Gunnar bike for touring

Jack Murphy said:

I have a Gunnar sport that I overload for long weekend tours. Am beginning
to plan for a full touring bike. I see from Gunnar that they will customize
one of their frames to give it more of a full on touring geometry for not
much more than stock, and several hundred less than the Waterford.

Anyone know about these bikes? I'd like to get a steel frame touring bike,
and don't want to spend a fortune.

Gunnar and Waterford are one in the same. Gunnars are usually a bit
simpler without lugs and with powdercoat. It's still a damn fine frame.

Best deal for frame alone is a Surly LHT. But the best value overall
for a steel touring bike, is either a Fuji Touring, or even a Windsor
Touring for $600 via mail order. The latter's made on the same line as
the Fuji, AFAIK, you just need to go through it and replace the bits
you don't like as if it were a kit. I've heard a couple owners of the
Windsors had trouble with the spokes braking in the rear, but if you
have your local shop (or yourself) detress and hand tune it, you should
be fine.

landotter said:

But the best value overall
for a steel touring bike, is either a Fuji Touring, or even a Windsor
Touring for $600 via mail order.

Where would you mail order it from?

I'm wanting to get into touring next year but have so
much equip to buy will have to get god value in
everything including the bike.

Quoted message said:

landotter said:

But the best value overall
for a steel touring bike, is either a Fuji Touring, or even a Windsor
Touring for $600 via mail order.

Where would you mail order it from?

I'm wanting to get into touring next year but have so
much equip to buy will have to get god value in
everything including the bike.

Here what I turned up in a simple google search:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm
or the whole search here:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=windsor+touring+bike&btnG=Google+Search

Ken
--
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets
old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without
shocking the entire community. ~Ann Strong

Quoted message said:

landotter said:

But the best value overall
for a steel touring bike, is either a Fuji Touring, or even a Windsor
Touring for $600 via mail order.

Where would you mail order it from?

http://www.bikesdirect.com

Quoted message said:

I'm wanting to get into touring next year but have so
much equip to buy will have to get god value in
everything including the bike.

Also, plan to spend ~$75-100 having the bike properly prepped and set
up by a *competent* bike mechanic.

And, if you are going "loaded" touring, I would suggest swapping the
30T inner ring for a 26T. Even better, swap the 52/42/30 rings for,
say, 48/38/26. A 48/11 is an adequately high gear for a touring bike; I
doubt you would ever need the 52/11 it comes with.

Ken C. M. said:

Here what I turned up in a simple google search:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

would you feel confident taking this level of bike on a
thousand mile tour with camp equipment?

"Ozark Bicycle"

Quoted message said:

http://www.bikesdirect.com

Quoted message said:

I'm wanting to get into touring next year but have so
much equip to buy will have to get god value in
everything including the bike.

Also, plan to spend ~$75-100 having the bike properly prepped and set
up by a *competent* bike mechanic.

Ok will do

My other option was the REI touring bike. I think its
abt the same price range

Quoted message said:

Ken C. M. said:

Here what I turned up in a simple google search:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

would you feel confident taking this level of bike on a
thousand mile tour with camp equipment?

I took /less/ of a bike on a 1,200 mile tour last year. With camping
gear. I rode a Raleigh hybrid c200 up through Central Florida and
through the panhandle area on into Alabama.

Ken
--
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets
old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without
shocking the entire community. ~Ann Strong

Quoted message said:

"Ozark Bicycle"

Quoted message said:

http://www.bikesdirect.com

Quoted message said:

I'm wanting to get into touring next year but have so
much equip to buy will have to get god value in
everything including the bike.

Also, plan to spend ~$75-100 having the bike properly prepped and set
up by a *competent* bike mechanic.

Ok will do

My other option was the REI touring bike. I think its
abt the same price range

The Novara Randonee? That's historically a nice bike, but, IIRC, it's
about $900 (although there might be off season price reductions. As far
as proper set-up goes, REI can be a mixed bag. I used to live fairly
close to two REI stores. One did a tolerably good job, the other less
so. One nice thing about REI is that they let you swap components
(e.g., chainrings, saddles, etc.) for the price difference, you can't
do that with a mail order bike.

