Gunnar bike for touring

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.

Thanks for the info

J Murphy

Jack Murphy wrote:
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" wrote:

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.

wrote:
"landotter" wrote:

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 he
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...oogle+Se arch

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

wrote:
"landotter" wrote:

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

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." wrote:


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"
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

wrote:
"Ken C. M." wrote:

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

wrote:
"Ozark Bicycle"
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

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.

wrote:
"Ken C. M." wrote:


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.