Starting to save my nickels for a good looking gravel bike next year. Mainly to have a drop bar bike and eventual multi-day voyages
I have a daily commuter surly preamble flat bar and I love it, but want to get into longer duration/distance rides. Flat bar preamble has done me well on ~40-50mi rides, but feeling that could be its ceiling
I’m interested in:
– salsa journeyer CUES 1×11 (or 1×10 option if I want to save of those nickels?)
– surly straggler (the algae green looks great but also better build/higher price tag?)
I’m leaning towards salsa journeyer bc:
– CUES system seems more up my alley (want a low maintenance work horse)
– hydraulic brakes
– mustard color would complement my sky blue preamble well (I’m vain, aesthetics matter?)
Kinda kicking myself I didn’t buy the preamble drop bar, but only had ever ridden MTBs/etc previously so drops used to be kinda intimidating
Planning to keep my preamble for around the towns and the steel frame could serve well as a future project base
I’ve been eyeing used markets just in case a suitable gravel entry bike pops up but I’m in a strong cycling area so good stuff gets snapped up quick in my size (im 6’1”)
by BuenoDraino
2 Comments
Journeyer was my first bike and it was super fun. Group rode it with road biker and took it down mtb trials and it was fine. But for 2k those booger welds are not acceptable. Stragger is feels more quality..
The geometries are meaningfully different in terms of head tube angle. They’re both great bikes so I’d buy the one that has the better geometry for you. Personally, I prefer a slacker HTA for downhill confidence and less toe overlap.