swoooper

The Randonee touring bicycle isn't on the website now.

DVC45

They are probably will just be selling Surly LHT and the Safari for their touring bike line.
' sad, because I like the Randonee too.

edthesped

I believe they are making way for the 2015 models. The safari is also on clearance. Makes wonder what will change for 2015 as the bike hasn't changed in a couple of years.

Vintage_Cyclist

I looked at the website out of curiosity and it still shows the Randonee (plus 45 other Novara bikes). Other than Surly, their other offered tourer is the Raleigh Sojourn.

Fullcount

I was surprised also to see it missing. It is the only touring style bike that has gearing for climbing that is stock...not an extra. If they are indeed making a change, hopefully, they will keep that part as a standard.

DVC45

Disc brakes?

BigAura

REI does regularly remove bikes from their website when out-of-stock and waiting on new models. Although I have no idea if that applies here or not.

edthesped

That's the only thing I wish my Randonee had. Was oogling one for my daughter when they had them on clearance a couple of weeks ago but they only had large and extra large. There are still a couple in our local REI marked down to $963.

musicman1586

I'll chime in since I work for the company, the Randonee is sold out from the "website warehouse" so you'll only find it in stores now. The website takes the listing down as soon as we have sold through the stock. Makes me happy that we have already sold them all because they really are fantastic bikes this year, glad people picked up on that. Have little doubt that they will be back for next year but haven't gotten any word about the 2015's yet.

fietsbob

Off shore manufacturing means it's gotta be put on the boat to get to the port, to get on the truck to be in the warehouse to order from..

next seasons batch for 015 is likely on order with the contract manufacturer that they use.

perhaps running out a month early will up the number ordered next year.

pdlamb

Happens every year, maybe a few weeks earlier this year (2014) than the last few years. Run down to your local store now if you want on (on sale!), they might have one your size. Next year, the bikes will hit the catalog 2.3 weeks after you start to panic that you'll have to find a new model because REI doesn't have them any more. (At least that's been the trend...)

edthesped

Yep, last I checked our local store had a few albeit in large and XL. It might be wise to buy one now and hold on to it until the newer models come out to see if there are any upgrades that will make it worth the additional cost. I've got a couple of years of heavy use on mine and like it more and more all of the time but I still find myself wanting something a little more sporty as a fun bike.

pdlamb

Might I suggest a couple of lighter tires? Take off the bricks that come on the Randonnee and put on something like 28 Gatorskins. You'll think the bike just lost 8 pounds. Save the OEM tires (Vittoria Randonneurs?) for rough roads and loaded touring.

edthesped

I've been through a couple of sets, Kenda happy mediums, sucked for my purposes and now have WTB All terrain tires that roll very nicely, got a 2+ mph speed increase over the original Conti's and Kenda's. The bike is a definite keeper whether or not I get something peppier.

arizonacyclist

Just grabbed one on clearance for about $700 that I will use to get to work (6 miles each way, straight line on a path). I have a road bike already and put about 100 miles/week on that, but my commuter was a '91 Specialized Crossroads Cruz. This will be a big upgrade, and I look forward to getting my load off my back!

mnmkpedals 

I usually post in the C-V forum, but I thought maybe this thread might be able to help. Since the question about Randonee model, I was wondering if there is any resource (either direct REI or otherwise) for model years for these? Old catalogue specs or anything like that? My web searches only get me to the 2014s.


I ask because I just happened upon (and bought) a used Randonee yesterday as a supplement to my vintage tour bike. I was thinking I could use a more modern bike now and then, and I couldn't pass it up for the price. But I'm now trying to sort out exactly what I bought. The frame seems pretty new, but a few miss-mashed parts have been changed and I'd like to play with it some. I'd be great to know how it came stock. thanks!

Bezalel

No disc brakes for 2015, the frame seems unchanged other than the paint (and no panels for this year).

MTB crankset (44/32/22) was changed to a trekking (48/36/26) crankset.
RD was changed back to Shimano with Microshift shifters.
Cassette changed from 11-32 to 11-34 (and to Shimano as well).
The SRAM chain was replaced with a KMC chain (eliminating the last SRAM part).
Continental tires were changed to Schwalbe.

The braking system remains unchanged.

pdlamb

The easy way would be to do a web search on, for example, "2010 novara randonee." REI usually has their previous years' bike catalogs on the web, but there's no way I know of to find them through their web site. Google, of course, remembers everything.

mnmkpedals 

Didn't the 2014 have several sram parts? The link w specs here shows at least the RDR also?

Novara Randonee Bike - 2014

I ask b/c I had thought this one I bought was/is a 2014, but it has Shimano RDR and Shimano canti brakes (not tektro as listed in these specs). Just wondering because I'm trying to make sense of what was fiddled with (and maybe why) to see what, if anything, I want to unfiddle with.

edthesped

The 2014 as delivered should be speced exactly as listed in the link you provided. I have a 2013 and it is identical to the 2014. Being yours has cantilever brakes I'd be willing to bet it is an older model.

Bezalel

When the Randonee switched to 10-speed bar-end shifters they went to SRAM. They had switched to Tektro brakes earlier when Shimano moved away from Cantis (this was before CX50/CX70 existed).

MMACH 5

I haven't read this whole thread, (all 21 posts - yes, I'll accept any 'lazy' label y'all want to attribute) but I was in the Dallas REI and all of the Randonees are on clearance. Make of this info what you will.

vaultbrad

The Randonee and Safari are still in the Novara lineup. Google Novara 2015. Novara will also be introducing a bike called the Mazama which will be similar to the Salsa Vaya/Specialized AWOL/Raleigh Tamland/Etc.

JoeMan

If you can find a used Safari you will not go wrong.

edthesped

It looks like the 2015 Randonee is out as well... (and just in time for the 20% off coupon)

Novara Randonee Bike - 2015

Doesn't look like a bad build and I really like that they don't have Novara plastered all over the frame, (what I dislike most about my Randonee)