Quoted message said:

Ken C. M. said:

Here what I turned up in a simple google search:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

would you feel confident taking this level of bike on a
thousand mile tour with camp equipment?

If it's properly set-up and geared, yes, without reservation.

Quoted message said:

Ken C. M. said:

Here what I turned up in a simple google search:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

would you feel confident taking this level of bike on a
thousand mile tour with camp equipment?

If it's properly set-up and geared, yes, without reservation.

Quoted message said:

"Ozark Bicycle"

Quoted message said:

http://www.bikesdirect.com

Quoted message said:

I'm wanting to get into touring next year but have so
much equip to buy will have to get god value in
everything including the bike.

Also, plan to spend ~$75-100 having the bike properly prepped and set
up by a *competent* bike mechanic.

Ok will do

My other option was the REI touring bike. I think its
abt the same price range

I just checked, the 2007 Novara Randonee is $950, so quite a bit more
expensive. OTOH, it does seem to be a nicer bike, without the need to
swap out chainrings, etc. (It comes with 48/38/26 rings and an 11-34
cassette. This is a good choice of gearing for loaded touring and shows
that the guys at REI "pay attention".)

Jack Murphy said:

I have a Gunnar sport that I overload for long weekend tours. Am beginning
to plan for a full touring bike. I see from Gunnar that they will customize
one of their frames to give it more of a full on touring geometry for not
much more than stock, and several hundred less than the Waterford.

Anyone know about these bikes? I'd like to get a steel frame touring bike,
and don't want to spend a fortune....

I hear Gunnar bikes are real dogs:
<http://www.gunnarbikes.com/about.php>. ;-)

[Foghorn Leghorn voice] It's a joke, son!

--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!

Quoted message said:

Ken C. M. said:

Here what I turned up in a simple google search:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

would you feel confident taking this level of bike on a
thousand mile tour with camp equipment?

I would. Perhaps you can explain what's wrong with a Taiwanese made
bike equipped with Tiagra/Deore that would make it more unreliable than
another Taiwanese bike equipped with Tiagra/Deore but sold in a bike
shop.

I mean, whatever you ride needs to be dialed in and have any gimpy
parts replaced that might be worrisome, and to be honest, I don't even
trust the cretins at my bike shop to do that. If you don't have the
level of mechanical skill to dial in a bike, I'd think twice before
going on a 1200 mile journey.

The Windsor is a fine bike just like the rest, with whatever decals
they decided to name it this week. It'll come boxed and you have to
install the front wheel and handlebars. That's often just it, but
usually you have to tweak the brakes and derailleurs to get it just so.
Last bike I picked up at the LBS didn't have the fixed gear lock ring
tightened, the brakes weren't toed in, and pretty much everything
needing adjustment. They blamed it on the factory. So this myth that
it's always better to buy from a bike shop is just that, a myth. The
ones around here all suck. I know of good ones in Chicago, but it's not
worth the 12 hour drive. ;0)

Ozark Bicycle said:

Quoted message said:

"Ozark Bicycle"

Quoted message said:

http://www.bikesdirect.com
>
> I'm wanting to get into touring next year but have so
> much equip to buy will have to get god value in
> everything including the bike.

Also, plan to spend ~$75-100 having the bike properly prepped and set
up by a *competent* bike mechanic.

Ok will do

My other option was the REI touring bike. I think its
abt the same price range

I just checked, the 2007 Novara Randonee is $950, so quite a bit more
expensive. OTOH, it does seem to be a nicer bike, without the need to
swap out chainrings, etc. (It comes with 48/38/26 rings and an 11-34
cassette. This is a good choice of gearing for loaded touring and shows
that the guys at REI "pay attention".)

Having seen both, I'd say the Randonee is slightly nicer, but not 350
dollars nicer. Certainly the chainrings make a lot more sense. The 11T
cog is pretty silly as well, but with a 48 up front, you *might* end up
using it.

If you have a *good* REI close, the service can be excellent. I'd buy a
bike from the one out in my burbs here without reservation, and they
indeed can be flexible with setup.

