Touring - Fuji Touring vs. Windsor Touring

Well I found a good deal on an '07 Fuji Touring, new from the LBS. $699
I also found that I can get a new Windsor Touring for $599

Is the Fuji worth the extra $100?

Here are the specs :

http://www.fujibikes.com/2008/bikes.asp?id=422

http://windsorbicycles.com/specialty.htm Look under the TOURING column

They actually look to be almost the exact same... What do you think?

Oops nevermind I searched and I'm pretty sure they are the same thing, only you have to assemble the Windsor yourself.

The one other benefit of purchasing from a bike shop is whether you can negotiate a discount on other parts or accessories at the time of purchase and/or some amount of free maintenance (say, a checkup/tune in a few months). I'm not sure what the Fuji Touring comes with, but you ought to be able to get pedals, water bottle, water bottle cage, pump, extra tube, patch kit, maybe a bag or two at some kind of deal.

You might also be able to negotiate a deal on swapping out parts at time of purchase. If, for example, you want a better saddle, you should be able to get one for either the dealer's cost or if you pay the difference between stock saddle (which is likely crap) and a good name brand saddle (say a Brooks B17).

Yeah, warranty service from Bikes Direct is apparently spotty at best. For $100, unless you do all your own maintenance it's worth getting from the LBS.

Three of us toured across the US on Windsors last summer. I like mine fine. The bikes served us very well for the 4244 mile tour and for a lot of local riding

That said many folks feel that the extra $100 might be well worth it for the extra support they would get from their local dealer. That is probably a judgment call and also probably depends on your local dealer and on how handy you are with a wrench.

I would advise changing out the crankset to achieve lower gearing on either bike if you plan to do loaded touring. We used the Sugino XD600 ($80 46/36/26) and were happy with it, but later swapped the 26 for a 24. You might be able to get your local dealer to swap the crank out at no extra cost. That would swing the balance their way a good bit.

I have more comments about how ours worked out in my journal at:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/staehling2007

You might also be able to negotiate a deal on swapping out parts at time of purchase. If, for example, you want a better saddle, you should be able to get one for either the dealer's cost or if you pay the difference between stock saddle (which is likely crap) and a good name brand saddle (say a Brooks B17).
Good point. On the saddle though, I recommend giving it a few hundred miles before ditching it I didn't like it at first but after a few hundred miles it grew on me. It gave me a comfortable 73 consecutive days on the road last summer. If you already know that you are a Brooks (or whatever) lover then just ignore my advice and use what you already know you like. I personally wouldn't trade mine for a Brooks, but I am not a Brooks fan.

Yes, if you can get them to swap the crankset for lower gears it is worth it, even if you have to dump a $100 or whatever - those bikes both have stupidly high gears, just like the trek.

Good point. On the saddle though, I recommend giving it a few hundred miles before ditching it I didn't like it at first but after a few hundred miles it grew on me.

Good advice...I shouldn't have assumed it was a bad saddle (though I must say I've ditched the stock saddle on every bike I've owned...).

I went with the Fuji and I got one CRAZY deal. I went to my local Peformance Bicycles today to get it at $699 on clearance. Once there I mentioned that they had an online promotion for 10% off any product, and they applied it in store even though online it says they wouldn't!!! So now we are at $629, not bad right? Well then I paid $25 for a membership and instantly got another 10% off, which he took off of the $699 price, not the $629 price, so another $70 saved putting the total at $579 for a brand new '07 Fuji Touring. I couldn't be happier with the deal.

(Note : The $70 from the membership is an in-store credit only, but that's fine because that means I can get a Brooks saddle for $30 more)

You done good! What a great deal, how come this stuff never happens to me? I'm always the guy that buys high and sells low :)

I went with the Fuji and I got one CRAZY deal. I went to my local Peformance Bicycles today to get it at $699 on clearance. Once there I mentioned that they had an online promotion for 10% off any product, and they applied it in store even though online it says they wouldn't!!! So now we are at $629, not bad right? Well then I paid $25 for a membership and instantly got another 10% off, which he took off of the $699 price, not the $629 price, so another $70 saved putting the total at $579 for a brand new '07 Fuji Touring. I couldn't be happier with the deal.

(Note : The $70 from the membership is an in-store credit only, but that's fine because that means I can get a Brooks saddle for $30 more)

good job! Where you going on your trip?

baltimore to san diego :)

EveeSTi -- that is a great deal. I ride a 20 year-old predecessor of your bike and I love it. Good luck on the trip and let us know how the bike holds up and performs.

baltimore to san diego :)
Are you from Baltimore? What route are you taking.

I'm not from Baltimore but I'm up here for school.
Not sure what route I'm taking just yet, that will depend on who I go with (if anyone) and what they want to do.

What is the benefit of going to a lower gearing than what it comes with, will it really be that much harder to get moving? This is the first real bike I've ever owned so I'm very unfamiliar with it.

With all your gear, in the mountains you will find that lower gearing is highly desirable. This is especially true if you will be riding in the Appalachians as the grades are particularly steep. The Rockies have less steep but much longer grades that I also would rather not do on the stock gearing.

FWIW... I recommend the Adventure Cycling routes. Maybe consider using the TransAmerica and possibly the Western Express. Be careful of when you go, different routes work better at different times.

What is the benefit of going to a lower gearing than what it comes with, will it really be that much harder to get moving? This is the first real bike I've ever owned so I'm very unfamiliar with it.

Ride the bike now that you've got it. Rides to the grocery store should help you get used to riding with a load and will get you practice with your panniers. The handling changes a bit (ime mostly for the better) and it's a good idea to get used to any surprises now rather than when you're on the road and miles from anything.

Even on fairly flat ground, I have a "normal cruising gear" and a "loaded cruising gear". The loaded gear is a good 2 cogs lower than when I'm unloaded. Even on Madison's pretty wimpy hills, I'll end up on my granny gear in front because the climbs are more comfortable that way. Trying to start from a foot down stop in my normal cruising gear is flat out painful with a load, even if I stand on the pedals to do it. Starting in a sensible gear (a cog or two down from my loaded cruising gear) is easy and doesn't hurt. My legs are more finicky than average, but trying to push too hard a gear is a good way to work yourself up to my level of finicky *g*.