Co-motion Americano vs Norwester Tour

[Tourista829]

Ron,

Yes he did and I was glad that there was clearance on both ends. (toe and heal) What a great picture!! I like your racks and choice of bags.

How did you make out with your trailer? I thought of two other things that may help with the shimmy. Check your connections and torque with nuts and bolts. They must be tight and all there. The second thing I found is, that I usually tour with either bags or my trailer. When I am not balanced correctly side to side or front to back with both trailer and bags I do experience some shimmy. I am going to check with Manny to see if I can add a dual kickstand, where a kickstand usually goes. It weighs a little more but it may hold my trailer upright when I stop. I worry about breaking the pins. (I always keep extra ones on me)  

I should get my bike this week. Can't wait! We are trying a couple of new saddles from Terry. Liberator X & Y. They say for touring, in a more upright position, very comfortable. So far not all that comfortable. I am use to a Brooks Professional and my girlfriend a Serfas womans saddle. I have 30 days to test the Terry. The saddles on your new bikes, are they stock from Comotion or are they aftermarket? How do you like them?  

I will take my bike to our friends house off of Route 64 in Bradenton and back to Wesley Chapel. Approximately 135-150 miles. I will use my trailer until I figure out my touring bag situation. It should be very educational.

Although I had been advised to go with the Americano, I believe at my weight and the type of riding I will be doing, the Norwest Tour will be more than adequate.

Just got two maps from Adventure Cycling of Florida. Maps are great, easy to read, bicycle touring oriented, and have lots of detail. Can't wait to use them. If I had more time, I would consider a transcontinental trip or the new Underground Railroad route from Mobile to Owen Sound Ontario, Canada. I have toured in Europe but not that much in the U.S.

I know you have been busy. I would still like to talk to you, if interested 813 598-6741. Happy New Year  Bob

[ondowntheroad]

I own a Norwester and am planning to use it on the Trans Am this summer. There is not actually that much difference between the Norwester and the Americano provided you have the tour model of the Norwester. The Americano is a little stronger for extreme conditions - dirt roads and super heavy riders and loads.If you are an average size rider and carry less than 60 lbs, the Norwester should be fine. I have put 5000 miles on mine and it hasn't been to the bike shop once. I do not have the SS couplers - didn't think it justified the cost. I usually box and ship my bike UPS - never had any problems. I think most people fret a little too much over equipment choices. I think it is better to be familiar with what you have before the tour begins so you don't have any surprises.Co Motion is a great bike, Surly is a great bike, Waterford is a great bike, Trek 520 is a sturdy performer. Whomever you talk to, they usually always like their bikes. Those that don't are the ones who bought the bike days before the tour and are still making adjustments. So .... buy a good bike then put enough miles on it to become comfortable ....then head off on down the road!!!

[centrider]

Huh.  How did you upload your picts?

I have the tour model (just checked CoMotion's specs, and sure enough).

The problem with this type of communication is that, "nuances" get missed, or never explained.

I have a Giant TCR and you're right, the Nor'wester handles nothing like the TCR.  Unlike you, I've never loaded my bike, leaving it to my wife and the Prius to carry my stuff.

As I've pointed out, the CoMotion has a lot flexibility.  Right now I'm running 32 mil tires.  I've had Schwalbe Marathon XR 35's on it, and down to Conti 25's.

I've been off it since Oct, but rode it today and will probably stay on it through June-July.  

My friends call it, "The Yellow Beast."  But I call it, "My go anywhere-do anything" bike.

[Tourista829]

I took delivery on my Lucious Red (Burgundy) Norwester Tour this past Monday. I already have 125 miles on it. Yesterday I rode 72.4 miles round trip from my house Wesley Chapel to Plant City and back. I left at 8:15, stopped at Power On Cycling, (great shop for touring gear) had lunch, and was home by 2:15.  The ride was so comfortable, I could have continued riding all the way to San Diego. I like how well it handles, agility and speed. I am looking forward to riding it with full bags or my trailer.

I would like to thank all who have participated, in this forum, for your advise and comments. It was really helpful.
I would also like to thank University Bicycle Center in Tampa, Fl. Manny and his staff were great, I was not the easiest customer to work with. They were there from start to finish.  Manny found me a custom show bike that fit me to a T. I am now considering a Comotion for my girlfriend.

I also would like to thank Robenne and his wife for having their Comotion Norwester Tours on display at our bike shop. I believe looking at their bikes, the workmanship, and components, helped me make my final decision to purchase.

I was concerned about purchasing a bike without having a chance to ride it first. I was wrong, if fit correctly, it is not an issue, atleast not for me.  I believe that for my weight and the type of touring I will be doing, the Norwester Tour was the correct choice. Bob

[MRVere]

Congratulations on your new Co-Motion NW.  I'm sure you will love it.  Now, get out there and ride.  I don't want to see you logged in here any more >>>>WINK WINK  Seriously, I am really happy for you.  I had a bit of a back related set back and am unable to sit on a bike and bend forward right now. I have put my little nest(bike) egg away for now.  Right now it's stretching, pain killers and PT for me.

Keep us posted on how you like/change the new bike.

