Windsor Bicycles

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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.


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!!

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
;)

<<cut and paste of my answer from yesterday to the same exact question>>

I bought a Windsor Bristol.

Overall, a very nice bike. Absolutely outstanding for the price. The ride is great, not too harsh despite the aluminum frame and the 150 psi 700x20 tires that I put on it.

I can't comment on the stock tires, seat, or pedals as I swapped them out immediately. [No bike should be without a Brooks saddle!]

Very light, though not as light as the specs on www.windsorbicycles.com (http://www.windsorbicycles.com) as those appear to be for the smallest frame size only.

I have so far had only one problem with mine, and that was just a flat from a hole in a rim strip... a new tube and a new 90 cent strip and I've not had a problem since.

I ended up getting a 56 cm for myself and a 46 cm for my wife... unfortunately, the top tube length turned out to be too long for her so she hasn't been able to ride it. I neglected to take into account that women's arms tend to be shorter for the same height, so she now has a Trek 1000. (hey, any short riders out there: we've still got the 46 and It's for sale)
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?

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.

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.

I have had my Kennet for a few months and have about 600 miles on it. I have had zero problems, except for the occational flat. It is comfortable and sturdy. I actually saw somone on a Kennet on my last ride and she expressed her love for the bike as well. Here is a picture of mine.

Anyone know if the pricing changes much on the Kennet from Bikesdirect, they like throwing out this month only as far as pricing and it going up in price soon.

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.

A couple of ideas re: fit.

1) The windsorbicycles.com site has a very helpful chart showing the geometry of all it's bikes. So if you know the top tube length etc of your current/former bikes you can compare to the Windsor's.

2) I found Fuji's to be virtually identical to Windsors. The Fuji's I tested at the LBS fit and performed just like my Windsor. The alu Trek models also fit very much like the Windsor.

Good luck.

Good to hear all the positive responses everyone has for their Windsors. I bought a Windsor Fens that is currently being assembled so I can't comment on the ride just yet but, the features and value of the bike was too good to pass on. Ritchey Bar, Stem and Post, Ritchey OCR ProDS Aero Rim wheelset, Ultegra everything, Double Butted 7005 Aluminum frameset, Michelin Tires, Free Ultralight Road Pedals, Kenesis Carbon Taper Fork, Shimano 105 shifters all for $725. The MSRP was $1,395. Though I was only looking for an entry level road bike I feel like I got a great deal. I'm with the rest of you with the only concern being lack of contact numbers on warranty issues. It's still nice to know that their are other owners of Windsors out there and we have a forum where we can talk about our bikes. I'm all for starting a Windsor bike club.
I am considering the Fens right now. I am 5 ft. 7 inches tall with a 30 inch inseam. I am looking at the 56 cm Fens. Can you give me any info on this? The chart says it will fit me but I am still concerned. Where did you buy yours and how is it so far? thanks for any info you can give me.

I am considering the Fens right now. I am 5 ft. 7 inches tall with a 30 inch inseam. I am looking at the 56 cm Fens. Can you give me any info on this? The chart says it will fit me but I am still concerned. Where did you buy yours and how is it so far? thanks for any info you can give me.

The continually growing interest in Windsor's is really cool. My Kennet is still performing wonderfully. The Fens looks like a nice bike too.

For what it's worth, here are some thoughts about size. I'm 5'8" with a 31.5 in seam. Any 56 cm bike I've tried has been too tall-no clearance above the top tube (which is a potentially catastrophic matter.) And the top tube on a 56 is also way too long for me-making for a long and uncomfortable reach (but probably very aero.) My Kennet is a 52 and is the best fit I've ever had on a bike. I'd highly recommend testing 52's, 54's and maybe even a 56 at a local shop before ordering. Some shops will even offer a very thorough fitting analysis. My local shop did, even though I was buying via mail order, since I get all my service and buy lots of accessories from the shop. As mentioned previously, I've found the sizing of Windsors to be identical to that of Fuji and very similar to Trek aluminum bikes. So riding one of those could give you a good sense of what the Windsor will be.

Out of curiosity, are you buying from BikesDirect? My experience with them was very good. And the fact that I was able to stop in at one of their shops (in Arizona) before ordering my bike reassured me that they indeed know bikes. While I have become a big Windsor fan, I also tested a very nice Mercier at BikesDirect and the deal they have on the 2005 Mercier Serpens is incredible. Components are a mix of 105 and Ultegra with lots of nice Ritchey parts and the carbon fiber seatstays are a great feature. It's $60 more than the Fens (and doesn't include pedals), but I'd be really tempted to grab it instead of the Fens. I'd be very interested in what you decide to do. Good luck.

I just bought a windsor fens from bikedirect 3 weeks ago and it rides like a champ. It has above average components and is extremely light. I have been riding it everyday and I have had zero problems.

First I want to thank all the posts about bikesdirect.com and the windsors. It made me alot more comfortable making this purchase. I went with the earlier recommendation and test rode a Fuji at a bike shop near me and found that a 58cm frame was a good fit. I'm 6ft tall. I just got my Windsor Fens yesterday and the 58cm frame fit me the same as the Fuji. This should be a great entry-level bike for me and I'm looking forward to some great rides on it.

I'll let ya'll know how it goes. And keep posting how your Fens are treating you.

Those of you who want to know how Windsor Fens is, all I could say is that I had 2000 woderful miles on it. It's an excellent bike.

If you have questions, let me know.

Life is short, ride a little longer.

