Originally Posted by
mihlbach
Its absurd to insist that one has to own a bike to have an informed opinion about it. In fact, owners can sometimes be a poor source...often rationalizing their own purchases gets in the way of making an unbiased judgement . At any rate, after viewing this forum for nearly five years, there is more than enough evidence available to back up my statements and recommendations.
I wasn't really insisting anything, but you seemed so sure of yourself I would have hoped you'd at least seen one before. And anyone who's been on the forum 5 years should be aware of the Steamroller's very solid reputation, no? Something to be said for a test ride and seeing a bike in person. Bikes are greater than the sum of their spec sheets, just imo. Maybe I'm unique in that but I don't think so. And I'm not rationalizing anything for myself, I just thought I'd present an opinion of a satisfied Surly owner against the chorus of "WT". My particular weakness is that whenever someone comes in here with their first post asking about a BD bike I just push back instinctively. But given the facts that the OP wants the fat tires and the hoods, he's got skills+tools, and he's so on the fence, a WT is probably a decent choice if money is an issue.
Originally Posted by
mihlbach
The fact that the WT is hundreds less makes it a better buy, unless you really depend on your LBS for sizing and mechanics.
Couldn't the same be said for pretty much any BD bike, but yet you don't own any? Do you rely on your LBS for sizing and mechanics? Does everyone else who doesn't own a BD bike?