Salsa has today launched the Stormchaser, an all-new singlespeed gravel bike that, as the name suggests, is made for grinding through the toughest, muddiest conditions and has been built with poor-weather in mind.
The Stormchaser’s 6066-T6 aluminium frame features substantial tyre clearance with room for 50mm 700c tyres and relaxed geometry, which Salsa describes as stable and designed to excel in sloppy conditions.
Despite its appeal as a simple bike for when the going gets gloopy, the Stormchaser is adaptable and can also take 1× drivetrains and Di2.
Its Alternator flat-mount sliding dropouts allow wheelbase adjustment, and the driveside dropout can be swapped between a singlespeed option or a geared one with a hanger.
Both options are available as framesets, but complete builds are only offered with a singlespeed dropout.
The bike is also dropper post compatible.
The Stormchaser is available in seven frame sizes: 49cm, 52.5cm, 54.5cm, 56cm, 57.5cm, 59cm and 61cm.
Handlebar widths are tailored for each bike size on complete builds, with Salsa’s Cowchipper bars ranging from 40 to 52cm.
If you're wondering why the bars start at a relatively wide 40cm, Salsa says that “wider bars improve leverage for single speeding and control in poor conditions”.
Plenty of frame mounts are provided for bottles, fenders, frame packs and accessories, as well as fork mounts compatible with Salsa’s Down Under low-rider rack.
As a nice bonus, the complete bikes are sold with two rear sprockets (17t and 18t).
Complete bikes and framesets (frame, fork, headset) will be available in the UK from mid-April. International availability is TBC.
Salsa Stormchaser singlespeed gravel bike complete build specifications and geometry
- Frame: Salsa Stormchaser 6006-T6 aluminium
- Fork: Salsa Stormchaser high-modulus carbon with alloy steerer
- Brakes: TRP Spyre-C, 160mm rotors; TRP RRL levers
- Wheels: WTB Serra 700c (12 x 100/12 x 142mm f/r axles)
- Tyres: Teravail Rutland 700 x 42mm
- Crankset: Race Face Ride 38t
- Chain: KMC Z1 anti-rust
- Cassette: 17- and 18-tooth sprockets included
- Seatpost: Salsa Guide
- Price complete: £1,780 / €1,799 / $1,499
- Price frameset: £1,200 / €1,299 / $1,099
