New Windsor Tourist bikes on eBay - Page 6

01-12-2005, 12:00 PM

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 20:48:04 +0000, I wrote:
steel skinny tire bike pumped up to 100psi rides more
> smoothly.
>
> I'll have a google about that Fuji and have a look anyway. :-)

They have two models I'd love the test ride, the Hokkaido, and the Kyoto.
Both are equipped with Nexus hubs and dynamos. Nice. They have suspension
forks--but I think they would have been better served building them out of
chromo as you mentioned they'd done in the past. Would probably shave a
couple pounds off of the 38 pound weight for those who care about such
things. Alu frame and doing fork probably due to customer demand. ;-)

01-12-2005, 02:00 PM

On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 19:15:50 +0000, I wrote:

> The more I look at the Novara Fusion,

The more I realize that my local REI is idiotic for not carrying it.

I get the response that the Fusion is a "specialty bike."

Huh?

A normal hub geared bike with fenders & lights is nothing of the sort.
It's what I would call a "standard" bike. At least that's what our
European counterparts would call them.

Out of a few DOZEN bikes represented--they can't stock a normal one. I
really feel like yelling at somebody @ REI, but I'll probably just fire
off an irate email.

No wonder utility cycling is never going anywhere in the US.

It's a chicken and egg situation.

Here's the funny thing: on my old Nexus7 bike (all black, fenders, rack,
B17, very chic) folks stopped me all the time and asked where they could
buy one, because if they had such a bike they'ed most certainly ride. I
had to tell them that I got the last one the bike shop would ever get of
that model.

Yeah a lot of shops are selling "cruisers" and "comfort" bikes set up a
bit like commuters--but hardly anybody is selling a fully equipped city
bike that's smart and hip and sporty.

01-12-2005, 02:00 PM

On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 19:15:50 +0000, I wrote:

> The more I look at the Novara Fusion,

The more I realize that my local REI is idiotic for not carrying it.

I get the response that the Fusion is a "specialty bike."

Huh?

A normal hub geared bike with fenders & lights is nothing of the sort.
It's what I would call a "standard" bike. At least that's what our
European counterparts would call them.

Out of a few DOZEN bikes represented--they can't stock a normal one. I
really feel like yelling at somebody @ REI, but I'll probably just fire
off an irate email.

No wonder utility cycling is never going anywhere in the US.

It's a chicken and egg situation.

Here's the funny thing: on my old Nexus7 bike (all black, fenders, rack,
B17, very chic) folks stopped me all the time and asked where they could
buy one, because if they had such a bike they'ed most certainly ride. I
had to tell them that I got the last one the bike shop would ever get of
that model.

Yeah a lot of shops are selling "cruisers" and "comfort" bikes set up a
bit like commuters--but hardly anybody is selling a fully equipped city
bike that's smart and hip and sporty.

01-12-2005, 02:00 PM

On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 19:15:50 +0000, I wrote:

> The more I look at the Novara Fusion,

The more I realize that my local REI is idiotic for not carrying it.

I get the response that the Fusion is a "specialty bike."

Huh?

A normal hub geared bike with fenders & lights is nothing of the sort.
It's what I would call a "standard" bike. At least that's what our
European counterparts would call them.

Out of a few DOZEN bikes represented--they can't stock a normal one. I
really feel like yelling at somebody @ REI, but I'll probably just fire
off an irate email.

No wonder utility cycling is never going anywhere in the US.

It's a chicken and egg situation.

Here's the funny thing: on my old Nexus7 bike (all black, fenders, rack,
B17, very chic) folks stopped me all the time and asked where they could
buy one, because if they had such a bike they'ed most certainly ride. I
had to tell them that I got the last one the bike shop would ever get of
that model.

Yeah a lot of shops are selling "cruisers" and "comfort" bikes set up a
bit like commuters--but hardly anybody is selling a fully equipped city
bike that's smart and hip and sporty.

01-12-2005, 03:18 PM

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 11:15:53 -0800, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

> Yes, I notice that chain guards are readily available in Europe and

speaking of chainguards...
I wish this gorgeous beauty was available in the US:

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Check out the sweet chainguard and incredibly elegant cromo fork. Nice.
Now that's a grown man's bike.

01-12-2005, 03:18 PM

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 11:15:53 -0800, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

> Yes, I notice that chain guards are readily available in Europe and

speaking of chainguards...
I wish this gorgeous beauty was available in the US:

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Check out the sweet chainguard and incredibly elegant cromo fork. Nice.
Now that's a grown man's bike.

01-12-2005, 03:18 PM

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 11:15:53 -0800, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

> Yes, I notice that chain guards are readily available in Europe and

speaking of chainguards...
I wish this gorgeous beauty was available in the US:

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Check out the sweet chainguard and incredibly elegant cromo fork. Nice.
Now that's a grown man's bike.

01-16-2005, 12:17 PM

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 06:18:40 GMT, "Steven M. Scharf"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
<4j3Fd.4840$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthlink.n et>:

>There is one drawback with the Fusion that would make me opt for
>something else--it lacks a chain guard. And unlike lights or fenders,
>adding a chain guard is extremely difficult. If you want a bike that you
>can jump on and ride, even in regular clothes, a chain guard is essential.

For certain values of essential. I know a lot of people who wear
suits to work and ride bikes without chainguards - the Brompton, much
used by the discerning City gent, has no facility to add one.

Oh, and adding a chain guard is actually relatively straightforward,
especially with hub gears, but adding a chain case is a real cow.

And there is always the option of shaft-drive...

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

01-16-2005, 12:17 PM

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 06:18:40 GMT, "Steven M. Scharf"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
<4j3Fd.4840$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthlink.n et>:

>There is one drawback with the Fusion that would make me opt for
>something else--it lacks a chain guard. And unlike lights or fenders,
>adding a chain guard is extremely difficult. If you want a bike that you
>can jump on and ride, even in regular clothes, a chain guard is essential.

For certain values of essential. I know a lot of people who wear
suits to work and ride bikes without chainguards - the Brompton, much
used by the discerning City gent, has no facility to add one.

Oh, and adding a chain guard is actually relatively straightforward,
especially with hub gears, but adding a chain case is a real cow.

And there is always the option of shaft-drive...

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

01-16-2005, 12:17 PM

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 06:18:40 GMT, "Steven M. Scharf"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
<4j3Fd.4840$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthlink.n et>:

>There is one drawback with the Fusion that would make me opt for
>something else--it lacks a chain guard. And unlike lights or fenders,
>adding a chain guard is extremely difficult. If you want a bike that you
>can jump on and ride, even in regular clothes, a chain guard is essential.

For certain values of essential. I know a lot of people who wear
suits to work and ride bikes without chainguards - the Brompton, much
used by the discerning City gent, has no facility to add one.

Oh, and adding a chain guard is actually relatively straightforward,
especially with hub gears, but adding a chain case is a real cow.

And there is always the option of shaft-drive...

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound