Windsor Tourist Bike, is it any good? - Page 18 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-27-2005, 12:10 PM

:
: They did build way too many. I remember buying my Specialized
: Expedition for $400 (regular price $650), when Specialized dumped tens
: of thousands of 1983 model into the retail channel, when the 1984 model
: was just coming out, and offered very few advantages.
:
I had a Specialized Expedition on order in the summer of 1984. They kept
telling the dealer they were behind on shipment and I never did get the
thing before I left for Germany that fall. I bought a Schwinn touring bike
instead. It was a Voyageur SP model.

Pat in TX

01-27-2005, 12:10 PM

:
: They did build way too many. I remember buying my Specialized
: Expedition for $400 (regular price $650), when Specialized dumped tens
: of thousands of 1983 model into the retail channel, when the 1984 model
: was just coming out, and offered very few advantages.
:
I had a Specialized Expedition on order in the summer of 1984. They kept
telling the dealer they were behind on shipment and I never did get the
thing before I left for Germany that fall. I bought a Schwinn touring bike
instead. It was a Voyageur SP model.

Pat in TX

01-27-2005, 12:20 PM

marika wrote:

> So I am beginning to doubt the sanity of such an endeavor as well.
> They will not get into it without a fight.

There are still touring bicycles available. What's been almost lost is
the mass market touring bicycle that sells for a reasonable price. So
rather than selling for $600-800, you'll be paying 2x-4x that. The
Windsor Tourist and Fuji Tour are about the only sub-$1000 touring
bicycles on the market.

The Koga-Miyata Randonneur ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ])
looks like the best touring bike, but it's $2200.

Some of the 20" folding or disassembleable bikes, such as the Dahon TR
(dahon.com/speedtr.htm), the Bike Friday New World Tourist
(bikefriday.com/bikeMMI.cfm?bf=5&cat=1), and the Gaerlan gt20
(gaerlan.com) are pretty good. I bought a Dahon TR, and am quite
impressed.

Another issue is the distribution of touring bicycles. Some shops
distribute the products of a single manufacturer. While this has its
benefits in a business-sense, it means that they can't serve all
segments of the cycling market. So it's essential to visit several
shops when looking for a touring bicycle. I wish that Harris Cyclery
would open a shop in my area!

Don't blame the bicycle manufacturers for the decline in bicycle
touring. They are in a tough business with low margins, and can't be
expected to subsidize an unpopular model.

01-27-2005, 12:20 PM

marika wrote:

> So I am beginning to doubt the sanity of such an endeavor as well.
> They will not get into it without a fight.

There are still touring bicycles available. What's been almost lost is
the mass market touring bicycle that sells for a reasonable price. So
rather than selling for $600-800, you'll be paying 2x-4x that. The
Windsor Tourist and Fuji Tour are about the only sub-$1000 touring
bicycles on the market.

The Koga-Miyata Randonneur ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ])
looks like the best touring bike, but it's $2200.

Some of the 20" folding or disassembleable bikes, such as the Dahon TR
(dahon.com/speedtr.htm), the Bike Friday New World Tourist
(bikefriday.com/bikeMMI.cfm?bf=5&cat=1), and the Gaerlan gt20
(gaerlan.com) are pretty good. I bought a Dahon TR, and am quite
impressed.

Another issue is the distribution of touring bicycles. Some shops
distribute the products of a single manufacturer. While this has its
benefits in a business-sense, it means that they can't serve all
segments of the cycling market. So it's essential to visit several
shops when looking for a touring bicycle. I wish that Harris Cyclery
would open a shop in my area!

Don't blame the bicycle manufacturers for the decline in bicycle
touring. They are in a tough business with low margins, and can't be
expected to subsidize an unpopular model.

01-27-2005, 12:20 PM

marika wrote:

> So I am beginning to doubt the sanity of such an endeavor as well.
> They will not get into it without a fight.

There are still touring bicycles available. What's been almost lost is
the mass market touring bicycle that sells for a reasonable price. So
rather than selling for $600-800, you'll be paying 2x-4x that. The
Windsor Tourist and Fuji Tour are about the only sub-$1000 touring
bicycles on the market.

The Koga-Miyata Randonneur ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ])
looks like the best touring bike, but it's $2200.

Some of the 20" folding or disassembleable bikes, such as the Dahon TR
(dahon.com/speedtr.htm), the Bike Friday New World Tourist
(bikefriday.com/bikeMMI.cfm?bf=5&cat=1), and the Gaerlan gt20
(gaerlan.com) are pretty good. I bought a Dahon TR, and am quite
impressed.

Another issue is the distribution of touring bicycles. Some shops
distribute the products of a single manufacturer. While this has its
benefits in a business-sense, it means that they can't serve all
segments of the cycling market. So it's essential to visit several
shops when looking for a touring bicycle. I wish that Harris Cyclery
would open a shop in my area!

