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Novara Randonee

Old 10-01-08, 12:38 PM
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Novara Randonee

Does anyone know if REI has dropped the Novara Randonee? Their website says it is not available. I e-mailed them several times with no response (what customer service!!!). I have heard that REI often takes product off their website but still offers it in their stores. This is a great "clyde" bike, and I had planned on purchasing one next spring. Now my list is down to: Bianchi Volpe, Fuji Touring, or the Jamis Aurora. Any comments from owners of those bikes would be greatly appreciated!
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Old 10-01-08, 02:39 PM
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My experience with REI is that if a product isn't listed on their website, then retail stores are limited to whatever stock they happen to have on-hand. Based on their website, it looks like they've dropped all cyclocross and touring bikes. Maybe they just haven't figured out what their 2009 line-up is going to look like?
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Old 10-01-08, 03:06 PM
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I don't understand why anyone would buy a bike from REI. I guess after having so many wheel issues and learning from them, I wouldn't touch one of their bikes. I spoke with a rep that pointed out how tough the wheels were onsome of their housebikes. I noticed the spokes were SUPERthin. For one thing, Alex rims have always been trouble and low end stuff used to get bikes out the door. Don't think I've ever met anyone with Alex rims that had zero problems. I listened to his pitch with a little voice giggling in my head.

He suggested one of their bikes with Tiagra components ,described it as having the 'top of the line' components. He was at a loss of words when I asked about 105,Ultegra and DA.

What really gets me is the price. $1500 for a housebrand Tiagra bike? I've found full ultegra for about the same price from bike brand makers with much better wheels.

When I realized their standard tubes were $6, I knew I was in the wrong place. I get standard stems for $2.99 and long stem for $4.99!
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Old 10-01-08, 04:19 PM
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AeroJoe, I believe that when the REI where house runs out, they pull it from the web site. I'm guessing that when next years models come in, they will be back up. I bought a Randonee this summer and I love it. It's my ride to work. When the new ones come in, go check one out.
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Old 10-01-08, 09:32 PM
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I would go to K-Mart before REI, at least at K-Mart there is no expectation of actual bike service.


I loved my Jamis before it was used as a rolling parking spot for a Lexus SUV. I also love my Fuji and was nearly the owner of his and hers Bianchis (wife got knocked up). I do have a pair of Novara shorts that are comfy, but I would never buy a bike from a chain store and I do all my own maintenance.

Did I mention I loved my Jamis? When the insurance pays up I'm grabbing a new 09.
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Old 10-02-08, 06:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Beanz
I don't understand why anyone would buy a bike from REI. I guess after having so many wheel issues and learning from them, I wouldn't touch one of their bikes. I spoke with a rep that pointed out how tough the wheels were onsome of their housebikes. I noticed the spokes were SUPERthin. For one thing, Alex rims have always been trouble and low end stuff used to get bikes out the door. Don't think I've ever met anyone with Alex rims that had zero problems. I listened to his pitch with a little voice giggling in my head.
I have an older Novara Strada (not sure how old or how I could find out)and I absolutely love it. It's got 32 spoke Mavic MA2 rims and RSX components(105 front der.), and I'm very happy with it. I'm tipping the scales at 230-240 depending on how much I want to lie at the time and I've only been back on a bike since the first of June, but the bike just keeps on whispering to me to ride it instead of my trusty commuter, and the Fisher is most unhappy at the amount of garage time it's been pulling since I got the Strada. No wheel problems at all, and I've smacked some pretty mean bumps and ruts already!
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Old 10-07-08, 06:20 PM
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Two reasons to buy from REI.

1. Lifetime no questions asked guarantee.

2. 20% off members sale every Spring, plus 10% member rebate makes the bike competitively priced.

All that being said, I continue to buy my bikes used, and bought my wife a Randonee for $200 off of C/L.

+1 REI drops all models from its web site when they are out of stock. It makes researching their bikes difficult, as models disappear suddenly.
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Old 10-07-08, 07:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Beanz
I don't understand why anyone would buy a bike from REI. I guess after having so many wheel issues and learning from them, I wouldn't touch one of their bikes. I spoke with a rep that pointed out how tough the wheels were onsome of their housebikes. I noticed the spokes were SUPERthin. For one thing, Alex rims have always been trouble and low end stuff used to get bikes out the door. Don't think I've ever met anyone with Alex rims that had zero problems. I listened to his pitch with a little voice giggling in my head.

He suggested one of their bikes with Tiagra components ,described it as having the 'top of the line' components. He was at a loss of words when I asked about 105,Ultegra and DA.

What really gets me is the price. $1500 for a housebrand Tiagra bike? I've found full ultegra for about the same price from bike brand makers with much better wheels.

When I realized their standard tubes were $6, I knew I was in the wrong place. I get standard stems for $2.99 and long stem for $4.99!
Last I saw the Randonee goes for well under $1500, has a Reynolds 520 frame, stocks Tiagra components (except for a couple of Deore and LX parts), and runs Mavic A319 rims. While they may skimp on the spokes, (I don't know what they stock), the Randonee isn't a bad bike. For the price, especially when you figure that many people wait until their dividends kick in and it's on sale, it's actually a great bike.

Just don't expect to get a professional fitting, or proper adjustments at REI. Take it to a real bike shop for that sort of thing. Spend the $$, get a fitting so you know what size bike you need, and if you go to REI for the Randonee, take it to an LBS for the final adjustments.

As for no one being happy with Alex wheels, I rode the stock pair of DA-16 32h rims on my Cross Check Complete for about 2000 miles before replacing the front with a DT RR1.1 when I built my generator wheel. I still have the DA-16 on the rear, and I just rolled over 3230 miles on it today. I de/re-tensioned it when it was new, and trued it again at 300 miles. Never touched it since, and I beat my bike like it owes me money.
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Old 10-08-08, 09:43 AM
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All the recommendations--Bianchi, Jamis, Fuji--are good ones, and also consider a Trek 520 if your budget can stretch that far. If you're tall, Trek offers a 25" frame in that model.
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Old 10-08-08, 10:07 AM
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I'm very happy with my Randonee. REI's mechanics are mediocre, but better than most of the shops in my area (that's not saying much).
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Old 10-08-08, 11:43 AM
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Yep. The out of stock thing is why it isn't on the web page anymore. (According to the REI Guy I talked with yesterday)
They did have a couple randonee's at the store and I made the mistake of trying one out.
Now I want it!!! It's even marked down to $749.00
Sigh...Maybe they'll have leftovers again next year in my size.
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Old 10-08-08, 09:43 PM
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I bought a Randonee two years ago (OK, less than that, but it's been two riding seasons) and I've been very happy with it.

With my member bonus and the 20% off sale in the spring, I rolled it out of REI with additional pedals for less than original list price (tax included).

The wheels on the Randonee are Mavic A319 rims, 36 spokes and heavy spokes at that. I have a history of breaking spokes on lesser wheels. I have yet to have a problem with these wheels.

I changed out the stem to something slightly shorter on mine to improve the fit. If I had it to do again, I might buy the next size down frame. This was my first road bike, and I based the sizing off of my exisiting Sirrus. But with the new stem I'm quite comfortable.

I do agree that REI takes the bikes they no longer have stock of off the website. I think the Randonee disappeared during the winter before I bought mine. I did have to get the store to order one for me once they were available again.

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