New Windsor Tourist bikes on eBay

Quoted message said:

Is this like those "Asian Motobecanes" that are too good to be true?

550 for a 1500 (list) bike is mighty tempting.

And that alone should tell you something. Anybody who has to try and sell
product by so dramatically inflating its value, so it appears to be an
almost impossibly huge discount, may not have that much to offer. A bike
with the description of parts you mention commonly sells for $800, not
$1500. What you're getting for $550 is questionable.

Quoted message said:

I don't mind buying on line--sizing is a non-issue as I
measured my current well fitting bike and it jives with the Tourist, and
I'm a good wrench myself and if it arrives with maladjusted anything, I'll
be able to tweak it. My LBS sucks and I would rather eat glass than buy
something big from them.

That's unfortunate; is there really only one to choose from? There's no way
any single LBS is going to please everyone, but usually there's more than
one nearby. A good LBS pretty much takes away a lot of the uncertainty of
buying a new bike, in terms of knowing what you're getting (how it rides,
verifying that the measurements are correct, warranty issues, etc).

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

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

Quoted message said:

I've been wanting a new cx/tour type drop bar do-anything bike for a
while, but haven't had the bucks for what I consider the entry level bike
in that category--the Novara Randonee.

Now this guy is selling "Windsor Tourists" on Ebay for $550usd brand new.
The spec is exactly what I want: cromo frame and fork, components are a
mix of Tiagra, Deore, and Ritchey. Perfect.

I don't mind buying on line--sizing is a non-issue as I
measured my current well fitting bike and it jives with the Tourist, and
I'm a good wrench myself and if it arrives with maladjusted anything, I'll
be able to tweak it. My LBS sucks and I would rather eat glass than buy
something big from them.

Is this like those "Asian Motobecanes" that are too good to be true?

550 for a 1500 (list) bike is mighty tempting.

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

That's unfortunate; is there really only one to choose from?

Only two within riding distance. One I stopped going to because the owner
chastised me for asking if she wanted to sell me a set of demo pedals from
a race bike, since I was building a city beater. She basically yelled at
me "I don't have anything cheaper", not realizing that I had the dough,
she just didn't have anything on display that was the right thing for me.
Also laughed when I asked for a mity mini bell. You know the kind of
place. Road race or MTB, clueless about anything else. LOL

The other shop is outrageously high zoot racer boy stuff. Good mechanics
to be sure, but don't stock anything bikes or parts wise that's up my
alley. I'm better served by just ordering parts on-line.

Cycling as a day to day lifestyle is pretty rare round here (Nashville),
it's more about sport and roof rack ornamentation.

I do miss Chicago where I had half a dozen awesome shops within biking
distance. Especially Rapid Transit & Urban bikes.

There's an REI in the burbs and the Randonee is nice--but it's around 900
with the local sales tax. A good deal to be sure, but spending $350 less
for about the same spec is tempting.

The reviews I've read on the Asian Windors seem very positive so I might
just take a chance--even if I move all of the components to a vintage
frame--I'll probably still come out ahead. 😉

Support your nice LBS, if you've got one. LOL 😉

Does he have a high feedback rating?

Leo Lichtman said:

Does he have a high feedback rating?

Positive Feedback: 99.4%

Aabsolutely gleaming as a matter of fact. I'm very suspicious about folks
on Ebay and that's the first thing I check.

The only things that aren't spec'ed on the bike are headset and the BB.
Probably fine generic stuff--replace it after a year with something
fancier if it feels gross. The headset is threaded, something which I
happen to prefer the look of and the adjustability, but probably also
keeping costs cheap. The cantis are Tektros, which like Shimanos off the
rack just need new pads from the get-go. Rims are Alex rm18s which, though
cheap, I've ridden many miles on w/o ever having to true on a city bike.

I'm not too worried about the frame--those factories in Taiwan have been
building basic double butted steel frames for a long time, and the
geometry's the same as my favourite old single--fairly stately.

It's a definite maybe. I'm thinking about the Novara Fusion as well, since
I really miss my old Nexus hub bike. It's $800 and comes with a lighting
system and fenders. Cons: it has icky flat bars and an over built alu
frame.

I've got my Raleigh Tourist, and two single speeds, one with fenders, but
I'm missing the main bike in my stable since my black
Marin/fenders/Nexus7/B17 do anything bike was stolen. :/ You know, the
bike bike that's the SUB in the stable LOL

In a perfect world I'd build something ala Momovelo's stuff. Steel,
Nexus8, drop bars, B17, rubber block pedals, SS fenders--but that's around
1300 vs 550 for the Windsor. I bet if I add my gorgeous Champion Flyer to
it, it'll look like a real sexy ride and not a Ebay bargain.

I bought a brand new Windsor Leeds on EBay (from the then manufacturer - I
don't know if Winsdor is still in business)

I knew my size from past bikes, and felt I was not taking much of a chance at
$290.

