Windsor Tourist Bike, is it any good? - Page 3 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-22-2005, 04:09 PM

Steven M. Scharf wrote:
> Earl Bollinger wrote:
> > Yeah I know the stories about buying from my local dealer, and I
consider
> > that really fine advice, but...
> > I am looking for a long haul hi-mileage bike, under $1,000.00 US,
that is
> > sold in the USA.....

>
> Look at the Fuji Tour, this is about equal to the Windsor Tourist.
>
> What is the return policy at bikesdirect if you don't like the
Windsor
> Tourist?
Check out Surly at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Pete

01-22-2005, 04:09 PM

Steven M. Scharf wrote:
> Earl Bollinger wrote:
> > Yeah I know the stories about buying from my local dealer, and I
consider
> > that really fine advice, but...
> > I am looking for a long haul hi-mileage bike, under $1,000.00 US,
that is
> > sold in the USA.....

>
> Look at the Fuji Tour, this is about equal to the Windsor Tourist.
>
> What is the return policy at bikesdirect if you don't like the
Windsor
> Tourist?
Check out Surly at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Pete

01-22-2005, 04:12 PM

araby wrote:

> Before buying a Trek 520, there are two things that you should check out.
> If you look at the specs you will see that they have fitted a 52/42/30 crank
> set. Who needs a top ratio of 128 gear inches? This is higher than the
> Lance Armstrong Livestrong 6 Madone!!! A touring bike should have an MTB
> type crank set e.g. 46/36/24. A top ratio of 100" is quite enough for
> touring or general riding
> Also you should swap out the stem for one with more rise. You can see how
> low the bars are from the picture.
> These point have been brought to Trek's notice on numerous occasions by
> the touring ng, but they prefer to use "off the shelf" road components
> rather than tailoring the bike for its specific function.

This is true. Trek really wrecked the 520 with their component changes.
You can work around them by making changes, but you shouldn't have to.

The Windsor Tour seems to have all the right features for a touring
bike, though it shares the gearing that may be a little high, as does
the Fuji Tour. I'd definitely opt for the Fuji Tour, at $800.

Fuji hasn't wrecked their touring bike like Trek did, and the
Koga-Miyata is awesome, but beyond the reach of many tourers.

I don't think Trek is really interested in the tiny market for touring
bicycles, with the expense of a chromolloy frame, stronger wheels, etc.

01-22-2005, 04:12 PM

araby wrote:

> Before buying a Trek 520, there are two things that you should check out.
> If you look at the specs you will see that they have fitted a 52/42/30 crank
> set. Who needs a top ratio of 128 gear inches? This is higher than the
> Lance Armstrong Livestrong 6 Madone!!! A touring bike should have an MTB
> type crank set e.g. 46/36/24. A top ratio of 100" is quite enough for
> touring or general riding
> Also you should swap out the stem for one with more rise. You can see how
> low the bars are from the picture.
> These point have been brought to Trek's notice on numerous occasions by
> the touring ng, but they prefer to use "off the shelf" road components
> rather than tailoring the bike for its specific function.

This is true. Trek really wrecked the 520 with their component changes.
You can work around them by making changes, but you shouldn't have to.

The Windsor Tour seems to have all the right features for a touring
bike, though it shares the gearing that may be a little high, as does
the Fuji Tour. I'd definitely opt for the Fuji Tour, at $800.

Fuji hasn't wrecked their touring bike like Trek did, and the
Koga-Miyata is awesome, but beyond the reach of many tourers.

I don't think Trek is really interested in the tiny market for touring
bicycles, with the expense of a chromolloy frame, stronger wheels, etc.

01-22-2005, 04:12 PM

araby wrote:

> Before buying a Trek 520, there are two things that you should check out.
> If you look at the specs you will see that they have fitted a 52/42/30 crank
> set. Who needs a top ratio of 128 gear inches? This is higher than the
> Lance Armstrong Livestrong 6 Madone!!! A touring bike should have an MTB
> type crank set e.g. 46/36/24. A top ratio of 100" is quite enough for
> touring or general riding
> Also you should swap out the stem for one with more rise. You can see how
> low the bars are from the picture.
> These point have been brought to Trek's notice on numerous occasions by
> the touring ng, but they prefer to use "off the shelf" road components
> rather than tailoring the bike for its specific function.

This is true. Trek really wrecked the 520 with their component changes.
You can work around them by making changes, but you shouldn't have to.

The Windsor Tour seems to have all the right features for a touring
bike, though it shares the gearing that may be a little high, as does
the Fuji Tour. I'd definitely opt for the Fuji Tour, at $800.

Fuji hasn't wrecked their touring bike like Trek did, and the
Koga-Miyata is awesome, but beyond the reach of many tourers.

I don't think Trek is really interested in the tiny market for touring
bicycles, with the expense of a chromolloy frame, stronger wheels, etc.

