All Road AWOL - Custom Build

Michael didn't even know he was looking for a better bike when he saw the AWOL frameset in the shop, but one thing led to another and soon he was taking his first "little" shakedown ride from Lake Oswego to Cascade Locks and back...and he couldn't have been more pleased with the comfort and handling of his new AWOL. This build didn't deviate too much from the flavor of the stock AWOL comp, just dialed it in for how he rides. Lots of road, sometimes loaded, but more about the ability to ride where ever his will takes him with no problems. Plenty of gear range, tubeless tires and dynamo/USB power are the stars here.

Clean lines - room in the main triangle for a Revelate / Salsa frame bag. Extra water capacity down low.

Wide gearing. Mtb rear derailleur and cassette with road compact up front.

We dig TRP disc brakes. DT swiss wheels with Schmidt front hub.

POWER! Supernova "Plug" USB adapter powered by dynamo.

Big rotor, smooth stopping. Schmidt SON hub, Salsa skewer.

Specialized Trigger 33mm tires, good for paved - to - medium gravel roads. Tubeless, natch.

Vaya anywhere - a Custom Salsa for All-Road Adventures

We are pleased to announce our sponsorship of BikePortland.org's bikepacking and gravel ride coverage this year. In order to get out and document these rides, editor Jonathan Maus needed a more capable bike than his cyclocross rig and more nimble than his 29er. Enter the Salsa Vaya - our adventure riding bike of choice.

Equally capable on dirt roads and cross-country tours, we've been fans of the Vaya for a few years now. To outfit Mr. Maus in style, we customized a Vaya frame for long day rides and light touring. To begin, we set it up with a reliable Shimano 2x10 drivetrain with 105 shifters and derailleurs, paired with a White Industries VBC crankset. Capable of running a wide range of gears, this will allow for a smaller inner ring than the standard 34t on a compact in case a lower range is needed for heavier loads or steeper dirt terrain. 

Assisting in the conquest of hills is the wheel set. Stan's Grail tubeless rims, paired with DT Swiss Competition spokes in front and heavy duty Alpine III spokes in the rear, laced to a reliable and powerful Alfine 501 dynamo hub up front and XT rear hub. We shod the hoops with a set of WTB Nano 40c tubeless tires for grip and cushion on forest roads. 

Rounding out the package are a pair of Avid BB7 brakes, Salsa Cowbell bar and stem, Brooks Cambium saddle and a Chris King headset. 

Follow along here and on BikePortland.org as Jonathan explores the backroads of Oregon and Washington over the coming year.

Build highlights

• Salsa Vaya triple-butted frameset- 60cm
• Handbuilt wheelset- Stan's Grail tubeless rims, Shimano Alfine dynamo front and XT rear hubs, DT Alpine spokes in back and Competition spokes in front, black brass nipples. WTB Nano 40mm tires, set up tubeless.
• Shimano 105 Shifters and rear derailleur, CX-70 front derailleur
• White Industries VBC Crankset
• Gold Chris King headset matched to gold Salsa seat collar and skewers
• Jagwire sealed shift cable/housing and compression-less brake housing
• 3x King Cage stainless steel h20 cages, handmade in Colorado.
• Brooks Cambium Saddle

100% Real. Custom Surly Pacer

Continuing our greatest hits resurrected from the ashes of our old website; here's a drop-dead gorgeous Surly Pacer we built in 2013. The client was after a classic all-weather steel road bike, and this Pacer delivered.

Build Highlights

• Sram Rival groupset with Apex levers (no carbon fiber on this bike!)
• Chris King headset (of course)
• Tune Mig/Mag hubs laced to H+Son Archetype rims with Sapim CX-Ray spokes
• Custom Black-anodized Honjo hammered fenders, made in Japan, blacked out in PDX.
• Yokozuna Cable Housing, ZIPP Bar, Thomson stem and post, Brooks Cambium saddle