all the frame specs and some of Christopher’s photos below!

Cumberland, British Columbia (“Dodge City” to some) has dirt under its nails. Meet the movers and shakers of this special mountain bike community in the first episode of Salsa’s For The Love Of Dirt film series.

Salsa’s Gravel and Gratitude series continues, with Brooke Goudy starring in the latest video:

Cycling can take you on journeys, not all on the road or dirt. This summer, I will attempt to ride the entirety of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR). It’s a ride that claims not to be technically difficult, but a battle of endurance and the mind. My goal is to rekindle the joy of my childhood while reckoning with the emotions, hardships, and toils of being an adult. It will be a journey of the soul.

My bike has been taking me on adventures since I was kid. I’m flooded with memories of getting off the school bus, rushing through my homework, and getting on my bike. I would cruise the sidewalks of my neighborhood and find people to visit and places to explore.

Check out the video here and pop on over to Salsa to see the full piece.

The Salsa Vaya is a crowd favorite and today’s Readers’ Rides comes from Ryan who presents his 650b converted Vaya 3. Read on below for more words and photos of this sweet bike!

Cutthroat C AXS Build shown here $7,199 USD.

The Cutthroat is a favorite amongst Tour Divide aficionados and weekend warriors alike. Back in 2015, when it was announced, the Cutthroat got tested out on the Tour Divide course and it remains a fan favorite today. While the frame hasn’t changed since our Review of the 2020 model last year, it does come in four new build specs, plus as a frameset. Head to Salsa to read all about the 2021 Cutthroat builds.

The second installment of Gravel and Gratitude has launched, featuring Leonardo Brasil:

“Freedom, adventure and self-sufficiency. This is why I ride bikes. In a world so dominated by motor vehicles and technology, my bicycle represents simplicity, a way to see the world powered by nothing more than my legs, imagination and loads of carbs. I am a Brazilian landscape and adventure photographer living in Colorado, who is passionate about storytelling, coffee and long days in the saddle.

I grew up riding a yellow 26’ aluminum hardtail mountain bike on hard packed gravel roads through farms and old villages with my dad in Brazil. I remember feeling a strong sense of freedom by being able to ride from one town to the next. In a lot of ways, my riding style has never really changed.”

Continue reading this story at Salsa Cycles!

Salsa has launched a sub-site called Gravel and Gratitude and this morning, the first of three videos launched, featuring Krystal Salvent:

“During my time as a fitness professional teaching cycling classes in New York City, my best friend encouraged me to take the “spinning” thing outside. At that moment I thought, “I don’t know how to ride a bike but it can’t be too difficult, right? I teach on a stationary bike multiple times a week. The transition should be easy.” So I signed up for America’s Most Beautiful Ride, a 100-mile charity ride that helps fund leukemia and lymphoma research. With some hope, a commitment to learning something new, and a three-month deadline to figure it all out, my journey into riding was born.”

Head to Gravel and Gratitude to read the full story!

Salsa’s flagship gravel bikes are back this year with new paint and new specs. The all-carbon Warbird still fits a 700c x 45 mm or 650b x 2.0″ with a racey geometry. New for 2021, the Warbird comes laced with AXS wide ($6,999) at the top end or Apex 1 ($2,799).

The aluminum Stormchaser can cram a little bigger tires at 700c x 50 mm or 650b x 50 mm, yet is designed to be raced in muddy conditions with a 42mm tire for ample mud clearance. The Stormchaser also has a slacker head angle to battle the muck. The Stormchaser comes built as shown as a singlespeed ($1599) or as a frameset with a geared or singlespeed option ($1199).

See more at Salsa.

The Salsa Timberjack has been a staple option for those looking for a capable hardtail. This morning, Salsa announced the new 2021 model with a few key updates including top tube mounts for bags, the downtube received Three-Pack mounts, an upgrade to Alternator 2.0 dropouts, improved cable routing, and integrated chainstay protection.

