Originally Posted by
cyclotoine
The lotus is the best and the shimano cantilever brakes it has are the best brake to accommodate the conversion from 27" to 700. It appears to have nice deore components.
The nishiki appears to be more ready to ride and if that is important you should go that route. Also the lotus is more like a 49cm bike, I just noticed... so it might be too small for you? How tall are you?
The Panasonic may be the best bike (same brakes as lotus) and it is a size larger. I'd change the crank out though.
It's odd because I was thinking the Lotus was to small, then I emailed the craigslist ad and the fellow took a measurement of the seat post tube from center of crank to the to of the seatpost and told me it measured 21" inches?? Sure doesn't loo klike it BUT maybe is it the angle the photo was taken at??
I too had expressed to him that it looked a LOT smalled and he insisted on the size of it???
The bike's 2 hours from me (as is the Nishiki though) so I don't want to be the guy driving 2 hours to find out it really IS a tiny bike that won't fit me!!
I'm 5'-7" tall.
Thanks for the input,.. much appreciated!