Windsor Bicycles

rhellmer

Only this: http://www.windsorbicycles.com/products.htm

Rick Reas

Very interesting info on the connection or lack thereof between Windsor and Cinelli and Colnago. Among the references I found when looking into Windsors were the book Bike Cult by David Perry (4 Walls 8 Windows publishing co, 1995) and the Vintage Bikes website. These sources imply a cooperative re-branding/co-marketing relationship between Windsor and Cinelli but a less cordial relationship with Colnago. Where did you find the more detailed info about the unappreciated decaling of the Colnago used in Mexico and the resulting rift between Colnago and Merckx? I'd like to find more info on that.

Tx,

Rick

rhellmer

Well, I got my bike a few days ago and it rides GREAT. I bought it through bikesdirect.com and even so the delivery was a little delayed, Anne, their sales representative was VERY responsive at all times and answered all my questions when I got a little nervous. Great bike - great experience!

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rhellmer

I am very sorry, but the previous posting/picture showed my OLD Motobecane bike - here is the Windsor Kennet - a real beauty!!

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pnorrod

rhellmer, thanks for sharing info and a pic of your Windsor Kennet. I am also considering purchasing one and am wondering:

1. What assembly was required when the bike arrived? I can do any type of bicycle mechanical work, but I was just curious about how it is shipped and what you needed to assemble.

2. The price at bikesdirect.com is currently $1,295. Did you pay that or did you get it cheaper? I am wondering if bikesdirect prices go up and down.

3. Bikesdirect.com looks like a great place to purchase a bike. The only thing that really bothers me about the place is that for virtually every bike they have blurbs like this:

NOTE - Special Pricing THIS MONTH ONLY for the Complete Bicycle, Very Limited Quantities available.

and this:

Special Pricing Good THIS MONTH ONLY - After that, the price goes up by $200.

Of course, if this logic actually holds true then they will soon end up with zero bikes to sell at $200 more than the current selling price

Since we know that will never happen, I wonder what their real marketing strategy is - replenish existing models? add new 2005 models? Actually keep increasing prices?

Their car sales-like information aside, however, it is nice to see positive posts about bikesdirect.com and the Windsor line of bikes.

Good luck with your bike

Paul

rhellmer

1. What assembly was required when the bike arrived? I can do any type of bicycle mechanical work, but I was just curious about how it is shipped and what you needed to assemble.

-- I assmbled the bike, but I had it tuned in a shop--

2. The price at bikesdirect.com is currently $1,295. Did you pay that or did you get it cheaper? I am wondering if bikesdirect prices go up and down.

--You can get a 54cm on EBAY from Bikesdirect for $1095 w/o shipping--

I hope this helps.

Roland

runrideroad

I ordered my windsor trent this morning from bikesdirect and i can't wait until it arrives!! Thanks for all of your guy's input on the company. It helped me out a lot in making my purchase.

Rhellmer - I was wondering how long did it take for bikesdirect to ship you your kennet? Thanks

rhellmer

About five working days. But you will get a tracking number if you ask them so you are able to see the process/progress....

Roland

Rick Reas

runrideroad,

Have you rec'd your bike yet? I'm really interested in your impressions of the bike. My Kennet continues to perform wonderfully.

I noted the reference to Baldwin Wallace in your address. Are you a student or faculty member there? I've got a son at Ohio Wesleyan. So if you see a Kennet zipping by it means he's stolen my bike again.

I hope you enjoy lots of smooth miles on your Trent.

RICHIE S.

THE WINNDSORS OF THE MID 70'S WERE MADE IN MEXACO. THEY WERE IMPORTED BY SID STARR OF ALPHA CYCLE ON LONG ISLAND. THIS COMPANY ALSO LATTER IMPORTED THE LOTUS. THERE WAREHOUSE WAS LOCATED IN THE SAME BUILDING WHERE I OWNED A BIKE SHOP IN LAKE RONKONKOMA LONG ISLAND

runrideroad

I had my first ride on my trent today and it felt pretty good. But it will take some more time to get a true reading on it.

Yeah, I'm going to be a freshman at Baldwin Wallace this year. I'm running on the cross country and track team there. I'm going to be very busy with that but hopefully I'll be able to going riding as much as possible. The Cleveland Metroparks are amazing for training both for running and cycling. I can't wait!!

pnorrod

I had the good fortune to find that some of the bikes sold through bikesdirect.com sometimes appear for sale on eBay through bikesdirectdotcom and chicabike. I happened to see that chicabike had 2 new 62 cm Windsor Kennets at the "Buy Now" price of $960 + $35 shipping = $995. That is my size, so I bought one. It was shipped the next day and arrived a few days later in a box from ... bikesdirect.com from Texas!

I put it together and checked everything very carefully. I only found two problems - the first (and worst) was that when whoever assembled the rear derailleur partly cross-threaded it into the hanger and as a result the derailleur was quite crooked. Fortunately, I took the hanger off and was able to screw the derailleur in from the back to chase the threads back the way they should be. I was able to then assemble it properly - it tightened up fine.

While I had the rear apart, I used my Park rear derailleur alignment tool to check the alignment of the hanger to the wheel - it was a little off, but not bad. I tweaked it a little and now everything is perfect. I crashed my old bike about a year ago and bent the hanger - that is why I bought the Park tool. Once I used the tool on the old bike, it shifted better and ran quieter than ever before - which makes me wonder how out of alignment the hanger was from the factory? That is why I checked the Windsor out - I wonder how many other bikes (of any brand) have misaligned hangers?

The second "problem" was that the seatpost that came was a 27.0 when the tube is for a 27.2. The 27.0 fit in there a little loose, but I was able to clamp it tight without problem. It turned out that I have a 27.2 that I wanted to use anyway, so I ended up not using the supplied post.

Okay, minor problems aside, this is an very nice bike! Quite light (at least compared to my Raleigh 600) and the carbon front and rear really do help absorb those sharp bumps in the road. I only have about 100 miles on it so far, but I have really enjoyed those 100 and look forward to thousands more. I can't say that I like the color scheme, but once you are riding it you don't notice the color anyway.

One of the plusses of owning a Kennet is riding something different than the masses - it has already drawn questions from those I ride with. I don't think I will tell anyone what it cost - I'll just let them think it cost twice what it actually did

basfrommobay

How are the welds on the Windsor bikes. I am returning to the bike scene after a break of 26 year. I was shocked at the number of $1000 bikes that have rough welding like the cheap bikes at Walmart. That is a shame.

The first store I visited offered Treks. I was shocked at the roughness of the welding. I know that the design of the frame the components and the size are the critical factors. BUT, I am not willing to spend $800-1000 for a cycle with a frame that looks crude.

I have heard that Cannondales are made in the USA and have neatly welded and good bicycles. Any truth to that?

rrborg

I have been looking at road bikes for a few weeks now (felt f-60, specialized elite, trek 1500). Now I am thinking about getting the Windsor Kennet, so far everyone seems to say nothing but good things. I guess my question is are there any downsides to this bike? After checking out a few LBS in my area and test riding bikes that were about the same price as this but have nowhere near the level of components I just keep waiting for the catch. I mean are there any other bikes out there comparable to the price/performance of the Kennet?

My only other concern is fit, I was pretty comfortable on a 60cm Felt-F60 (I'm about 6' 2" 195) that I test rode today just wondering if fit is comparable to other bikes I might be able to actually test ride for size since this would be my first road bike (been mountain biking for a while), little leary of not riding it before hand.