Inspired by the mud laden conditions often observed at The Mid South gravel race in Stillwater, OK, Salsa Cycles has introduced the Stormchaser, an aluminum frame / carbon fork single speed gravel bike designed to withstand the worst conditions imaginable. Starting from the aluminum Warbird as a point of reference Salsa Engineers gave the Stormchaser a slacker head tube angle and longer wheelbase centers rider weight for more stability.

The all-new Flat Mount Alternator dropouts provide fore–aft adjustability for chain tension, wheelbase tweaks, and extra mud clearance with the added bonus of flat-mount brake compatibility—your caliper moves with the wheel, so your brake stays in adjustment as you move it. “The adjustment mechanism is integrated and mostly hidden for a minimal aesthetic. We wanted these dropouts to look like they belong on a gravel race machine,” said Pete. 

Stormchaser is good for up to 700c or 650b x 50 mm tires, with extra room to account for mud accumulation. A Stormchaser with 700c x 42 mm tires offers about 40% more tire clearance than a Warbird with 700c x 42 mm tires. If the mud really builds up, Stormchaser’s carbon fork has abrasion-resistant plates to defend against wear. Internal routing on the frame and fork shield everything from the elements. The single speed comes stock with Salsa Cowchipper bars, both 17t and 18t cogs, three-pack mounts on the fork, a top tube mount, down tube mount, rack and fender mounts, and room for 2-3 bottles inside the frame depending on the size.

Stormchaser complete bikes and framesets will be available in April 2020.

Learn more about the Stormchaser at Salsa Cycles.