Commuting - My "new" Windsor Tourist: commuter bike p0rn

My 2008 Windsor Tourist has somewhere around 6000 miles on it. I had been collecting parts to upgrade as things began to wear out. Recently I was unable to commute for a couple of weeks. I took the opportunity to just go ahead and upgrade every moving part. With prior upgrades, the only thing original on the bike is the frame and seat post. Rode it with all the upgrades today for the first time. It is comfortable and I think snazzy looking.

Component list:

Saddle: Brooks B17

Handlebars: Nitto Noodle

Stem: Nitto Technomic

Shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace bar end, SL-BS77

Brake Levers: Shimano 105 (NOS)

Headset: Shimano 105 with cartridge bearings (NOS)

Front Derailleur: Shimano 105, FD-5504 (NOS)

Crankset: Sugino XD-600 (48/36/26) with 175mm cranks

Bottom Bracket: Shimano UN54

Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT, RD-M770 (Low Normal)

Cassette: SRAM PG-970 (11-34t)

Chain: SRAM PC-971

Hubs: Shimano Tiagra HB-4500, 36H

Spokes: DT Competition double butted

Rims: Velocity Dyad

Tires: Schwalbe Marathon 700x32

Brakes: Tektro CR720

Rear Rack: Tubus Cargo

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj64/m_yates/20100824_009.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj64/m_yates/20100824_007.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj64/m_yates/20100824_005.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj64/m_yates/20100824_001.jpg

Nice !! :thumb:

I'm likin it

Green paint with a Brooks.....You cant go wrong ! :)

Might I suggest cork tape when the time is right ? :D

Looks nice. I'm stepping out before all those anti-BD flamers check in.

I have the same bike same color and all, I changed a few things that were kinda cheesy and its now my favorite bike. I'm trying to dial in a new adjustable stem.

Maybe a newbie question, but what kind of stem is that? When I look up the bike online, it looks like a threadless with spacers like mine has. I really like the look of this stem better.

Maybe a newbie question, but what kind of stem is that? When I look up the bike online, it looks like a threadless with spacers like mine has. I really like the look of this stem better.
It is a Nitto Technomic quill stem. The Tourist has the old-fashioned 1 inch threaded headset. It has a cable hanger on the headset. The Tourist stock headset is a Chin Haur model that is black with a black cable hanger. I upgraded to a better Shimano 105 headset and bought a matching silver cable hanger to go with it.

The stock stem on the Tourist sort of looks like a threaded one, but it is a quill stem unless they have changed something since I bought mine.

The bike looks great with the upgrades. This bike is on my short list when it's time to get my next bike.

Looks good.
When you upgrade to the cork handlebar tape ;) go ahead and cover the brake lever clamp with a small piece of tape like in the beginning of this vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs7BY4wKHTM

You really wore out all those parts in 6000 miles? I'm guessing this was more a labour of love than necessity, but nice looking bike :thumb:

What about the pedals?

Looks about 50 years old. :/

Looks good.
When you upgrade to the cork handlebar tape ;) go ahead and cover the brake lever clamp with a small piece of tape like in the beginning of this vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs7BY4wKHTM
That is actually the work of my local bike shop. I brought it there to have the headset installed, because I don't have the tools. I had them wrap the bars after installing the headset. They did a great job except for a bit of handlebars exposed under the right brake hood. Oh well....not a big deal to me.

You really wore out all those parts in 6000 miles? I'm guessing this was more a labour of love than necessity, but nice looking bike :thumb:

What about the pedals?

Generic rear hub needed replacing, hence the new wheels. Other stuff could have waited. I just had been collecting parts over months from the internet and decided to just use my free time upgrading everything. I think I will recycle the crankset and derailleurs on another bike I own.

The pedals are MKS platform pedals that I've had on for most of the 6000 miles. Went ahead and put fresh grease in the pedals, but they are in good shape.

Obviously all upgrading wasn't necessary, but I like it, even if it does look 50 years old. :)

Good looking bike.Why is the rear light and holder installed upside down?

I have the same Tektro CR 720'S, and I find them to be an excellent cantilever brake. And the price is right also. The longer reach makes for a stronger brake. Nice job on the upgrades. The Windsor Tourist is a nice frame. It reminds me of my old Austro Daimler. I ride Hybrid these days.

I have the same bike same color and all, I changed a few things that were kinda cheesy and its now my favorite bike. I'm trying to dial in a new adjustable stem.

So, what did you change? This one's still on my possibilities list, especially for my wife, since she likes the styling and doesn't really have anything suited for long rides right now.

I think that bike looks great. I think it would look really great if you took the stickers off. I'm not a BD hater, I just think that without the stickers/labels/whatever, it would look more cool. And really, what is more important than cool?

Good looking bike.Why is the rear light and holder installed upside down?

I found it easier to reach around under the seat and turn the rear light on while riding with it mounted that way.

KD5NRH: I installed some koolstop brake pads and I put on a Brooks B-17 I changed the tires for some Panaracer Pasela TG's and got rid of the cheapo pedals although they would be ok for someone with narrow feet.Looks like my fenders and yours are the same Plante Bike jobbies too. I had the rims trued and thats about all I can think of right off the top of my head. I'm running Axiom Journey panniers for the summer but when the rainy season gets here I have a set of Axiom ripoffs of the Ortleib roller panniers. I'm using a magicshine headlight and tailight. I just installed an adjustable stem since the stock item is pretty crappy and doesn't allow for any height adjustment. I thought I was going to change the STI's for bar ends but I've really taken a liking to the STI's

So, what did you change? This one's still on my possibilities list, especially for my wife, since she likes the styling and doesn't really have anything suited for long rides right now.
I rode a 2005 Fuji Tourist (the same bike) cross-country and am commuting on it now. The tires & seat it came with were no good; the brake pads worked but could have stood to be upgraded. The pedals would more suit a track bike than a touring bike but would be fine for most shorter rides. The front wheel also lost a bunch of spokes (as did the rear wheel for the previous owner, who had it rebuilt under warranty).

It's a pretty good bike but I think I'll want something sportier many days because I have 1000' of climbing each way.