It has been great general use bike, a nice looking bike, and has served its
intended purpose well, which was to be an after-work riding bike that I could
throw in my hatchback and hit the trails for about 1-1.5 hours, and also for a
winter trainer.

You can see it as a trainer at

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/wtroom.jpg

It is Sora

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox
(Family Web Page)

maxo said:

I do miss Chicago where I had half a dozen awesome shops within
biking distance. Especially Rapid Transit & Urban bikes.

You should come back. We're getting ready to celebrate our 10,000th public
bike rack.

--
Paul Turner

maxo wrote:
Now this guy is selling "Windsor Tourists" on Ebay for $550usd brand
new.
The spec is exactly what I want: cromo frame and fork, components are a
mix of Tiagra, Deore, and Ritchey. Perfect.

Is this like those "Asian Motobecanes" that are too good to be true?

550 for a 1500 (list) bike is mighty tempting.

Somtimes things on e-bay are too good "plus true". Very true. People
get strapped for money and they sell things worth alot of money for
ridulously low prices. Not saying others do not rip you off. I have
sold some things on e-bay for such low prices I don't know what I was
thinking. I sold a brand new Movado watch worth 1,000 for 250. I have
sold some almost new designer handbags for a third of what they cost
me. Some people just need quick money or want to get rid of things.
Not everyone is ripping you off on e-bay. I buy and sell on e-bay all
the time. In all the years I have been doing it...I have not had alot
of bad experience. I have snagged some great bargains and I have also
sold things at very low cost just to get the thing sold quickly. Sell
it low, and it sells fast. Don't discount e-bay for finding things you
might think are too good to be true. Sometimes they are just great
deals.
Maggie.

Paul Turner said:

maxo said:

I do miss Chicago where I had half a dozen awesome shops within
biking distance. Especially Rapid Transit & Urban bikes.

You should come back. We're getting ready to celebrate our 10,000th public
bike rack

!!

Fabulous!

Chicago is one of those secret cycling cities I think. Ask somebody from
Portland Oregon how cycling is there, and they'd probably say stressful
and dangerous. Residents know though, that it's the best way to get around.

Biking in the winter there was great if the streets were clear (and you
had fenders and waterproof boots (I prefer Blundstones as they fit w/
clips). As long as you were dressed warm, it beat the hell out of walking
on the slushy walk or waiting for the train/bus.

Say hi to the folks at Rapid Transit for me. 🙂

Denver C. Fox said:

I bought a brand new Windsor Leeds on EBay (from the then manufacturer - I
don't know if Winsdor is still in business)

I'm assuming the branding name has been bought by somebody much like
Motobecane: Windsor is out of business, but bikes are still getting the
decals in Taiwan. 😉

Quoted message said:

I knew my size from past bikes, and felt I was not taking much of a
chance at $290.

Nice deal.

Quoted message said:

It has been great general use bike, a nice looking bike, and has served
its intended purpose well, which was to be an after-work riding bike
that I could throw in my hatchback and hit the trails for about 1-1.5
hours, and also for a winter trainer.

How did the fit and finish seem? Have the wheels stayed reasonably true?
Does the paint and welds on the frame seem solid?

Thanks,
Max

maxo said:

Denver C. Fox said:

I bought a brand new Windsor Leeds on EBay (from the then

manufacturer - I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

don't know if Winsdor is still in business)

I'm assuming the branding name has been bought by somebody much like
Motobecane: Windsor is out of business, but bikes are still getting

the

Quoted message said:

decals in Taiwan. 😉

Quoted message said:

I knew my size from past bikes, and felt I was not taking much of a
chance at $290.

Nice deal.

Quoted message said:

It has been great general use bike, a nice looking bike, and has

served

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

its intended purpose well, which was to be an after-work riding

bike

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that I could throw in my hatchback and hit the trails for about

1-1.5

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

hours, and also for a winter trainer.

How did the fit and finish seem? Have the wheels stayed reasonably

true?

Quoted message said:

Does the paint and welds on the frame seem solid?

Thanks,
Max

I am replying on Google, as my &^%^&^% AOL newsreader misses about 3
posts out of 4. So this is DnvrFox replying as Bicycle Rider.

Well, I have had folks come to me out of the blue and compliment me on
the bike. The finish is adequate, to say the least. I weighed 240
pounds at the time with no structural problems, welds look solid. They
are noticeable but not terrible.

The front wheel was out of true, and I have not yet had it trued (need
to do that, but it makes no difference on the trainer), but it has not
gone any further out of true while I was doing trail riding on it.

I used it as a loaner bike for a friend recently moved here without
his bike who used to race, etc. He loved the bike. We went on several
rides together, and he sure beat me up. Of course, he had 25 years
advantage on me, as I am 65!
I also have a Lemond BA and a Specialized HR.

maxo said:

I've been wanting a new cx/tour type drop bar do-anything bike for a
while

The more I look at the Novara Fusion, the more I realize that nothing's
going to stir my soul other than an internally geared bike with a dynohub.
The $700 seems pretty cheap considering it's got everything built in. I
can probably fit some drop bars if I find an 8 speed thumb shifter, but
the stock bars actually have some sweep back.

