The Ultimate Gravel Bike Showdown: Salsa's Secret Weapon Revealed!
In a thrilling development, Salsa's unreleased Flyway gravel bike has just dominated the Mega Mid South ultra race, leaving cycling enthusiasts buzzing with excitement and curiosity. But here's where it gets controversial: will this game-changing bike replace the iconic Warbird, or is it a whole new beast?
The Mega Mid South gravel ultra race, a grueling 300-mile journey with nearly 17,000 feet of elevation gain, follows the outer perimeter of the renowned Mid South course. This past weekend, 146 brave souls lined up for the second Mega grand depart, including a few Salsa-sponsored riders with a secret weapon up their sleeves - an unreleased race bike from the brand.
Organized by the Mid South team from their headquarters at District Bicycles in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the Mega Mid South is a self-supported race with no registration fee, relying solely on Trackleaders tracking for participation. In contrast to the fully supported Mid South events, this ultra race is a test of resilience and determination.
When the 2025 Mid South race was canceled due to wildfires, Ted King and Chase Wark took the opportunity to raise funds and set new records for the fastest known time (FKT). And this is the part most people miss: the 2025 grand depart became a battleground for setting new course records, with Salsa Cycles team riders stealing the show.
Matt Acker dominated the men's race, while Jill Martindale took the women's category and claimed the FKT. Another Salsa rider, Britt Mason, was on track to shatter the women's FKT by an impressive 5 hours, but technical difficulties with her computer and phone forced her to scratch around mile 285.
What's even more intriguing is that Acker, Martindale, and Mason were all riding the same mysterious bike, absent from Salsa's current catalog. This raises the question: is this unreleased bike a potential successor to the Warbird, or is it a completely new offering from Salsa?
The Mid South media team, despite the event's unorganized nature, did an excellent job hyping it up on social media. Watching the race unfold from home, I couldn't help but notice the unique bikes ridden by Salsa's leading team. In an Instagram post, Salsa hinted at showcasing new bikes during the event, but it seemed their riders were putting these unreleased gems to the test on Oklahoma's red dirt roads.
This marketing tactic, reminiscent of other brands' strategies at major race events like Unbound, is a clever way to build anticipation. It's a slow reveal, with pros equipped with new bikes months before launch, creating a buzz that's hard to ignore. You might call it a well-executed leak, or perhaps a 'leanch' - a clever blend of 'leak' and 'launch'.
So, what do you think? Is Salsa's unreleased Flyway gravel bike a worthy successor to the Warbird, or is it a completely new direction for the brand? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's spark a discussion!
