I’d like some advice on choosing between these two bikes…
Salsa Vaya 2
http://www.salsacycles.com/bikes/vaya/
Surly Long Haul Trucker
http://surlybikes.com/bikes/long_haul_trucker
The goal is to use it for the TransAm route during summertime.
Thanks!
-Chris
Check this out, may help.
LHT is a work horse. I like that it is stiff when loaded. That stiffness is very handy when the road pitches up and you need to stand to climb. It also makes the loaded rig stable on fast descents. I have carbon handlebars and a Brooks leather saddle and with all the stiffness it is very comfortable after 8+ hours of riding. I don’t know about the Salsa bike but the posted review pretty well defines what each bike is designed to be. I agree with what it says about the LHT.
One cool thing about the LHT is the extra braze-ons for spokes. The braze-ons for racks are exactly where they need to be.
I’d go with the Vaya for the disc brakes alone.
Yup, I’ve seen that review before. It’s great!
Do you have a reason why? The Surly can come stock with disc brakes too.
Do you have a reason why? The Surly can come stock with disc brakes too.
I just have this thing I get with canti’s. “Hate” is pretty close. Yeah, that’s the word, I think. Hate. Canti’s are hateful creations.
Been riding my Salsa Vaya Ti since last october. I love it!!! Smooth as silk doesn’t even know the meaning of sketchy regardless of the terrain or slope. I run 40 mm Clement MSOs tubeless at 35 psi. It’s like butter on the pavement. I rode Trans Iowa this year as well as Dirty Kanza and am loving the gravel races. I don’t know about the LHT so no opinion there. My Vaya is so sweet! Here’s a picture:
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i373/JMLederman/DSCN0831.jpg
I used the Fizik seat (black, not the demo) for TI but have since gone to the Ergon SM3.
Dry weight of my Vaya is 21.5.
Good luck!
Couldn’t resist here’s another picture. Sorry it’s so big. Notice the snapped derailleur hanger! Mile 81 too much muck.
Did you end up buying a gravel bike?
Nope, not yet… I’m actually looking at 20 inch folding bikes now.
Sounds good. There’s so much out there. Enjoy the search.