Celebrating a new commuter bike

[ZenBiker]

Just wanted to post a pic of my new bike, a 2012 Salsa Vaya. I've been using a Diamondback Transporter for years, and decided to splurge on this upgrade. I've had it about a week, and am loving it! It's a go-anywhere kind of bike - dirt canal path, paved street, gravel road. Very comfortable with and without loaded panniers, and just plain fun to ride.

I took my old commuter bike to the local version of GoodWill. The employee who took the donation was excited to see it and planned to ask his boss if he could trade the bike he was riding to work straight across for mine. Made me feel good to know it will still be in service and appreciated.

[Giulianna23]

Nice !!!

[Devold]

Waaaauw, it's fab

[emily_in_nc]

Love it!

[eofelis]

Last month I was riding the local riverfront MUPs and I saw a couple people on Vayas. Super nice looking bikes! Yours looks great!

[thekarens]

What a nice bike!

[DebSP]

Very nice! New bikes are very exciting!

[Melalvai]

Aw, how fun. Love the disc brakes, tires, rack-- do you have plans for lights?

[ZenBiker]

Thanks for the nice comments! Makes it even more fun to share the pic with people who understand.
Melalvai, yes, I have light system of sorts - blinkie on the back, Spokelites (sp?) on both wheels, a super bright helmet-mounted headlight, and a reflective vest. I ride to work between 0630-0700 when it's full dark and so far this is working. Though I think an additional rear light might be in order because the blinkie is pretty small and bracketed by my panniers.

[Tri Girl]

Woot woot! It's a beauty!!! Looks like a Cadillac all spiffed out! Glad you're loving it (and who wouldn't?).

[Bike Writer]

That bike looks like it would be fun to ride!

[IBrakeforPastry]

Ooo, congratulations! I love how you describe it as a "go-anywhere" kind of bike. I like that idea. I also like the idea of owning multiple bikes Enjoy!

[Devold]

I love your bike

Is it with 26 inch wheels or 700c?

The 52 cm would fit me, but then I'll have to settle with 26"

[GLC1968]

Sweet! Congratulations!

[ZenBiker]

Thanks everyone!

IBrakeforPastry, I'm trying to limit myself to 2 bikes at any one time but it's hard when they are all so pretty and so much fun to test ride!

Muirenn, I went into the shop to ride a Surly but he didn't have my size frame in stock - only had the one above and below what I needed. So I rode both of those and liked the bigger of the two, but could barely stand over it. So then he rolls out the Salsa and you can see what happened.

Devold, it's a 50 so it has the 26" wheels. The 52 would probably fit me better, at least according to the Salsa website, and my only lingering doubt/regret is that I didn't hold out for a chance to ride a 52 and compare. But the closest bike shop that even carries Surly and Salsa is a 3-hour drive for me, and I was only in town for the day, and the 50 felt pretty good...and anyway, as you said, the 52 has 26" wheels too.

So far I don't feel like I gave up much by having smaller wheels. There is less toe overlap than with my 700c road bike and while the Salsa isn't a speed machine, i can maintain a respectable pace very easily once I get going.

Edited to add: the guy at the shop showed me an article by Rivendell that gave a bunch of reasons they will only use 26" wheels on smaller frames - had to do with seat tube angles and other things they considered unacceptable geometry compromises when putting bigger wheels on such frames. I don't have the knowledge or experience to critically evaluate the things they said, but it sounded pretty convincing.