The more I looked at the Windsors fancy drivetrain, the more I could
visualise cleaning it. I could also visualize, with the amount of nasty
weather riding I do--spending a hundred bucks a year replacing drive train
bits. With my old Nexus, it just got a fresh KMC chain anually for a
tenner. The roller brake got a flush and Phil Wood grease bianually.

I'm saving for a Fusion, unless anybody can think of a similarly spec'ed
bike available in the US. Gotta be 700c--I just don't like 26" wheels in
my fleet. :P

I'm thinking if I tried to build the same bike myself:

250 rear wheel with Nexus
150 front w/dynohub
50 lighting
50 cranks
30 front brake and levers
15 chain
100 random Ebay frame
10 post
15 stem
20 bars
30 saddle
20 pedals
20 BB
20 Headset
30 tires
10 tubes
20 fenders
25 rack
10 grips

Way over 800--and that's anticipating getting good deals. Probably would
cost realistically over a grand.

maxo said:

maxo said:

I've been wanting a new cx/tour type drop bar do-anything bike for a
while

The more I look at the Novara Fusion, the more I realize that nothing's
going to stir my soul other than an internally geared bike with a dynohub.
The $700 seems pretty cheap considering it's got everything built in. I
can probably fit some drop bars if I find an 8 speed thumb shifter, but
the stock bars actually have some sweep back.

Check out http://commutebike.com

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.

Personally, I'd forego the internal hub and get the Specialized Globe,
but this is because I would want the wider gearing range. If you want
the internal gearing, look at a Breezer.

Trek has some suitable models, but they are very difficult to buy, as
virtually no Trek dealers actually carry them, see:
http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Specialty_Bikes/Trekking/Index.php . At
least a few shops in my area actually stock the Specialized Globe.

Steven M. Scharf said:

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.

The Fusion has the same type of chain guard my old Nexus bike had--an
extra guard ring on the cranks, sorta like a bash ring for a CX bike.
Works great for me, but I don't wear very baggy trousers.

If I want a full coverage chain guard, I can just get an easily available
acrylic one at any bike shop in Sweden when I'm visiting home.

Quoted message said:

Personally, I'd forego the internal hub and get the Specialized Globe,
but this is because I would want the wider gearing range.

The gearing on the Fusion is like riding a bike with a standard 52/40
front and 13-32 in back. Plenty for me.

Derailleurs don't satisfy my jump on and ride philosophy.

Quoted message said:

If you want
the internal gearing, look at a Breezer.

Nice bikes, nice company--I've corresponded with them. Bikes are a little
too dowdy and have 26" wheels which I dislike. I'd certainly recommend
them to other folks though. 😉

maxo said:

If I want a full coverage chain guard, I can just get an easily

available

Quoted message said:

acrylic one at any bike shop in Sweden when I'm visiting home.

Yes, I notice that chain guards are readily available in Europe and
Asia, but in the U.S. they are just about impossible to buy, probably
because the number of non-derailleur bikes is so small.

I really like the 2004 Fuji Hokkaido, since it's the only commute bike
I've seen with a chomolly steel frame, instead of the cheaper aluminum.
Alas, for 2005, they've gone to aluminum.

maxo said:

If I want a full coverage chain guard, I can just get an easily

available

Quoted message said:

acrylic one at any bike shop in Sweden when I'm visiting home.

Yes, I notice that chain guards are readily available in Europe and
Asia, but in the U.S. they are just about impossible to buy, probably
because the number of non-derailleur bikes is so small.

I really like the 2004 Fuji Hokkaido, since it's the only commute bike
I've seen with a chomolly steel frame, instead of the cheaper aluminum.
Alas, for 2005, they've gone to aluminum.

Quoted message said:

I really like the 2004 Fuji Hokkaido, since it's the only commute bike
I've seen with a chomolly steel frame, instead of the cheaper aluminum.

That truly is a shame. The only shortcoming of my 1998 Marin San Anselmo
w/ Nexus 7 was the uber-stiff frame.

I hear Sheldon Brown and other "experts" say time and time again that this
can be mitigated with saddle choice and tires. I say baloney. The ride on
the Marin was nice in the sense that you could never feel the frame flex a
mm when stomping--but even 37c tires @ 60 psi left much to be desired
comfort wise. My steel skinny tire bike pumped up to 100psi rides more
smoothly.

I'll have a google about that Fuji and have a look anyway. :-)

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 20:48:04 +0000, I wrote:
steel skinny tire bike pumped up to 100psi rides more

Quoted message said:

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. ;-)

I said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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:

http://www.koga.com/uk/index.asp?file=/uk/bike.asp?collectionid=6&segmentid=46&id=1078976&fullspecs=1

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