The biggest change is the switch from a 130mm to a 150mm fork and an updated geometry, which you can see above. You can still run a 29er or 27.5+ wheelset on the Timberjack as well. Build kits range from a Ti Timberjack frame for $2,699, GX Eagle 29er for $2,499, SLX complete for $1,799, and the frameset runs $599. Check out more information at Salsa.

2021 brings a lot of uncertainty as companies scramble to make the best of supply chain shortcomings due to Covid-19. While bikes are sold out across the globe, Salsa is pleased to announce their new 2021 steel model year lineup including the Vaya, Marrakesh, and Fargo. Each of these bikes received new colors and updated component kits. The Fargo, the drop bar MTB, has an Apex1 build kit ($2,399), as well as a titanium ($2,999) or steel ($1,099) frameset. The Vaya, their light tourer/gravel bike comes stock with GRX 600 ($2,499). Last but not least is the OG touring bike, the Marrakesh which is built with Alivio and is the most budget-minded steel complete bike in Salsa’s catalog at $1,799, including racks as pictured.

Head to Salsa to check out the full breakdown.

For its latest release, Salsa took the accessible platform of the Journeyman gravel bike and scaled it down to a 24″ chassis, suitable for younger riders looking to get their feet dirty off-road. The 24″ Journeyman’s aluminum frame has a 455mm effective top tube length and 350mm seat tube length to suit smaller riders and a refined geometry suitable for not only the smaller, 24″ wheels but also the shortened standover and overall dimensions. A 1×9 drivetrain propels the 24 x 1.85″ wheels, opening up a wild variety of terrain options…

See more at Salsa!

Hyperlite Mountain Gear wants to outfit your future ventures with this massive giveaway:

The chassis off this giveaway is the ever-capable, long-hauler Salsa Blackborow Fat Bike. For shelter, you can win a UltaMid 2 Pyramid Tent System and then Inflate your Alpacka Caribou Packraft and explore that lake you’re on with a Aqua-Bound Manta Ray Hybrid Paddle. Then pack everything into the 4400 Porter.

Head to Hyperlite Mountain Gear to sign up for this giveaway. All you’ve got to do is enter your email.

Taking versatility to a whole new level, the latest mountain bikes from Salsa Cycles feature a whole slew of new details. The Blackthorn is an all-mountain 29er with 140 mm rear and 160 mm front travel. While Cassidy is an enduro 29er running on 165 mm rear and 180 mm front suspension travel. What makes these bikes really unique is they share the same frame components, which can be altered via a series of small component swaps, all on board the Split Pivot suspension design.

Salsa dubs this the Split Pivot+ platform. By swapping to the appropriate links and suspension, you can swap Blackthorn’s 140 mm rear and 160 mm front travel to Cassidy’s 165 mm rear and 180 mm front travel.

Head over to Salsa to see more on the Blackthorn and Cassidy!

In 2016, Salsa launched its EXP Cradle and bag design, offering up production bags previously only offered through smaller shops and manufacturers. This was a huge step in progressing the availability of bikepacking and bicycle touring accessories. Four years later, they just announced a series of updates, with a top-loading dry bag design and a refreshed side-loading dry bag, both of which utilize a new purge valve and lash attachments. Included in this update is a robust EXP front pouch with zippered access which can also act as a stand-alone bag for your gravel or MTB.

The whole system can convert just about any bike to a more capable tourer and these updates come at a time when we’re all pining for some time away from home on our bikes. Check out the full range at Salsa today and head to your local dealer for ordering.

It’s a little early to think about snow but if the pandemic taught us anything about bikes and availability, the name of the game is planning ahead! That means if you have any snow or sand excursions and rides planned for this winter, get on it now. What better time for Salsa to update their fat bike line with new colors and specs for 2021, starting at $1599 for a complete Mukluk Deore 11 model which is a deal when you consider the $1999 price of a Mukluk Carbon frame alone. There’s literally something for everyone’s taste and budget so head to Salsa to see all the specs.