Originally Posted by Wheely

Hi Everyone,

I've been looking to buy a touring bike and looked at the Trek 520, Cannondale T800 and the Fuji touring. I've also looked at some LBS shop here that design and built there own touring bike (G.M Bertrand in Hull)...but that's another cathegory by itself and is way more expensive...They seem to have a very good reputation however and I only got good feedback about them.

I'm rather new to bike touring and if possible want to get something that's not too expensive...

It will probably be more light touring initially but will probably do a few longer trips here and there with more stuff to carry. I do not expect to do several weeks trips....unless I end up really loving it

I've looked at several of the posts in bike forum and it seems like the Fuji touring may be a good choice to start. I wonder however if you can comment about the components on the bike and which limitations I might be facing with those. Would the Deore and Tiagra components be good enough for the type of use I described ? The gearing of all the bikes I looked at was similar. I have a preference for STI shifting (probably could carry a spare downtube shifter if I wanted to)....I am wondering however if an upgrade to the 105 component from Tiagra would be worth it (and if that would be the case then would'nt the 520 be better ?)...

Anyway. I welcome any comments, good or bad, about the Fuji touring bike....and for any of you that have one...any comments on how good the bike has been for you and type us use/limitations/positives you might have face with it...

THanks

Wheely