Gravel Grinder News Report: Frostbike 2010

Quality Bicycle Products had their annual dealer only expo last weekend where Salsa Cycles was on hand showing off some new gravel/adventure friendly bicycles and components.

First up we have the new steel Vaya, which is a disc brake only touring/adventure/gravel rig. Set up and designed to tackle any road surface, the Vaya also is compatible with racks and fenders.

The Vaya sports some pretty big clearance for fatter road going rubber or cyclo-cross knobbies. The frame is optimized for road components, and will be sold as a complete or as a frame set with a fork.

The Vaya is part of Salsa Cycles new image as an "Adventure By Bike" company.

The Vaya carries on with the new graphics introduced a couple of years ago, and features a rich brown hue set off by this mocha and sky blue panel.

Vaya bikes are already available now through authorized Salsa Cycles dealers. There are going to be plenty of these hitting the gravel events in 2010!

Salsa Cycles also showed these prototype "short racks" for small bags, tents, stuff sacks, and the like. These can be fitted front or rear on Vayas and Fargo bikes.

No word on when these will be available, but I picked one up and they are pretty light!

Need something more substantial in a rack? Salsa has that covered too with this soon to be released model. It is meant for full on heavy touring and will fit Vayas and Fargo bikes along with several other brands of touring rigs.

This was also a working prototype that will be available in the future.

Quality Bicycle Products newest brand, All City, has mostly been focused on urban product, but surprised expo attendees with this single speed cyclo-cross inspired rig in a bright hue of green.

This will be made available as a complete for about $850.00 and also as a frame and fork for around $650.00. Expect availability sometime this summer.

Tire clearance wasn't super generous here, but it may be okay for some gravel duty. The All City rig was spec'ed out quite nicely at the expo, but I didn't hear if it was going to be representative of the final spec on the bike.

The drop outs had an intricately cut out design and were fitted with classic road inspired tensioners for the nutted axle.

Look closely just above the drop outs on the inside of the seat stays. Those are hidden fender mounts. Pretty stealthy and make the bike practical as a wet weather commuter/training rig.

I'll end the report with the crowning rig, the new titanium Salsa La Cruz. This will be a U.S. made titanium frame available through authorized Salsa Dealers. (Pre-orders are being taken only for a few more days for a mid-summer delivery).

The frame has really generous tire clearances and some cool acid etched, subtle graphics. Expect to pay about $1850.00 for a frame only.

That's all from Frostbike in Bloomington, Minnesota. Thanks for checking in with Gravel Grinder News!