Michael

[Tourista829]

525 miles later I still love my Comotion Norwester Tour. It is balanced in so many areas all I want to do is ride it. Very little frame flex when I get out of the saddle and the bike is extremely stable under load. I tested it out Wednesday with 60 + pounds of groceries, including a 28 pound container of cat litter. If it rides that well with only the rear bags, I can't wait to pick up my Tubus Tara racks and ride it with front bags. Longest ride 72 miles in one day started at 8:15 home by 2:15 and stopped at a bike shop and had a very long lunch. It is very fast too. I rode it on 5 miles of hard packed gravel and the 700X32 worked admirably. I truly am blessed to have this bike. I am going to take it out with my trailer, over the weekend. I am curious to see if the double kickstand I have will keep the trailer upright when at rest. Bob

[Tourista829]

Michael,

Thanks, for your kind thoughts. I was in a store that sold recumbents and tri's. The folks I spoke to loved them. They would never go back to a regular bike. I was truly amazed, one of the owners, a female, rode in a race and did 170 miles in 12 hours, on a recumbent. Worth a look. They are www.poweroncycling.com. I hope you feel better soon. 

[Tourista829]

FYI, I had my first flat today, with the Comotion Norwester Tour. Roofing nails, nasty. I was amazed, how easy the tire came off and went back on. Love the Velocity Dyad Rims. Took me longer to pump the tire up than to change it.

[centrider]

FYI, I had my first flat today, with the Comotion Norwester Tour. Roofing nails, nasty. I was amazed, how easy the tire came off and went back on. Love the Velocity Dyad Rims. Took me longer to pump the tire up than to change it.

Yep.  An easy bike to fall in love with.  I think however it's the tires also which determine how easy they mount.  And for that matter how strong your fingers are to get those tires on.  Doesn't matter what I'm running on, a tire change takes me 1/2 hour.  So, blame it all on you!  Congrats - also on your new CoMotion.

[Tourista829]

Thanks, but trust me, I never have been able to change a tire, especially a rear tire, in less than a half an hour without tire irons. In Tampa I will make sure I keep atleast two spare tubes on me. WIth the econmy the way it is, there is no street cleaning and the roads have really deteriorated.

[Tourista829]

FYI, I couldn't believe my eyes, Walmart actually now sells a 700cX28 tire tube. I think $3.29, I picked up two. LOL

[Tourista829]

I used my Nashbar Trailer* this weekend with my bike. It rode great. It is limited to under 45 pounds but I felt like it was well balanced. I also think that the width of my handlebars helped too. My dealer exchanged out, the ones on the bike, to a 44cm width. It is also a modified shorter rams horn that I really like. The double kickstand actually worked, but used the advise, of a fellow forum participant,  to strape the front tire to the frame. (*I picked up a Nashbar Trailer, bag, and netting for under $100. I wanted to see if I liked it, before I spent $300+ dollars. I know someone who is a welder and beefed it up a little. I could actually live with the 45 pound weight limit)  Since I use panniers more than a trailer, this works for me. Not sure I would trust the Nashbar Trailer for a TA. For Florida and bulky items it is nice. Has any one ridden with a combination of panniers and trailer? I was thinking of that for our tandem.

[Tourista829]

Since I have had such good luck with my bike, I am thinking of a Comotion Norwester Tour for my girlfriend. It would have to be custom. She has an 83cm inseem and a short torso/arm length. 112cm  Are there any women out there that have a custom bike either Comotion, Waterford, Sweatpea, etc and how do you like them? Any tips woman specific?

[paddleboy17]

I think the critical item is getting a dealer to come up with a fit for her.  The bike companies will basically build whatever frame the dealer can come up with.  Serotta has a test buck for frames, and if you go through a dealer that has the test buck, they can mock up the frame and let your girl friend ride the test buck.  At least my dealer had one, and I found it really useful to confirm what I was getting.  There may be other test bucks besides the one that Serotta makes.  Here is a URL to pics of one:  http://www.serotta.com/fit/history.html.

That said, don't buy a Serotta touring bike, as that is just not what they do well.  My dealer (Continental Bikes) sold Waterford, and that is what I bought. (We just used Serotta's test buck).  My dealer does sell Serotta bikes, mostly to people who race or go on club rides.  The dealership was originally owned by Mike Walden, a legendary coach in road racing up until is death in the mid 90's.

General guidelines.  If you get another Co-Motion, you will have common maintenance for both bikes.  You have an existing relationship with a dealer, so maybe you should start there.  Your gal's legs are long enough, 32 inches, that is should be easy to get a frame with enough stand over to support 700c wheels.  I just don't have an appreciation for her torso and arm length to talk much more about fit.  I would be rigid about either giving her the test buck experience or a frame close to that size before I would invest any money with Manny.

My dealer has a sizable client list of Hispanic women, and has placed most of them on Gunnar bikes (Gunnar is a subsidiary of Waterford).  I would get a Waterford over a Gunnar because Gunnar does not have a touring specific bike frame.   I have no idea why there would be a lot of Hispanic women looking for nice bicycles in Detroit, or why all of them go to Continental Bikes.  Life is full of mysteries.

If fit turns out to be a total nightmare...The historical answer has been to look at a Terry.  Georgina Terry stretches the frame out and uses a really long rear wheel stay for a 700C rear and a small (24"?) front.  I don't know if Terry has a touring bike, but maybe there is something woman specific that would work for her.

Good Luck and post details about the shopping experience.

[Tourista829]

Her reach is 585mm So technically she needs a 54c frame with a 515mm top tube and a 100mm stem. Comotion's custom frame will fit her. What is neat about the top tube and the stem are, they are on a slant, which brings the combo down to the above dimension.Terry does not make a touring bike. I will check out Waterford. I will probably go for another Comotion. Have you heard of a company called Sweetpea, out of Portland Oregon? Does anyone out there have a bike by this company? They had a feature in Outside Magazine. Hope you are doing well and thanks for the info.