For the last few months I’ve been looking for a touring bike. One that I can ride the Blue Ridge Parkway and other long distances loaded with gear. I also wanted a good commuting bike and wet weather training bike. I looked at the usual suspects, the Long Haul Trucker, Salsa Casserole, Civia Bryant, etc. I even considered a few cyclocross bikes but I found them all lacking and a little boring. And that’s when I discovered the Salsa Vaya 3. It filled all my needs and then some. It makes a great touring bike with a relaxed geometry, fender and rack mounts, three water bottle mounts, and even disc brakes. When I first took it out of the box I certainly wasn’t awestruck by its beauty but I knew the deciding factor would be how it rode. That’s exactly where it excels. I love the way it rides.

It’s extremely comfortable without being sluggish. I love the cowbell handlebars and their wide shallow drops and the bar end shifters. Finally what really appeals to me is its ability to handle off road rides, such as long gravel grinders and dirt roads. I can’t wait to load it up and spend a few days touring some of the fire roads in the Appalachians.