robmcl

I just happen to look at this on the REI website. Looks like it would make a pretty good commuter but I don't hear it mentioned here so much. It comes with disk brakes, trekking bars, slicks, a rack, and eyelets and clearance to mound fenders and seems to have decent quality components. It also seems like it would be durable and it can double as a tourer and a weekend bike. The $850.00 price might be a little more than some people want to pay but REI has sales including the annual 20% sale. Even still it seems like a decent value for what you get and might be a good choice for somebody looking to get a first, good commuting bike.

eofelis 

I had one of these bikes. I got mine on sale for $499, it was a last years model. This was back in 2003. Mine was spec'd differently than they are nowadays, but it was a good commuter. I got this bike as a step up from a $300 early 90s Giant Rincon rigid mtn bike.

I have since moved on to another bike as I personally didn't care for the ride of an aluminum frame.

newbojeff

Intersting, but for commuting I would stay away from 26' wheels and the sprung seatpost.

eofelis, Interesting that you didn't like the feel of the aluminum frame. I tried the Randonee, which I see you have in your stable, and found it not lively enough for my daily commute and went with an aluminum bike. Don't get me wrong...I thought it was a rock-solid ride, just a little "flat." Could be perfect for many people's commutes.

eofelis 

I am a petite rider, 110lbs, so an aluminum frame bike is a bit stiffer than I'd like.
I guess I have to explain my Randonee a bit, I've never seen another one like it. It's a 13.5 in steel frame that takes 26" wheels. I got it as NOS frameset, in the box, at an REI garage sale a few years back, for the huge sum of $15! It is now set up as a flat bar commuter bike. It has the fork and front rack off of the Safari I used to have.

cerewa

I am a petite rider, 110lbs, so an aluminum frame bike is a bit stiffer than I'd like.

It doesn't matter in the slightest whether your frame is aluminum or steel. As Sheldon says, the perception of a difference between steel and aluminum frames comes from the placebo effect combined with the fact that there are enough other factors to confuse people. (tires, forks, seatpost length, frame length and geometry, and saddles).

buzzman

I have one of the older Novara Buzz bikes- aluminum frame, 26" wheels but V-brakes not disc and must say it's a great commuter that now has about an average of 5-6K miles per year over the last 4 1/2 years. Other than basic maintenance and one rear wheel replacement it's been a fantastic bike. I paid very little money for it since it was deeply discounted when I bought it and I had a healthy rebate which I used.

The Novara bikes are well thought out and the video on the website makes it look like a real versatile machine. If the specs work for you for your commute why not? I could get by on a SS/FG for my commute but am happy with the 9 speeds I have for those tired rides home at night into the wind.

Use as many discounts and credits as you can at REI and you can end up with a good solid machine for pretty cheap.

sauerwald

I was in the REI store about a month ago and really liked the looks of this:
https://www.rei.com/product/744803

The Fusion seems to be made for commuting, fenders, rack, generator driven lights. Pretty much ready to go! I also liked the internal rear hub as a way to minimize maintenence.

DataJunkie

This does not have anything to do with choosing a bike.
Last year in March REI had their 20% off of one item sale. Hopefully, this is a yearly thing. Our downtown store has a Cannondale I have been looking at.

Sheldon Brown

For a rider as light as you, all frames are essentially infinitely stiff, no matter what they're made of. If you have issues with harsh ride, look to the tires for a solution. Lower pressure, maybe a wider tire. One of the benefits of being a lightweight is that you can run lower pressure in the same tires that would require very high inflation for a heavier rider.

See: https://sheldonbrown.com/pressure

See also: https://sheldonbrown.com/pain

Sheldon "Tires" Brown

Glottus

Yup, every year with your dividend (March-ish) you should get one of those coupons for 20% off one item. That, in combination with the dividend get used pretty quickly! I'm thinking a tent for camping this year, but don't let my wife know. Its a surprise!

Someone recently had a Safari (or maybe it was a Randonee) for sale on Craigslist really cheap recently and I wanted to snap it up. I got in an early email but the announcement disappeared suddenly with no response or "sold" info, so...

That was partly for the price, to use it as a winter bike, and despite my misgivings about the Novara bikes. My misgivings are probably unfair to the whole line, and most certainly are all about personal preference, as opposed to the quality of the bikes. I bought a 2006 Fusion which I tried out for about a month before returning it (gotta love REI's return policy). The stiff yet sluggish feeling ride, a mysterious creak in the handlebars, a few unexplained flats, the non-premium internal hub, and lets face it, the more "old fogey" styling were all part of my decision. I'm certain that I misguidedly attribute too much of my vague dislike for the bike to what I felt was the "aluminum ride quality". and that's what gets carried over to the other Novara family members.

