Salsa Wanderosa Electric Bike Review: Full-Suspension Drop-Bar Gravel Ride

Finally, it has my two favorite things: drop bar handlebars and a dropper seat post. I guess I should disclose here that my everyday analog ride is also a gravel bike, and that I personally like to work around on a tall, relaxed frame with my hands sloppy this way and that on comfortable padded drop bars. I’m into dirt and gravel a lot, but I’m just not a fan of super technical riding.

Also, everyone must have a dropper seat post. I took the bike out for several 15- to 20-mile rides over several weeks. OK, it’s not physically that hard to drive with electric assist for an hour while listening to podcasts, but I do appreciate being able to quickly move my seat around at stoplights when my glutes and quads decide to stop working so well.

Even with these additions and the full MTB front and rear suspension, the bike weighs a surprisingly small 40 pounds for the big frame. From riding many electric bikes, I would estimate a bike with these specs to weigh around 60 or 65 pounds. (I estimated my XS frame to be around 35 pounds, but that’s just by feel.)

Everywhere at once

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There are a few mixed-surface trails that I ride regularly that I’m somewhat reluctant to reveal because I’m worried that some of you might see me there. One is a loop that goes around the northernmost point of Portland, Oregon and goes through a couple of sloughs; I also like Leif Erikson Trail, a 20-mile gravel trail in Forest Park, Mount Tabor, and the loop around Pier Park, which was one of the first places anyone ever raced a bike and is now mostly used by elementary school students on teenage mountain bikes.

As someone who regularly rides a gravel bike, it’s cool and freaky to ride a bike that is, to all appearances, a gravel bike, but then feels like a very soft, premium electric mountain bike once you’re on it. It’s like nibbling on what looks like a bit of bitter dark chocolate, and finding it full of puffy, sweet marshmallows. Here I am, ready to roll over some rocks, but… these tires are huge! This suspension is soft! What is this strange sensation? Is it comfort?