Touring - Trek 520 / Fuji Touring /Bianchi Volpe ??

Greetings -

Other than relatively minor price differences, are there any noteworthy differences between the Trek 520, Fuji Touring and Bianchi Volpe?

I'd add the Surly LHT, except that (i) I can't find one to try, and (ii) my likely frame size (54) would necessitate 26" wheels.
Simlarly, I'd add the Jamis Aurora, but there don't seem to be any 55's to be had in New England 'til the fall.

Thanks.

- Richard
richard AT oldWithoutMoney D O T com

The Fuji and Bianchi come with brifters, the Trek comes with bar ends.

The Trek has the longest chainstay length (important for pannier placement) the Bianchi comes with the shortest (as its considered a "cross" bike).

I personally feel the Trek comes with the best components, if you are OK with bar end shifters.

The new volpe does not have braze ons on the folk. Not so good for carting front panniers.

I rode with my uncle, he was on a volpe, me on a 520. his bike was noodly with the bags on - too much frame flex. he never really got all the shimmies sorted out.

the 520 is a tank. it's heavy, and great at carrying loads. the bar ends take about an hour to get used to. i replaced the crankset with a MTB rig, as many people do. i love it.

Oh, you'll get all kinds of good advice about picking a bike here! There are plenty of smart cyclists who will help you.

But it's really not going to help you that much-- you need to go test ride the bikes and choose the one right for you. The bikes you're looking at are are quality rides, so it's really your personal call.

And don't worry! There really isn't a bad choice here.

What do you have against 26" wheels? There's a good reason smaller frames come with smaller wheels.

expatCanuk,
I ended up with a 54cm LHT, but only after much agonizing over the 26" wheels. I got mine at a really good dealer who used a "Fit Cycle" which is a totally adjustable bike frame which can mimic any bicycle geometry. It was between a 54cm and 56cm LHT for me but the edge went to the 54. We also tried mimicing the usual suspects like the Cannondale T2000, Trek 520, etc.

I really wanted the LHT because I could build it exactly the way I wanted and so started agonizing over the 26" wheels vs 700c. After some investigation, someone finally said "if you close your eyes you'll never be able to tell the difference". This somehow resonated with me (not withstanding the fact that his advice might result in my being wrapped around a tree) and I went for the 54cm LHT and the 26" wheels.

After about 300 miles on roads, trails, dirt and even a dry river bed I believe he is right. There is simply no regrets with respect to the handling of this bike and the 26" wheels.

You might also want to give the Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30 a look. Nice bike! I picked it after comparing all those bicycles that are discussed above.

What do you have against 26" wheels? There's a good reason smaller frames come with smaller wheels.

Considering the toughness of 26" wheels, I'd choose them over 700C if I could.

What do you have against 26" wheels? There's a good reason smaller frames come with smaller wheels.

> There's a good reason smaller frames come with smaller wheels.
Agreed. Foot clearance, for instance.

> What do you have against 26" wheels?
Well, I would be okay if my sister married one ... but all other things being equal (which they never are), I'd have thought that a bigger wheel would mean more potential power generation and a smoother ride.

- Richard

> There's a good reason smaller frames come with smaller wheels.
Agreed. Foot clearance, for instance.

> What do you have against 26" wheels?
Well, I would be okay if my sister married one ... but all other things being equal (which they never are), I'd have thought that a bigger wheel would mean more potential power generation and a smoother ride.

- Richard

To fit 700C wheels on a smaller frame, there needs to be design comprimises in the geometry. The seat tube angle is usually steeper and the head tube angle is shallower. This affects the length of the other tubes as well. With smaller wheels on a smaller frame, the frame designer has more freedom to use a geometry closer to ideal. The whole thing is more likely to ride and fit better.

I don't think there's any power advantage to larger wheels that can't be made up for with taller gearing. If the 26" wheels seem at all rough, use fatter tires or lower pressure.

I think the wheel size should be driven by the frame design and size rather than the other way around.

To fit 700C wheels on a smaller frame, there needs to be design comprimises in the geometry. ... With smaller wheels on a smaller frame, the frame designer has more freedom to use a geometry closer to ideal ...

I don't think there's any power advantage to larger wheels that can't be made up for with taller gearing. If the 26" wheels seem at all rough, use fatter tires or lower pressure.
Hmmm. Riding along (relatively leisurely) this p.m., I was passed by an elderly blur on a Raleigh 20 or something similar.

26" tires may be okay after all.

- Richard

Hmmm. Riding along (relatively leisurely) this p.m., I was passed by an elderly blur on a Raleigh 20 or something similar.



One thing for sure, my (26"-wheeled) LHT tourer rides a lot smoother and is much, much, much more comfortable than my (700c-wheeled) road bike...Don't even need to close my eyes to tell that.

All my favorite production touring bikes have been mentioned by the previous posts, with the exception of REI's Novara Randonee -- a fabulous touring bike, well regarded by the cycling press, nicely priced, and worthy of mention in the company of the likes of Trek 520 & Surly LHT. I think the 55 size comes with 700c wheels. I actually wouldn't mention the Bianchi Volpe in the same company as these other 3 -- not that it isn't a decent bike, but just consider it aimed at a slightly different market.

I doubt you'd notice much of a difference in ride quality between 700c and 26". You can definitely tell on smaller sizes like 451 / 406 / 20" but even that size is fine for a tour, if you use the proper tires.

Any thoughts?

Does anybody know where you can get a test ride on a Trek 520 in Melbourne - Australia?