Touring - Trying to decide...

I thought I'd post this here, since both bikes are long distance, load carrying bikes (though one more than the other) and I'll be using them for that kind of riding as well...

So I'm thinking of buying a new bike this spring. This is a big departure for me, since all of my stuff is at least 20 years old; however, it's not too far of a cry, because I'm sticking with steel. Having looked at a bunch of randonneur and touring cycles, I think I've gotten it narrowed down to the Surly LHT and the Masi Speciale Randonneur.

Now, what I'm going to be using the bike for:

shorter touring (i.e. a week or less)
daily commuting (including in mud, snow, ice and other various slop)
distance cycling (Hilly Hundred, Tour de Cure, etc)
utility cycling (shopping, mild towing)


I've narrowed it to these two bikes because they've both got bar-end shifters, wider wheels, a bunch of braze-ons and eyelets, decent parts, and standard geometry (as opposed to compact). Best of all, they're in my price range.

So, considering that these bikes are identical in price (once you consider that you have to add fenders and pedals to get the Surly to the Masi's spec list), which is the better buy for me? I absolutely love the looks of the Masi, but I don't hear much about it, and can't even really find much information about it online as far as ride quality, etc. The LHT is proven to be a solid bike for all that I want it for, but I just can't get over the looks of that Masi...

Get the bike that fits you better if the geometries are different. That really should be your deciding factor.

I may be wrong but I think the Masi Randonneur just came out this year, so you might have to wait to hear much about it. It IS PRETTY, that much we know. I was really excited to see it a few weeks ago. My LBS said they plan on carrying it, but it could take a while, and I test rode the LHT, and that was the end of that.

So, yeah, with a lack of information, and a lack of cantilever brakes (which I've always loved), I didn't wait around. The Masi looks beautiful though, and I hope I don't regret my decision.

I'm pretty sure that it did just come out this year. At this point, I've got both caliper brakes (campagnolo) and cantilever (Shimano) and, perhaps it's an inferior quality or something, but I can't STAND the cantis. I've got minor arthritis in my hands, so it's hard to get a good clamp on the levers. Even with Kool Stop pads, cantis won't stop worth a darn for me, so the brakes are the least of my concern as far as what style - if it's canti, I'd probably get long-arm for the extra torque to help me out, and if it's caliper, I'd be just as happy.

but I can't STAND the cantis.

Get some new or used Shimanos, or the IRD cantis.

I like the looks of the Rando too.

How long can you wait?

Well, I have to wait at least until May, and probably until the end of the summer. I've got other bikes to use for the majority of riding, but I'm now in the market for a "do it all" bike.

Get some new or used Shimanos, or the IRD cantis.

I've got Shimanos on it (it's a Univega hybrid with full-length MTB brake levers). They just don't seem to be up to the task. I would consider swapping the cantis to V-brakes and using one of those add-on cams to take up the slack for road levers, honestly.

I've got Shimanos on it (it's a Univega hybrid with full-length MTB brake levers). They just don't seem to be up to the task. I would consider swapping the cantis to V-brakes and using one of those add-on cams to take up the slack for road levers, honestly.

That's just weird, I've seen guys go over their bars because they grabbed their cantis too hard.

The old frog legs had great stopping power.
http://www.paulcomp.com/images/neoretromain.png

That was Pauls frog legs and this is his canti
http://www.paulcomp.com/images/touringcantimain.png

I like the looks of the IRD
http://www.interlocracing.com/brakecafam_straighton.gif
http://store.interlocracing.com/cacabr.html

Also consider things to minimise cable stretch. They used to make solid metal cable hangers, I liked them. Non-stretch cables are out there, but I don't know much about them. Lastly, I use inline levers, and they add some stopping power compared to roadie levers.