Salsa Cycles "Vaya" got ready for RIDEALIVE.

Today, I would like to talk about Salsa Cycles.

Salsa Cycles was founded in 1982 by Ross Shafer, who previously built tandems and other bikes under the name "Red Bush." He began by crafting handmade MTB frames. At that time, there weren't as many frame builders as there are today (Ritchey, Mountain Goat, Mantis, etc.), and because it took a long time to get a custom frame, the brand quickly became well-known. Their simple, handmade-style head logos and custom stems matched to frame sizes are still captivating today, and as a manufacturer, they were also committed to quality craftsmanship, actively producing their own parts like handlebars and quick-releases.

Due to various circumstances, the company was acquired by QBP in 1997, and two years later, founder Ross left Salsa. Since then, it became impossible to get Made in USA Salsa bikes. However, while inheriting the spirit of those days, they shifted from being a manufacturer to a planning company. Today, they have built a solid reputation by bringing a variety of bikes into the world based on the theme of "ADVENTURE BY BIKE."

While their current lineup includes a wide range of carbon, aluminum, and titanium frames, their steel frames feature tubing carefully selected for each model's specific use. They aren't just durable; they are high-quality bikes that allow you to enjoy cycling for a longer time. Above all, their bikes, made in accordance with the simple theme of "ADVENTURE BY BIKE," are deeply attractive and feel close to the rider—whether for daily rides, weekend touring, or trail riding.

This time, I built up a Vaya—their touring model—with a simple paint job that follows the atmosphere of that era. Many of you with sharp instincts may have already noticed. That's right, this is my personal touring bike built for RIDEALIVE 2014!

It has an unwavering stability that doesn't budge even when packed with tents and spare clothes, making it a bike that makes you want to travel as far as you can. It's a 700c frame, but as it's an adventure bike, my personal choices included various adventures like fitting 650B tires and using a hub dynamo. Since I usually ride lighter bikes, I carefully assessed what was necessary and what wasn't, choosing sturdy parts to build it.

I also plan to use Blackburn Design's new rack, the "Outpost Front" and the "Barrier Universal Pannier" for this RIDEALIVE. The OUT THERE NIPPON special site has opened, and these new models are currently garnering a lot of attention. I'll introduce them properly later, but the level of refinement is quite high. We have more new Blackburn models scheduled to arrive next week, so please stay tuned.

Although it's a touring model, the 650Bx2.2″ setup means it's fully ready to tackle dirt and light singletrack. This is my personal proposal for how one might fully enjoy this RIDEALIVE. If you're interested, please don't hesitate to ask.

Please keep this "Yabai Vaya" (Crazy Vaya) in mind.