Salsa Vaya, the Resurrection - TvH's touring stuff

I know :)

More parts! Mmm, titanium freehub.

Fucken' winter wonderland out there.

That's safe clearance, right?

Annoyingly the Sugino crank doesn't clear the BB so I'll have to find a pin spanner sooner rather than later.

This is shaping up nicely! Digging the colour and fat tyres.

I like the colour more than I thought I would, but will probably still go in a different direction when I get it repainted.

Am considering recreating the classic jellybean scheme..

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It looks cool with the big tyres, but you will hate that ride where you hit a stretch of mud... I say go smaller.

Yeah, tyres aren't staying, I just stole these from my mountain bike to get a feel for it.

Can't decide between 42 and 47 mm. Or indeed Gravel Kings / SKs / Byways / Resolutes. Probably Resolutes

Well what are you going to use this for?

I am in the process of changing my Inbred into a 29" x 2.1" Speed King drop bar thing hoping to go off road touring in Scotland and Wales.

EDIT: Resolutes look similar to Thunder Burts, but I think TBs have lower rolling resistance?

Mostly commuting and road touring, but also back roads and gravel amongst the latter, like we experienced a lot in Wales.

It's more whether I believe the people who say that Resolutes are still fast on the road, because road is going to be 80-90 percent of the use - but that 10-20% off road could be pretty rough, rocky, muddy stuff.

Thunder Burts will be way too big I think

Thunder Burts are flipping awesome! Even on second set, It still stonked me how fast they were. Capable off road as well. They do come up a bit smaller than advertised, so might be worth trying them out.

If you are on the road they will be slow no doubt.
That is why I am getting Speed Kings.
I used to run WTB Vulpines (but they don't make them anymore).

I am not sure what is available in 650Bs but I am totally hooked on semi slicks. I did a tour in Brittany on tarmac and gravel with Scooter and Fox on Challenge Gravel Grinder plus 38c. They are perfect for the type of cycling you are talking about. For heavy duty touring the Speed Kings will offer same low rolling resistance with side knobs for confident cornering but more volume.

EDIT: Furious Fred might be worth looking at as well.

Too many tyres to think about!

I actually had a pair of 700x38c Gravel Grinder Race on my Pompetamine. I thought they were great, but the wheel was starting to get a bit massive and mudguard clearance was tight. The 42 mm Resolutes look pretty similar, but 650B.

Am a bit put off tyres above 50 mm, don't really like the bounce on road and pressure fiddling.

Maybe if I can find a pair to borrow or super cheap, you are most evangelical about them!

I used race kings for this kind of thing, even did a 150k road ride on them!

loved em and a great price too.

Cos 1. Tan wall is 2017 2. They make nice whooshing sound when you corner hard. 3. RP tyre hugging mammils freak out when when they see the pace you're flinging up planet sized crap into their face!

Seriously though, I've tried a fair few combos when working at Evans and I still keep coming back to Furious Fred's on front and Thunder Burts out back. Reliable, fast, grippy, comfortable, stupidly light.
Annoyingly enough, I can't get them where I am these days.

Nice saddle ;)

Have you had a chance to sit on it yet? Looks like a much more functional build than the raleigh

Gumwall is genuinely a concern about the WTBs

Not yet! Was gonna try it on the Raleigh but didn't get the chance. Hope this build will finally tick all the boxes

+1 for Thunder Burts. So good. Surprisingly fast on road too.

Price is good, however I had a couple unexpected expenses the last weeks, so the smart decision would be to pass, sorry :/

Slow Sunday.

Lots of parts on the way, but can't really get started on anything yet. Frame is going for mods on Tuesday with Gav at august bicycles.

Ohh sweet that paint job is going to look beanin'

So many good builds going on around here at the moment!

Who is going to paint it?

Thinking of trying myself over a white powdercoat.