New tourer, to replace my old Raleigh Randonneur (Walter, natch) killed by Easyjet a couple of years ago. A Salsa Vaya, steel frame, but that's about the only similarity: 26" wheels, disc brakes, bling Middleburn chainset, and of course
bright orange. Salsa Woodchipper bars, with dirt-drop stylee flared drops, have turned out to be fantastically comfortable. Cane Creek brake levers with gum hoods: a little bit of retroness that makes me extraordinarily happy. Oh, and DA downtube shifter loveliness - back into the swing of using 'em again within minutes, it seems to be one of those things that never goes away. Bit like riding a bike, in fact.
Here he is, New Walter:
Looking forward to taking him to Scotland, the Western Isles, next week with camping kit for a bit of on- and off-road adventuring.