Bike Friday/Shifters

[Blueberry]

It's mostly the position I'm concerned about. Apparently (when in adjustment) the barcons I'm looking at click. You have friction as a back up mode. Long ago, I did not like downtube shifters (but I had a bike that didn't fit well, etc, etc), so who knows whether it was the bike or the shifters or what. It was the position, not the shifters themselves (I belive they had a click mechanism also).

Added bonus from barcons - apparently you don't have to use a "rollamajig" on the brakes - something that gave me never ending fits on my Cannondale touring bike until I had new brakes put on.

Decisions, decisions!

So now...thoughts on the NWT v. the Crusoe?

Also, any recommendations for suspension seatpost? I'm not sure I *need* one, but I have a friend with a Friday who has a Nashbar suspended which is quite nice

Denise- Thank you for answering all my questions on Bike Fridays - it's amazing how helpful Friday owners are as a group!

[SadieKate]

Yes, that was me that got rid of the barcons.

Go down to your LBS and test ride a bike with barcons. I think Bianchi and Fuji each have touring bikes with barcons. It is a personal preference. I dislike them. With my small hands, it is very difficult to shift the front der and hold a line. I can shift far faster with Ergo which makes rollers a heck of a lot more fun. I've nearly slammed into the back of somone on a sudden swoopy uphill who used barcons because I could shift faster and use the momentum of my downhill speed. But, some folks don't care about that ability.

It really comes down to preference. The rollamajig - is that so your STI levers will pulled a cantilever brake? What kind of brakes are you planning to use?

I have a USE suspension post on the tandem and love it. Not horribly heavy and low maintenance but I'm not sure why you'd want it on a single bike. I guess it would be good for back problems just to even out the bumps a bit.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Are you planning to tour with the trailer, or will you be hauling everything on your bike? My own instinct would be to go with the lighter bike, especially if you're planning to ride it unloaded too - but I think that goes along with my habit of pulling the trailer (if I fly to my tour, or if I'm doing a camping trip) or using my smaller front panniers on the rear rack, trying to carry as little gear as possible.

Another factor is probably the types of roads you think you'll be traversing. Rougher roads (to me) implies that you might be happier with the heavier bike.

--- Denise