Replying to
pilder, who said...
cheers to you too. and I know that you know me well enough to not take any of this shit personally. word. And I can't say I really know anything about the Vaya except first impressions from flipping though a few reviews. I haven't actually touched one. But I think it looks versatile and sporty and fun to ride but for fully-loaded touring as in Seattle to Boston, a more "traditional" beefy touring bike would be better under load. The sporty geometry and relatively light frame wouldn't feel so stable or inspire confidence bombing down the backside of a mountain pass with 4 or 5 stuffed panniers. But a Salsa Vaya would be a great addition to your stable of bikes and the gravel roads of Iowa would look a bit different with that between your legs.