01-22-2005, 05:02 PM

Earl Bollinger wrote:
> Since they are sold off the internet it is doubtful any dealers would
ever
> sell them locally.

Maybe not in your area, but in Northeast Florida they're sold by one of
the chain stores. A good freind bought one, and he's thrilled with it.
Heck, the Ultegra gruppo is worth the price alone.
YMMV.

Art

01-22-2005, 05:02 PM

Earl Bollinger wrote:
> Since they are sold off the internet it is doubtful any dealers would
ever
> sell them locally.

Maybe not in your area, but in Northeast Florida they're sold by one of
the chain stores. A good freind bought one, and he's thrilled with it.
Heck, the Ultegra gruppo is worth the price alone.
YMMV.

Art

01-22-2005, 05:02 PM

Earl Bollinger wrote:
> Since they are sold off the internet it is doubtful any dealers would
ever
> sell them locally.

Maybe not in your area, but in Northeast Florida they're sold by one of
the chain stores. A good freind bought one, and he's thrilled with it.
Heck, the Ultegra gruppo is worth the price alone.
YMMV.

Art

01-22-2005, 05:30 PM

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.
Maybe it is still a dirty word from the 1980's when the bottom fell out of
the market.
Right now I am using a modified MTB type of bike with 48/38/28 chainrings
and a Shimano MegaRange cassette with 11-34t, the 48/11 gears give are about
the same ratio as a 52/12, plus the granny gear is it for going up steep
hills. Unfortunately, although it is quite nice, one starts to really enjoy
the front and rear shocks and sprung seat, except for a seatpost rack I
can't put any other racks on it.
I'll check out the Fuji too.
Thanks

"Steven M. Scharf" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:WZBId.2826$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthl ink.net...
> araby wrote:
>
>> Before buying a Trek 520, there are two things that you should check
>> out. If you look at the specs you will see that they have fitted a
>> 52/42/30 crank set. Who needs a top ratio of 128 gear inches? This is
>> higher than the Lance Armstrong Livestrong 6 Madone!!! A touring bike
>> should have an MTB type crank set e.g. 46/36/24. A top ratio of 100" is
>> quite enough for touring or general riding
>> Also you should swap out the stem for one with more rise. You can see
>> how low the bars are from the picture.
>> These point have been brought to Trek's notice on numerous occasions by
>> the touring ng, but they prefer to use "off the shelf" road components
>> rather than tailoring the bike for its specific function.
>
> This is true. Trek really wrecked the 520 with their component changes.
> You can work around them by making changes, but you shouldn't have to.
>
> The Windsor Tour seems to have all the right features for a touring bike,
> though it shares the gearing that may be a little high, as does the Fuji
> Tour. I'd definitely opt for the Fuji Tour, at $800.
>
> Fuji hasn't wrecked their touring bike like Trek did, and the Koga-Miyata
> is awesome, but beyond the reach of many tourers.
>
> I don't think Trek is really interested in the tiny market for touring
> bicycles, with the expense of a chromolloy frame, stronger wheels, etc.
>

01-22-2005, 05:30 PM

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.
Maybe it is still a dirty word from the 1980's when the bottom fell out of
the market.
Right now I am using a modified MTB type of bike with 48/38/28 chainrings
and a Shimano MegaRange cassette with 11-34t, the 48/11 gears give are about
the same ratio as a 52/12, plus the granny gear is it for going up steep
hills. Unfortunately, although it is quite nice, one starts to really enjoy
the front and rear shocks and sprung seat, except for a seatpost rack I
can't put any other racks on it.
I'll check out the Fuji too.
Thanks

"Steven M. Scharf" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:WZBId.2826$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthl ink.net...
> araby wrote:
>
>> Before buying a Trek 520, there are two things that you should check
>> out. If you look at the specs you will see that they have fitted a
>> 52/42/30 crank set. Who needs a top ratio of 128 gear inches? This is
>> higher than the Lance Armstrong Livestrong 6 Madone!!! A touring bike
>> should have an MTB type crank set e.g. 46/36/24. A top ratio of 100" is
>> quite enough for touring or general riding
>> Also you should swap out the stem for one with more rise. You can see
>> how low the bars are from the picture.
>> These point have been brought to Trek's notice on numerous occasions by
>> the touring ng, but they prefer to use "off the shelf" road components
>> rather than tailoring the bike for its specific function.
>
> This is true. Trek really wrecked the 520 with their component changes.
> You can work around them by making changes, but you shouldn't have to.
>
> The Windsor Tour seems to have all the right features for a touring bike,
> though it shares the gearing that may be a little high, as does the Fuji
> Tour. I'd definitely opt for the Fuji Tour, at $800.
>
> Fuji hasn't wrecked their touring bike like Trek did, and the Koga-Miyata
> is awesome, but beyond the reach of many tourers.
>
> I don't think Trek is really interested in the tiny market for touring
> bicycles, with the expense of a chromolloy frame, stronger wheels, etc.
>