Salsa Cycles has officially introduced the Flyway, their fifth-generation carbon gravel bike, stepping in to replace the popular Warbird. Unveiled just in time for the Mid South gravel weekend, the Flyway has already proven its mettle, with early versions piloted to significant victories at the Mega Mid South event.
The Minnesota-based brand aims to balance performance with comfort and carrying capacity, catering to a wide array of gravel riding styles, from competitive racing to long-distance exploration. Salsa highlights that the Flyway builds on lessons from previous gravel models, adapting to modern demands. While the Warbird was pioneering as a gravel race bike in 2012, the Flyway continues Salsa's broader approach, offering a versatile machine 'for the people' – designed for speed, distance, and exploration, not just podiums.
Named after migratory bird routes, the Flyway promises a ride quality evoking "the sensation of soaring over the road and the freedom of flight." It serves as Salsa’s top-tier performance gravel platform, blending race-focused features with practicality for everyday use and adventure. The frame is available in two carbon layups: a Standard (1200g for M/L) and a Deluxe (1050g for M/L) for reduced weight. Key features include 700c x 50mm tyre clearance (57mm in the fork), compatibility with 40mm gravel suspension forks, UDH, T47 Bottom Bracket, and extensive mounting options for bags, including space for two tall water bottles on even the smallest frames. Internal cable routing options and a progressive geometry with a long-reach, short-stem approach, low bottom bracket, and slack head tube angle further define its modern design.
Builds & Pricing
The Flyway is offered in several builds alongside a standalone frameset, available globally through Salsa retailers:
- Flyway DLX RED XPLR: Features a SRAM RED XPLR AXS 1x13 drivetrain with powermeter, Zipp 303 XPLR carbon wheels, and Zipp/FSA cockpit components. Priced at approximately 13,332 €.
- Flyway DLX Force XPLR: Equipped with SRAM Force XPLR AXS. Priced at approximately 8,888 €.
- Flyway Rival XPLR SUS: Includes a RockShox Rudy suspension fork and a dropper post. Priced at approximately 6,111 €.
- Flyway Apex Eagle AXS: Features a wide-range 1x12 drivetrain. Priced at 4,999 €.
- Flyway GRX 610: Comes with Shimano’s GRX 1x12 drivetrain. Priced at 3,499 €.
- Flyway Frameset (Deluxe carbon layup): Priced at 2,999 €.
Source: Cycling Weekly