On the other hand, if you know how to size yourself and can tweak a
bike, the Windsor is an incredible value. But, and this is a serious
but, don't expect bikesdirect to jump through hoops if something is
wrong.

landotter said:

Ozark Bicycle said:

Quoted message said:

"Ozark Bicycle"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

>http://www.bikesdirect.com
>>
>> I'm wanting to get into touring next year but have so
>> much equip to buy will have to get god value in
>> everything including the bike.
>
>Also, plan to spend ~$75-100 having the bike properly prepped and set
>up by a *competent* bike mechanic.

Ok will do

My other option was the REI touring bike. I think its
abt the same price range

I just checked, the 2007 Novara Randonee is $950, so quite a bit more
expensive. OTOH, it does seem to be a nicer bike, without the need to
swap out chainrings, etc. (It comes with 48/38/26 rings and an 11-34
cassette. This is a good choice of gearing for loaded touring and shows
that the guys at REI "pay attention".)

Having seen both, I'd say the Randonee is slightly nicer, but not 350
dollars nicer.

Yes, but some of that price diff will be absorbed by the need to have
the Windsor prepped and set up. And more $ for different chainring(s).

Also, the Novaras I've seen up close have been very well done,
including well aligned frames.

Quoted message said:

Certainly the chainrings make a lot more sense. The 11T
cog is pretty silly as well, but with a 48 up front, you *might* end up
using it.

If you have a *good* REI close, the service can be excellent. I'd buy a
bike from the one out in my burbs here without reservation, and they
indeed can be flexible with setup.

On the other hand, if you know how to size yourself and can tweak a
bike, the Windsor is an incredible value. But, and this is a serious
but, don't expect bikesdirect to jump through hoops if something is
wrong.

Agreed, if you are a skilled home mechanic, the bikes from Bikes Direct
are a killer deal. They are still a decent value if you pay to have a
competent mechanic set them up.

And, yes, Bikes Direct is not a hoop jumping bunch. But neither is the
average LBS.

"landotter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jack Murphy said:

I have a Gunnar sport that I overload for long weekend tours. Am
beginning
to plan for a full touring bike. I see from Gunnar that they will
customize
one of their frames to give it more of a full on touring geometry for not
much more than stock, and several hundred less than the Waterford.

Anyone know about these bikes? I'd like to get a steel frame touring
bike,
and don't want to spend a fortune.

Gunnar and Waterford are one in the same. Gunnars are usually a bit
simpler without lugs and with powdercoat. It's still a damn fine frame.

Best deal for frame alone is a Surly LHT. But the best value overall
for a steel touring bike, is either a Fuji Touring, or even a Windsor
Touring for $600 via mail order. The latter's made on the same line as
the Fuji, AFAIK, you just need to go through it and replace the bits
you don't like as if it were a kit. I've heard a couple owners of the
Windsors had trouble with the spokes braking in the rear, but if you
have your local shop (or yourself) detress and hand tune it, you should
be fine.

I have a Gunnar Sport, and it's a great bike. It's not a full-on touring
bike, and I don't think that the extra cost for custom geometry to get
Gunnar to make one is worth it. If I was in the market for a touring bike, I
would go with the Surly LHT.

"Ozark Bicycle"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Here what I turned up in a simple google search:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

would you feel confident taking this level of bike on a
thousand mile tour with camp equipment?

If it's properly set-up and geared, yes, without reservation.

So the components and quality of that bike is adequate
or ore than adequate as far as your concerned?

Its not "junk" by any means huh?

landotter said:

I would. Perhaps you can explain what's wrong with a Taiwanese made
bike equipped with Tiagra/Deore that would make it more unreliable than
another Taiwanese bike equipped with Tiagra/Deore but sold in a bike
shop.

I cant explain..... I don't know. <sheepish grin>

I would assume its just as good as anything else...but
rally depending on you all to have more insight than I
do.

"Ozark Bicycle"

Quoted message said:

The Novara Randonee? That's historically a nice bike, but, IIRC, it's
about $900

Ooops...yes you are correct. It costs more

My bad