Don't blame the bicycle manufacturers for the decline in bicycle
touring. They are in a tough business with low margins, and can't be
expected to subsidize an unpopular model.

01-30-2005, 01:43 AM

If you go to Amsterdam, You will see many rusty old toyuring bikes just
chained to a canal fence (also rusty, the fence and the chain)

Now I must say... I've even seen them in the canals.

Researcher & Super Sckeret analyst for hire. inquire within.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> Earl Bollinger wrote:
>
> > There were a lot of bikes left over from that period and store
owners
> wound
> > up stuck with a lot of them. There were so many brand new toiuring
> bikes
> > left over from the 1980's that for years afterwards it was still
> possible to
> > get one new in the 1990's. So it wouldn't be surprising if store
> owners
> > would still be reluctant to stock touring bikes still.
> > Of course, I would love to find and or buy a new 1970's early 80's
> vintage
> > touring bike. Granted they only had 10 speeds, but what the heck.
> Still fun.
>
> The touring bikes of the early 1980's, i.e. Specialized Expedition,
and
> Miyata 1000, were 15 speeds. A granny gear was the distinguishing
> feature, as were the braze-ons for the front racks, three water
> bottles, and even internal wiring for bottom bracket dynamos.
>
> They did build way too many. I remember buying my Specialized
> Expedition for $400 (regular price $650), when Specialized dumped
tens
> of thousands of 1983 model into the retail channel, when the 1984
model
> was just coming out, and offered very few advantages.
>
> Some of the best touring bikes still available are the folders from
> Bike Friday, Gaerlan (gt20), and Dahon (Speed TR).
>
> I can't blame Specialized, Trek, etc., from getting out of the
> business. It's too expensive to build a low volume bicycle. Fuji has
> more of a reason to keep building them, since they have less of a
U.S.
> presence, and more of a presence in countries where touring is still
> popular.
>
> See "http://www.cycle-info.bpaj.or.jp/english/begin/st.html"
>
> I became aware of these cycling terminals when I visited the
Bicycling
> Museum in Tokyo, definitely a worthwhile visit for cycling
enthusiasts
> visiting Japan.

01-30-2005, 01:43 AM

If you go to Amsterdam, You will see many rusty old toyuring bikes just
chained to a canal fence (also rusty, the fence and the chain)

Now I must say... I've even seen them in the canals.

Researcher & Super Sckeret analyst for hire. inquire within.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> Earl Bollinger wrote:
>
> > There were a lot of bikes left over from that period and store
owners
> wound
> > up stuck with a lot of them. There were so many brand new toiuring
> bikes
> > left over from the 1980's that for years afterwards it was still
> possible to
> > get one new in the 1990's. So it wouldn't be surprising if store
> owners
> > would still be reluctant to stock touring bikes still.
> > Of course, I would love to find and or buy a new 1970's early 80's
> vintage
> > touring bike. Granted they only had 10 speeds, but what the heck.
> Still fun.
>
> The touring bikes of the early 1980's, i.e. Specialized Expedition,
and
> Miyata 1000, were 15 speeds. A granny gear was the distinguishing
> feature, as were the braze-ons for the front racks, three water
> bottles, and even internal wiring for bottom bracket dynamos.
>
> They did build way too many. I remember buying my Specialized
> Expedition for $400 (regular price $650), when Specialized dumped
tens
> of thousands of 1983 model into the retail channel, when the 1984
model
> was just coming out, and offered very few advantages.
>
> Some of the best touring bikes still available are the folders from
> Bike Friday, Gaerlan (gt20), and Dahon (Speed TR).
>
> I can't blame Specialized, Trek, etc., from getting out of the
> business. It's too expensive to build a low volume bicycle. Fuji has
> more of a reason to keep building them, since they have less of a
U.S.
> presence, and more of a presence in countries where touring is still
> popular.
>
> See "http://www.cycle-info.bpaj.or.jp/english/begin/st.html"
>
> I became aware of these cycling terminals when I visited the
Bicycling
> Museum in Tokyo, definitely a worthwhile visit for cycling
enthusiasts
> visiting Japan.

02-03-2005, 07:35 PM

I just ordered one, too, because the alternatives at anywhere near the
price were no better or worse. The Windsor Tourist IS a Fuji Touring
under a different name, by the way.

