My wife’s Salsa Vaya Travel on a short 2 day tour of some desert mountain parks

What kind of bag is that in the basket?

I've never considered those type of alum fenders (or steel or whatever) but I have to say, the tone and colour of them are a very cool match to the frame and give the bike a pretty neat look.
And yes, the red panniers etc give a neat punch to that whole earth toney/silver/grey palette in the whole shot.

The bags on the bike were sewn by me, but Realm makes a similar basket bag.

https://shop-realm.com/products/wald-basket-bag-black

You realize now people are going to want some custom bags

Along the Nabesna Road in the northern part of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.



On the McCarthy Road in the southern part of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

do I see beautiful low rider mounts on the fork?

Everett, MA

I had to change out the front shock on my Xtra conversion. Nice rig tho!

Headed out for an overnight tour. Tent, sleeping mat, chair kit and camp shoes in one pannier; food, cooker, fuel, first aid kit and other sundries in the second pannier; quilt and change of clothes in the yellow dry bag; tools, rain jacket, sunscreen, insect repellent in the rack top bag.

For sure. I imagine it would bottom out easier on light bumps. What suspension fork did you upgrade to?

Santa Maria hombre, clean up your goddam bike will ya!
And whole you're at it, align the bloody lines too, sheesh!

Taken in September 2019 heading into Death Valley from Pahrump, NV somewhere along Bell Vista Rd. (I think). Day two of a 30 day outing. This is also a good photo for people who say they don't need a kickstand becasue there's always something to lean the bike against.

Theres a marker post about 100 feet behind you.

I used those the first time across the desert. They work when they are present, but the desert southwest is massive and those markers aren't always around. Also I've found it best to heed to advice I was given after picking up two tires full of goat's head thorns just as I was about to head across Death Valley the first time in 2016; never let your bike leave the pavement.

Maybe this photo is a better example. It's Badwater Road, heading south through the basin. 75 miles to the next place to lean a bike.

next time the lines.. hope all is ok!

As always, seeing cool photos of neat roads somewhere in Spain makes me yearn for an adventure, but until we all get vaccines and the airline industries get going again, i fear no flying this summer. The plan was always to do maybe Holland and then ferry over to uk to see my family, but I'm not convinced it will happen this year.

here life goes on, but at least I rode all winter again so the legs will be reasonable for whatever local trips get done. Yesterday morning the ride was still -14c and wind chill of about -25c, so still cold days. Will change soon though.

Holland is too flat I understand the flying issue, also would not use a plane right now. my last longer tour was Spain last August. the pictures are from a long weekend at home, had to go out, all these lockdowns!!! numbers are really down right now! still we are not allowed to leave our state, with new rules now we are able to move in our province, so Easter Week ---> ferry to Mallorca, at least something.
- what? ))) hope you have a warm nice heating system and a cosy fireplace! best wishes! Stefan

Off topic here, but riding yesterday with my wife (her first ride of the season) and I just couldn't resist trying out my studded tires on this completely frozen river. The photo is bad so it looks like there is open water and waves, but it was all frozen, probably 30cms thick at least. Was fun.

Surly Long Haul Lumberjacker

I always loved taking my Nokians out on the ice and slamming on the breaks. It took only once to remember to not touch down.

It's certainly a neat feeling on pure ice with studs, although I had to be very careful and stay straight vertical as my tires only have studs in the middle.

I'm sorry, but what do you mean by not touching down?

And a whole planet underneath that

Near the end of a solo tour from Savannah to Memphis. I made the saddle bag from a Czech surplus gas mask bag. I had made an aluminum standoff bracket to keep it from leaning against the frame, but it broke a few days before. Not one of my successful fabrications, but a great tour.

Two people who don't have kickstands can lean their bikes together head-to-tail, like horses in a pasture, and they'll reliably stay upright. It works even when one of the bikes is a recumbent, as it is here. The campsite is outside Lordsburg, New Mexico.