Picked up the thing.

"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
05/22/2020 at 16:07 • Filed to: None

I went by the bike shop this morning and picked up my new Salsa Journeyman Soras 700. Normally the owner would break out the training stand, camera and computer and do a full fitting, but currently they can’t folks back in the shop. That will have to happen at a later time, but after the inaugural ride I’ve got an idea of what needs to be adjusted.

A big-time biking friend of mine joined me an inaugural ride over lunch along the Rio Grande. It was a fantastic ride along a mix of road, paved trail and gravel ditch banks. My legs have a lot of getting in shape to do, but it was still very enjoyable.

In the spirit of safety third, I also picked up a brightly colored brain bucket. To make up for it I peeled the warning labels off the bike.

To get the accessorizing started, I ordered a top tube bag and some front and rear lights for it

DISCUSSION (22)

PowderHound > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
05/22/2020 at 16:10

Everybody seems to be getting new bikes, congrats!

TheRealBicycleBuck > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
05/22/2020 at 16:13

Looks sharp!

Grindintosecond > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
05/22/2020 at 16:29

Get some bright socks or bright safety tape for back of shoes. It’s the bright colors ‘moving’ that get attention so cars or anyone pick up on you there quicker.

Yeah enjoy it! Gravel is best cause not many cars. And you see cool stuff out there.

Nom De Plume > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
05/22/2020 at 16:37

4cm stack on top a volcano with a +6° stem! That is right on the edge of insanity.

OK, r ight at the limit for a carbon fork if it is going to see any hard hits. For riding around it will be fine. Maybe have your friend restack that into a sternum puncher after you get used to riding a little more . To balance pressure between your butt and hands.

Sorry, it looks very good otherwise. I rather like white bikes with simple splashes of color like those bands.

Stef Schrader > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
05/22/2020 at 17:08

Noice. I should get around to posting my obnoxiously bright bike in here eventually, too. Yay for human-powered transportation (...and not having to douse myself in a bajillion liters of hand sanitizer every time I handle the same gas pump as “ who even know s?” out there ).

phenotyp > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
05/22/2020 at 17:14

Nice looking ride! I can’t justify another bike, but having test-driven a couple with geometry similar to yours, I think that’s pretty close to what my next bike would look like.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
05/22/2020 at 17:18

I’ve never seen a bike come with so much steer tube before. Usually they are set at about 1” off the top of the headset. There is a lot of adjustability in that bike. I kinda like that they did that. Next you can spend as much on accessories as you did on the bike.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Nom De Plume
05/22/2020 at 17:19

I noticed that too but frankly that’s pretty awesome to leave that much adjustment in the bike for a good fit.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Stef Schrader
05/22/2020 at 17:20

I’ve seen your bike on IG, it’s very colorful.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Stef Schrader
05/22/2020 at 17:23

I know that feeling. Every time I touch something like that in a public place I feel the need to wash my hands.

facw > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
05/22/2020 at 17:28

Nice! I want a new (or at least new to me) road bike, but I did ~50 miles last weekend and my shoulder is still sore, which tells me that I should be more careful about not missing rehab exercises, and that I probably need to focus on riding the trike this summer.

Trike is fun enough, but I desperately need to get faster since I feel too slow to ride safely on roads and it doesn’t fit in my car to get to trails otherwise. They sell a roof kit, but I see no way repeatedly lifting a ~ 45lbs trike onto my roof with a bad shoulder could ever work out well long term.

Nom De Plume > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/22/2020 at 17:35

Fairly sure it is within the mm to manufacturer spec.

I am kind of harping on fit since it was apparent he was going to get a safer level of personal attention.

jminer > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
05/22/2020 at 19:18

That bike looks great !

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Nom De Plume
05/22/2020 at 20:06

On my bikes my seat tends to be around 6” higher than my handle bars.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/22/2020 at 20:07

I can relate to this.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
05/22/2020 at 20:08

Tall guy problems.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
05/22/2020 at 20:11

Very nice. Salsa makes a heck of a bike. One of our bikepacking crew at Big Bend last year had one and it really was the best suited bike in the group and ran very well. (I never did post about that did I? Probably should.) Enjoy and if you’re ever up this way give me a shout and we’ll go for a ride.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
05/22/2020 at 20:15

Will do. It seems like a bike that just be ing suitably accessorized away from all sorts of different uses.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/22/2020 at 20:15

Oh PS got this working. Thanks again!

Kinja'd!!!

Nom De Plume > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/22/2020 at 20:31

That is sorta what I was trying to avoid getting into; slammed 140 - 150mm stems creating 5"-6" saddle to bar drop is just not realistic for many people. I backed off to a 130 stem and maybe 4" on the Winter bike so I can get behind the saddle when absolutely necessary.

If he could get a full spacer or two above the stem it would eliminate some possibility for failure should the bike take a couple cartwheels . If not, and he never pushes as hard as one of us, it won’t hurt anything.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
05/22/2020 at 21:02

Yep that’s the cool thing about Salsa. They have mounts all over the bike and a whole line of accessories to stick to them.

Stef Schrader > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
05/23/2020 at 21:10

Yessssss.