sclarke

Currently looking at getting a Salsa Vaya 3, however I live outside the US (i.e., no salsa dealers), and they are somewhat sparse even in Southern California which is where I will be in a month or so. Consequently I'm not counting on being able to find a bike to test out for fit. I'm 5'10 or a little less, with 32" inseam.

Comparing dimensions I'm thinking it'll be between a 55 or 56cm. I currently have a couple mountain bikes which are what I'm using to compare, I understand that there is a difference in reach between flat bars and drops though, so not sure how much difference that'll make. I may in fact equip the Vaya with a flat bar, but I plan on giving the stock bars a try and see how it goes.

Thanks for any help!

ClemY

When I got my Vaya I looked carefully at the table of frame geometry. I got a frame that had the appropriate top tube length for me. The seat tube was substantially shorter than I have previously used, but that is fine. I have more clearance and with the 350 mm seat posts now standard, fitting was easy, but top tube length was critical for me. I am 6’2” and have a 36” inseam. I got the 60cm frame because it had a 60cm top tube (23.6”) which works out perfectly for me, but the seat tube is 22.4" which is much shorter than I am used to, but it works out very well for me.

UnsafeAlpine

I bought mine without ever getting on it. A good shop should have a bike on hand that's close enough to the dimensions to find a fit. I think we used a Specialized Tricross. I'm 6' with a 31" inseam and scored a 58cm with a short stem. If I was in better shape, I'd probably go with a 57cm and a longer stem.

samson_tw

I wish I had a Vaya when I lived in Bogotá. It will be a lot of fun during Ciclovia. FWIW, I am 5'11 and just ordered a 57cm as my new Taipei ride. I recently emailed a lot of Salsa dealers until I found one that would ship a 2012 Vaya to Costa Mesa. Let me know if you need some contacts.

sclarke

Thanks for info:

@samson_tw let me know how you find the fit when you get it. I was sort of going to get the 55 on the assumption that would be better to err on the shorter side, but if you thing the 57 is good might go for a 56. I do prefer a more upright stance though, and this would just be used for touring - so maybe the 55... my mountain bike here in Bogota has about the same reach - I just am not sure if using drop bars makes much of a difference in that respect.

via googling seemed Universal Cycles would ship, else might try to order through the Path bikeshop. The only one who seemed like they might actually have one on hand (maybe) was the one in Topanga Canyon, but really dont' want to have to go that far.

Not very keen on the stock bike, but the frame seems relatively expensive so not much cheaper building up my own, even though I have a lot of parts already that I could use on it (gearset, bb7s). Does anyone know if the brakes that come with it are the road or mountain BB7s?

ClemY

I bought the frame and built it up myself. That way I got exactly what I wanted and didn't have to sway anything out. I shopped end of year sales and ebay and stuff like that. A suitable donor bike would also work.

fitz3641

We have basically the same measurements (closer to 5'9" then 5'10") and I ride a 56 Vaya. Fits me like a glove.

UnsafeAlpine

The brakes are the road bb7 to work with the road levers. If you're putting a straight bar on it, you'll need mountain levers and mountain brakes.

sclarke

Fitz3641 - thanks, I may go with the 56. I reviewed the measurements and seems like should work well.

For anyone else in same predicament, found a long "Vaya builds" thread on mtbr.com. This may help get an idea for your particular size.

I mentioned the MTN vs road bb7s because if I recall correctly the Surly Disc Trucker (which I had previously thought about getting) is spec'd with the MTN version of the brakes, I've read that they were a little better than the road caliper. However I just so happen to have a spare set of the road ones - I ordered spare pads from Amazon and somehow they shipped me the whole brake assembly instead.

Now leaning toward just getting the frame and building it up. I've never done that before but I suppose no time to learn like the present. If I get in trouble can just get a LBS to fix it. Won't be much less in cost (and that even though I already have the gearset, brakes, etc..), but it's true if you're going to change it

Thanks for input all.

fietsbob

toptube length is what I compare when dealing with Sloping top Tube design frames ..
since slope dictates how long the seat tube is to be ..

You an Ex Pat Californian? from the Newport Beach area , ?
or do you winter in SA?

sclarke

Well at the moment I'm more of an expat, have a home here but I'm from Costa Mesa, and stay/work in Newport parts of the year.

After reading more through the aforementioned vaya builds thread, decided to go with the 55, as it sounds like it'd be better suited to a more upright stance.

Now the hard part - finding one. Have some feelers out, but if anyone has a frameset or a complete build in that size that they are looking to sell, certainly would be willing to consider a price, depending on the build (i.e. how much I'd wind up replacing).

samson_tw

I emailed nearly every Salsa Dealer listed on the Salsa website. Below are some folks you may want to contact. I don't know much about them aside from the fact that they wrote back and were willing to ship to Costa Mesa at a decent price. FYI, I went with bicyclesportshop.com out of Texas. Josh at the Parmer store was extremely helpful. I ended up with a 2012 Vaya 3 for around 1140 shipped.

www.LaDolceVelo.com - 2012 Vaya 3 $1200, shipped with upgrade to BB7 was $1350 (Rob Mardell)
https://endlesscyclesonline.com - 2012 Vaya 2 $1299, $144 tax + $55 shipping (Jeff Moore)
dan@healthyhabitsqc.com - 2012 Vaya 2 $1525, was willing to track down a Vaya 3
www.freezethaw.com - 2012 Vaya 3 $1215

and this eBay ride currently listed @ $950 - https://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-Salsa-V...item1c2f1ac24e

www.LaDolceVelo.com is a California shop.

- M