Novara Element vs. Cannondale T800/Fuji Touring
06-12-05, 08:50 PM
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Novara Element vs. Cannondale T800/Fuji Touring
Hi,
I'm in the market for a touring/commute bike, willing to spend between $900-$1200. Today we visited the local REI store and my eye fell upon the Novara Element ($899). What I like about this bike is that it comes standard with (Tektro) brake cross levers, something almost no other bike of this type seems to have standard. Years ago, back in .nl I used to own a Gazelle Tour de France touring bike which had the same feature and I loved it.
Now my questions:
- Is the Element any good? It appears to be decent value for money.
- I also saw the Cannondale T800 and Fuji Touring being mentioned favorably online. How do they compare? Is it possible to add this type of brake cross lever to other bikes like these?
Thanks!
Jos
I'm in the market for a touring/commute bike, willing to spend between $900-$1200. Today we visited the local REI store and my eye fell upon the Novara Element ($899). What I like about this bike is that it comes standard with (Tektro) brake cross levers, something almost no other bike of this type seems to have standard. Years ago, back in .nl I used to own a Gazelle Tour de France touring bike which had the same feature and I loved it.
Now my questions:
- Is the Element any good? It appears to be decent value for money.
- I also saw the Cannondale T800 and Fuji Touring being mentioned favorably online. How do they compare? Is it possible to add this type of brake cross lever to other bikes like these?
Thanks!
Jos
06-13-05, 09:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Jos Backus
Hi,
I'm in the market for a touring/commute bike, willing to spend between $900-$1200. Today we visited the local REI store and my eye fell upon the Novara Element ($899). What I like about this bike is that it comes standard with (Tektro) brake cross levers, something almost no other bike of this type seems to have standard. Years ago, back in .nl I used to own a Gazelle Tour de France touring bike which had the same feature and I loved it.
Now my questions:
- Is the Element any good? It appears to be decent value for money.
- I also saw the Cannondale T800 and Fuji Touring being mentioned favorably online. How do they compare? Is it possible to add this type of brake cross lever to other bikes like these?
Thanks!
Jos
I'm in the market for a touring/commute bike, willing to spend between $900-$1200. Today we visited the local REI store and my eye fell upon the Novara Element ($899). What I like about this bike is that it comes standard with (Tektro) brake cross levers, something almost no other bike of this type seems to have standard. Years ago, back in .nl I used to own a Gazelle Tour de France touring bike which had the same feature and I loved it.
Now my questions:
- Is the Element any good? It appears to be decent value for money.
- I also saw the Cannondale T800 and Fuji Touring being mentioned favorably online. How do they compare? Is it possible to add this type of brake cross lever to other bikes like these?
Thanks!
Jos
I have both in my garage and feel that they are great bikes (the Cannondale is mine, Fuji is my kid's). The Fuji is a good value with weakish wheels and the Cannondale has a great touring bike geometry - very long but stiff and handles a load like a champ. I, personally, think that either would be a better touring bike (and commuter) than the Element.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
06-13-05, 10:09 PM
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
The Element (unless there is another version) that REI lists on it's website only has a double crankset. While it's not too hard to convert to a triple, it can be costly. The brake levers that you are looking at cost around $40 and are fairly easy to put on any bike and cost much less than a new bottom bracket and crank. If you want a touring bike, the Fuji or Cannondale are probably better bikes. Neither is a slug when it comes to speed and distance and both can carry an astounding load of gear.
I have both in my garage and feel that they are great bikes (the Cannondale is mine, Fuji is my kid's). The Fuji is a good value with weakish wheels and the Cannondale has a great touring bike geometry - very long but stiff and handles a load like a champ. I, personally, think that either would be a better touring bike (and commuter) than the Element.
I have both in my garage and feel that they are great bikes (the Cannondale is mine, Fuji is my kid's). The Fuji is a good value with weakish wheels and the Cannondale has a great touring bike geometry - very long but stiff and handles a load like a champ. I, personally, think that either would be a better touring bike (and commuter) than the Element.
Cheers,
Jos
06-14-05, 11:19 PM
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
The Element (unless there is another version) that REI lists on it's website only has a double crankset. While it's not too hard to convert to a triple, it can be costly. The brake levers that you are looking at cost around $40 and are fairly easy to put on any bike and cost much less than a new bottom bracket and crank. If you want a touring bike, the Fuji or Cannondale are probably better bikes. Neither is a slug when it comes to speed and distance and both can carry an astounding load of gear.
I have both in my garage and feel that they are great bikes (the Cannondale is mine, Fuji is my kid's). The Fuji is a good value with weakish wheels and the Cannondale has a great touring bike geometry - very long but stiff and handles a load like a champ. I, personally, think that either would be a better touring bike (and commuter) than the Element.
I have both in my garage and feel that they are great bikes (the Cannondale is mine, Fuji is my kid's). The Fuji is a good value with weakish wheels and the Cannondale has a great touring bike geometry - very long but stiff and handles a load like a champ. I, personally, think that either would be a better touring bike (and commuter) than the Element.
Thanks again for your advice.
Jos