- GRL

Earl Bollinger wrote:
> Well, I drove all over the metroplex checking out all the stores,
checked
> specs and explored the internet looking and checking out everything,
and I
> saw and got to check out a number of neat touring bikes and/or
non-touring
> bikes.
> So I agonized over it and decided to buy the Windsor Tourist. It
seems that
> I might have to change out the gear ratios, but with 27 gear
combinations
> that might not be required. But it would be nice to get a bigger
granny gear
> in the cassette, but I'll have to wait and see what it really has on
it,
> whether it really is a 11-30 tooth cassette or not, if so I think a
48/38/28
> chainring would be about right.
>
> To everyone, thanks for all your advice, comments, and such, I really

> appreciate it.
> I'll let you all know how it goes.
>
> I was playing around with a old JP Penney 10 speed that I had found
this
> weekend, and discovered that it was an old touring bike.
> I took it out for a test spin and it felt good, so I just kept going
and
> going and going. Anyway it felt about right for a touring bike, long
> wheelbase, relaxed steering clearances for fenders, and places to
mount
> fenders, racks and stuff. If it wasn't for it being 30 years old, I
might
> have just rebuilt it, but a whole bike would cost less. So I think
that old
> bike helped put me over the edge.
>
>
> "maxo" <maxo@NOSPAMhome.se> wrote in message
> news

an.2005.01.23.04.13.02.68131@NOSPAMhome.se.. .
> > On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 19:30:57 -0600, Earl Bollinger wrote:
> >
> >
> >> I tried to look for a Trek 520 at the local dealer shops, but they
don't
> >> seem to have any in the stores. So I can't tell much about them.
But I
> >> don't think I'll try too hard anymore though. Apparently touring
isn't
> >> something the stores want to stock bikes for.
> >
> > It's like the automotive "station wagon" term in the states. It got
such a
> > horrible stigma for some reason--then everyone got all hot and
bothered
> > about SUVs which are really just 'wagons on 'roids LOL. I've got a
VW
> > jetta wagon and often folks stop me in pk lots and admire the
vehicle as
> > if it's some new concept. Plenty of them around 15 years ago--I
didn't
> > necessarily want to buy a VW, but GM and the yank manufacturers
were too
> > embarrassed to make one so I went German. Now they're getting hip
again.
> > Go figure.
> >
> > I think the same thing will happen with bikes. Folks will flock to
a
> > sturdy road frame with cantis as the new hip thing. Slap skinnies
on it
> > and go for a club ride, or mount fenders, fatties, and fenders and
see you
> > in Cape Town...

02-03-2005, 07:35 PM

I just ordered one, too, because the alternatives at anywhere near the
price were no better or worse. The Windsor Tourist IS a Fuji Touring
under a different name, by the way.

- GRL

Earl Bollinger wrote:
> Well, I drove all over the metroplex checking out all the stores,
checked
> specs and explored the internet looking and checking out everything,
and I
> saw and got to check out a number of neat touring bikes and/or
non-touring
> bikes.
> So I agonized over it and decided to buy the Windsor Tourist. It
seems that
> I might have to change out the gear ratios, but with 27 gear
combinations
> that might not be required. But it would be nice to get a bigger
granny gear
> in the cassette, but I'll have to wait and see what it really has on
it,
> whether it really is a 11-30 tooth cassette or not, if so I think a
48/38/28
> chainring would be about right.
>
> To everyone, thanks for all your advice, comments, and such, I really

> appreciate it.
> I'll let you all know how it goes.
>
> I was playing around with a old JP Penney 10 speed that I had found
this
> weekend, and discovered that it was an old touring bike.
> I took it out for a test spin and it felt good, so I just kept going
and
> going and going. Anyway it felt about right for a touring bike, long
> wheelbase, relaxed steering clearances for fenders, and places to
mount
> fenders, racks and stuff. If it wasn't for it being 30 years old, I
might
> have just rebuilt it, but a whole bike would cost less. So I think
that old
> bike helped put me over the edge.
>
>
> "maxo" <maxo@NOSPAMhome.se> wrote in message
> news

an.2005.01.23.04.13.02.68131@NOSPAMhome.se.. .
> > On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 19:30:57 -0600, Earl Bollinger wrote:
> >
> >
> >> I tried to look for a Trek 520 at the local dealer shops, but they
don't
> >> seem to have any in the stores. So I can't tell much about them.
But I
> >> don't think I'll try too hard anymore though. Apparently touring
isn't
> >> something the stores want to stock bikes for.
> >
> > It's like the automotive "station wagon" term in the states. It got
such a
> > horrible stigma for some reason--then everyone got all hot and
bothered
> > about SUVs which are really just 'wagons on 'roids LOL. I've got a
VW
> > jetta wagon and often folks stop me in pk lots and admire the
vehicle as
> > if it's some new concept. Plenty of them around 15 years ago--I
didn't
> > necessarily want to buy a VW, but GM and the yank manufacturers
were too
> > embarrassed to make one so I went German. Now they're getting hip
again.
> > Go figure.
> >
> > I think the same thing will happen with bikes. Folks will flock to
a
> > sturdy road frame with cantis as the new hip thing. Slap skinnies
on it
> > and go for a club ride, or mount fenders, fatties, and fenders and
see you
> > in Cape Town...