Hey all,

I'm doing some online comparison shopping for a new commuter bike for the spring. I want a drop-barred, light-touring, steel-framed, disc-braked, wide-tired, multi-purpose, all-weather do-it-all bike. Oh yeah, and I want it for under $1000. I had narrowed my choices down and was considering the Kona Jake (despite the aluminum frame and lack of disc brakes - still a very nice bike.) Recently I came across this bike: https://www.gtbicycles.com/usa/eng/Bi...ATO-Peace-Tour Very nice. Fits all my needs. I know nothing about GT bikes and know no one who owns one. My LBS has a GT Aerostream in their inventory so I assume they could order me in the PeaceTour.

I'd like to hear some opinions about this bike. What do you think of the components? Are those brakes adequate? I didn't even know Tektro made disc brakes, and I assumed all discs were 160mm in diameter, but this bike's are 140mm. I'm a Clydesdale at 6'0", 300 lbs. If I bought this bike I would add some Velocity DeepV rims with 36 spokes but would other wise leave it unchanged. I've never used bar-end shifters and the only drop-bar bikes I've test ridden so far were STI equipped. That being said, my last drop bar bike was a junior-sized VeloSport 10-speed with downtube friction shifters. I had no problem shifting, but my 12-year old body and flexibility allowed me to do things then that I could never do now.

Anyway thanks in advance for all your expected input.

My oppinion is that the bike is very good. To state what I like about it would be to repeat all the specs. I had no idea that GT had such a model, it's bookmarked.

GT's lost some creds. the past years, as has Mongoose which I tested awhile back.
Just an obervation, like your observation about the discs. Neither of which seem to be at all inferior. I like drop bars. It has bar-end shifters, effectively reducing the price by two hundred, no problem there. Tecktro is a big name in brakes, mech. brks. should be fine, for that matter I've no problem with reg. brakes. At 368, brakes were the least of my problems.

Can't go wrong I say. Jamis makes the Aurora, a good bike, it has Br-lev-shifters which as I stated add to the price. A good. easy site to view, just check-out the 2009 listings rather than the 2010 PDF. Fugi makes their version of a Tourer that costs more than yours. Fugi's site messes with my PC so if you have a Fugi or Jamis dealer near you Ck'em out. I kind of like the GT though, the specs say why.

I love the Aurora, but Jamis bikes seem to be way marked up here in Canada. Fuji's Touring bike is nice, too, but at $1100 USD it's probably out of my price range. BTW you're right about the Fuji website. I have a hell of a time trying to load any of its pages. What's up with that? I also like Rocky Mountain's Sherpas, but they've been discontinued for 2010. There is an LBS here in town that sells them and I'm crossing my fingers that there might be a sale this winter. Norco is introducing a couple of nice steel touring bikes for 2010. The Fraser sells for $985, but it doesn't have disc brakes and the spec'd 28c tires make me wonder if I could fit anything wider, especially with fenders. Also, it has road gearing, not that that's a bad thing, but the granny gears on the GT would help a Clyde like me conquer hills (especially with a pannier or two on board.) That GT is looking better and better. I love the frame - the way the seatstays mount to the toptube. Stands out in a crowd.

The Sherpa's gotten good reviews in Bicycling Mag. for what that's worth. Jamis is not nec. more in Canada, seems the same price and they don't discount in the states either. The Fuji and the Jamis were more for comparison. I have to travel many hundreds of miles to see either. Thousands of miles for Rock.M or Norco. I've read a few complaints about some Norco wheel problems which they may sort out at some point and in all fairness to that Co., they backed-up the custs. I don't even focus on the brand yet I've run across the problem reading here. It's a good brand though. I've clicked-on that GT site, the main part in the past but your model got by me, never saw it.

No rush I'd say, not if you care to see what avails itself with the new model year. I for one will not forget the GTs., every single feature suits me perfectly. As a Clyde, the wheels are no exception . it's nice to not HAVE to buy a bike with Brifters. The bike all in all is exceptional.

The GT looks good and a bargain price. The thing that puzzles me is the 32H hubs on a touring bike. Why would a major manufacturer choose 32H hubs? Do the 4 extra spokes and holes cost that much?

I thought the same thing, it may be due to the Disc brake component(s) availabilty to the Co.
Seem like fairly stout wheels though and the tires are big.