That, and I also felt like since I bought the bike at REI, I should return to them for any minor adjustments and such, but each visit convinced me even more that I needed to find a MUCH better group of wrenches to actually help me with any work that my bikes might need. For gear, I head to REI 2-3 times a month, for repair? No.

DataJunkie

I like my radonee but am uninterested in any of the other Novara bikes. Our flagship store sells Cannondale as well and that is the only reason I am thinking about getting my next bike there.
I have come to the conclusion that I do not have enough time to build up a frame due to work commitments.

My LBS does all the maintenance I can not perform on my bike. Just not thrilled with REI's wrenches.
It also helps to be educated regarding your fit. I have had REI employees try to sell me a bike with an excessively large frame (different store) but that can be said for many bike shops.

newbojeff

Can't argue with that!

newbojeff

1+. I too buy stuff at REI frequently, but not for repairs. I try to do most stuff myself. For little, quick stuff I can't handle or parts I need right away, I'll run to my LBS that is 6 blocks away. For big stuff I'm spoiled rotten: I'm 4 miles from Sheldon's shop, Harris Cyclery. They've taken care of stuff that's stumped LBS #1 ("you need to get a new bike, this frame is toast." Wrong).

Glottus

'zactly. When I first went in to REI to buy the Fusion, I could only see frames in 18in size. I have a 20in MTB that feels a bit smallish for what I wanted, and I know that you can't directly compare these numbers from frame to frame or from one intended use to another, but I knew that an 18" was not right.

The store was about to close, I knew I could return the bike if needed, they had it on decent sale ending that day, and all they had on the floor were 18in models. I asked if they had any in 20in, the guy glanced at me and (to his credit) as an afterthought asked my inseam but said flat out "You want an 18in." "No, actually, I want a 20in. I did in fact try sitting on the 18in earlier just to see, and I want a 20in frame." They had me sit on the 18in bike just to prove it, and the guy shrugged, said "Ok, I see your point" and looked on the computer to discover that they had one assembled in storage and finally pulled it down for me as they turned off the lights for the evening.

The tires were a bit low, but I told them I could fill them at home. I had to let the bike sit unused over the weekend, and the back tire was flat agian two days later, so I took it in to get them to repair it (give me a replacement tube) and show me how to correctly remove the back wheel with internal gear hub. (That paperwork never made it into my hands). The wrenches there didn't know the procedure either and nearly snapped off the cable attachment trying randomly.


Well, DUH!!! If I lived anywhere within 500 MILES of Sheldon/Harris, I'd consider that my LBS !! That's a pretty obvious choice. I'm jealous. In my case I try to learn what I can, and learn which shops I prefer to turn to other times. Because I shop at REI and in the same area so often, I figured I could kill a couple birds with one stone, but I've shelved that idea for repairs now. Fortunately Minneapolis isn't lacking for good shops, it's just a matter of knowing which ones have which strengths and which ones are convenient to my commuting route.



I guess that totally derailed the original thread. Sorry!

dynaryder

I own a Safari and really like it. It's my bad weather/grocery hauler/polo bike. Only major complaint is the grip shifters suck. Swapped them for some SRAM thumb shifters and now I'm happy. It's very comfortable;I like the trekking bar much better than drops. Hated the stock seat and swapped it for a WTB,but saddles are personal so YMMV. Gearing is nice and wide,brakes are excellent,tires roll well and do good in the snow. I dig the 26" wheels because if you want to speed things up you can mount some high psi 1.5" slicks or run 2" knobs for snow. Regular Freddy fenders go on with no probs,it comes with a rear rack,and has the eyelets up front for fork racks. The paint does chip/scratch easy;I've got the same prob with my '06 Big Buzz,so I'm thinking REI cheapened the paint when they started making them in China(my '05 Buzz's paint is fine).

All-in-all,I'm very happy with mine. It makes a great all-weather commuter.

JanMM

I've been happy with my '03 Novara Big Buzz. Weren't many hybrid/commuters with discs then so I bought a mail order bike. (nearest REI store 150+ miles). Only problem was spokes breaking on rear when nearly new - UPS'd the wheel to Seattle (arrggh! my cost) but they sent me back a hand-built wheel which has stayed perfectly true. cyclocross crank (38-46) with 11-34 cassette is ideal for central Indiana. Haven't ridden it much since I got a Rans Tailwind 2000 mi. ago. But, its hanging in the garage waiting it's turn.