Mattius459

Okay I know this is the road cycling forum, and neither of these bikes is a true road bike, but I figured that road cyclists have a more precise understanding of the mechanics that are causing my dillemma. So here goes:

I am looking to buy one of these two bikes...

The first is the Windsor Tourist (Touring Bike): https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

The second is the Fantom CX (Cross Bike): https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._cross_cx2.htm

My needs are as follows:

- I am riding about 5 miles to and from campus every day.
- I am looking to join the cycling club at my school so I want a bike that can keep up on recreationally competitive road and gravel rides.
- I also need a winter conditions bike as I live in Lincoln NE.
- A goal of mine is to tour for a week relying on the equipment in my panniers.

My roommate is an experienced road racing cyclist and he told me that the Windsor Tourist's geometry prevents it from ever being a bike capable of good speed, while the cross bike shown is. Is this true? How much is this going to set me back in a faster paced ride? I'm not a die hard cyclist, more of a hobbyist. I really like the Windsor and I think it is a better deal, but I don't want to be significantly limited on faster group rides. I can handle being a little bit disadvantaged. That is the price you pay for having a versatile bike. But will it hinder me significantly?

And thanks for any comments!

10 Wheels

2010 Windsor Tourist the best all around bike for you. Takes fenders for winter and large tires.

Speed comes from the motor.

10 Wheels

Roy has 40,000 miles on his WT from BD

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ide-Ends-in-LA

Mattius459

bump

Mattius459

bumpp

kabex

How about this one?
https://www.roadbikeoutlet.com/0featu...orks-html.html
Much better than the other 2 you posted

Don't know about CX though, change the tires? It has a 105 rear dérailleur and tiagra shifters(much better than sora)

eippo1

I think this bike wouldn't do it for the OP since it does not have the necessary braze on's to accept a rack.

Mattius, either of those bikes would be fine. The cross bike won't necessarily be faster, but it will have shorter chain stays which will make it more maneuverable. What those long chain stays do, though is improve the bike's handling under load for when you have a week's worth of crap hung in panniers on the back (they also help for heel clearance ). You'll be just as fast on either bike, so that really doesn't matter. Neither bike will really feel snappy going uphill, but the CX bike might be a tad stiffer being an aluminum bike.

DanBell

Go for the Windsor for it's touring and commuting capabilities. Neither bike will stop you from getting dropped.