I've now been riding a Windsor Dover for about a month now that I bought off ebay from bikesdirect.com. So far, so good.
It was the least expensive, new aluminum road bike that I could find. I paid, I think, 355 + shipping. I got it because it was a large frame. Of course it doesn't have the high end components.
It's very light, the wheels are staying true, and the derailleurs shift nicely-er than I would have ever expected.
It is made in Taiwan.
MF

Hey, I am very interested in purchasing the Windsor Hour, I was wondering if anyone has rode this bike, just looking for some feedback towards its ride. Also, I am 6,0' with 32"-33" inch inseem. What size Windor would you recomend?



The continually growing interest in Windsor's is really cool. My Kennet is still performing wonderfully. The Fens looks like a nice bike too.

For what it's worth, here are some thoughts about size. I'm 5'8" with a 31.5 in seam. Any 56 cm bike I've tried has been too tall-no clearance above the top tube (which is a potentially catastrophic matter.) And the top tube on a 56 is also way too long for me-making for a long and uncomfortable reach (but probably very aero.) My Kennet is a 52 and is the best fit I've ever had on a bike. I'd highly recommend testing 52's, 54's and maybe even a 56 at a local shop before ordering. Some shops will even offer a very thorough fitting analysis. My local shop did, even though I was buying via mail order, since I get all my service and buy lots of accessories from the shop. As mentioned previously, I've found the sizing of Windsors to be identical to that of Fuji and very similar to Trek aluminum bikes. So riding one of those could give you a good sense of what the Windsor will be.

Out of curiosity, are you buying from BikesDirect? My experience with them was very good. And the fact that I was able to stop in at one of their shops (in Arizona) before ordering my bike reassured me that they indeed know bikes. While I have become a big Windsor fan, I also tested a very nice Mercier at BikesDirect and the deal they have on the 2005 Mercier Serpens is incredible. Components are a mix of 105 and Ultegra with lots of nice Ritchey parts and the carbon fiber seatstays are a great feature. It's $60 more than the Fens (and doesn't include pedals), but I'd be really tempted to grab it instead of the Fens. I'd be very interested in what you decide to do. Good luck.

HAs anyone ridden a Windsor Stratford flat-bar road bike... their going on ebay for CraZy cheap... $325 w/shipping vs. a claimed $795 list. Then again, somebody wrote on this forum that windsorbicycles.com jacked-up their prices, and that list is their figure .. can anyone fill me in... also on how to do a 'reverse ip search'... they have an aluminum frame with sora components. I would greatly appreciate an e-mail @ joshe_87@yahoo.com



THanks!

This post of yours was a great help after reading it when my Windsor Leeds $280+40 S/H ebay bikes direct arrived I was half expecting this problem so I checked it and it was out of wack and making a clanking sound from the bottom of the cage. Your solution works perfectly and saved me alot of hassle. The bike also came with a bad tube on the front not a big deal. I like this bike compared to my mountain bike it's a spaceship and the full chromoly is very forgiving on the bumps.

Thanks

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
;)

I bought a Windsor Leeds and after fixing the cross threaded derailler problem and changing the seat with my mountain bike seat I went 93 miles to the beach with no problems I could have gone further but was glad I didn't have to. After tuning the bike shifting was crisp I was surprised I thought Shimano Sora was the low end stuff but it's nice low end stuff. I also thought Sora because it is for road bikes would have a short cage but unless my eyes are decieving me I think it has a long cage which is what I like in case I want to change the cassete to something more touringish. The bike had eyelets for a rear rack on the hanger which I mounted but I had to use an adaptor that fits on the seat tube because there are no eyelets up top. A 59cm Windsor bike feels smaller than a 58cm Cannondale which I stood over before I ordered. The top tube is lower and the seat tube extended up above it creating more stand over hieght. If I ever buy a Bristol I wouldn't hesitate to get a 60cm. I am 6' 1" 195 lbs which makes this bike more of a competitive fit than comfort but if I ever get into club riding it is probably going to help me. All things considered it's a nice bike and a great value at $280+40s/h. If it breaks in half I'll be sure to post it.:)

Still on my Windsor Fens. The bike still rides like new after 2,600 miles on it.

I purchased a Windsor Knight for $795. Full Ultegra (30 speed), Kinesis aluminum frame, truativ crank. This is a great bike, I would recommend to anyone. Very light and fast. Smooth shifting. I did change the pedals and have it built at a bike ship. I would recommend to anyone.

Here’s the real deal. Bikesdirect.com, Motobecane, Mercier, Windsor, and Dawes are all the same people. Even on Ebay. These guys bought the trade names mentioned above in an attempt to resurrect them.


There is a simple truth about how most road bikes are built. However, dealers and brands try to hide this from customers.



Most Road Bikes sold in the USA are made in Taiwan by 'factories' which you have probably never heard of. Such as IDEAL who builds for Fuji, Trek, Motobecane, Windsor, Terry, Dawes and many others.
Another common factory is Merida who builds for the likes of Specialized, Jamis, Mercier, Felt, Bianchi, and many others.



What is interesting is that these 'factories' in most cases only do assembly. They buy everything on the bike from subcontractors who make assorted parts of the bike. Then the 'factory' just applies the appropriate Name Brand decals, assembles, and boxes the bike and jacks the prices up.



In the case of the frame, several frame shops in Taiwan build road frames for many high end brands. Frame builders like Kinesis, A-Pro, and Astro build frames for brands like Fuji, Trek, Motobecane, Specialized, Felt, Dawes, Bianchi, LiteSpeed and dozens of others. In fact, several 'Italian' brands buy frames in Taiwan and ship them unpainted to Italy; then paint and decal them - mark them 'Made in Italy' and sell them for rather high prices. This is illegal to do in most countries including the USA if they get caught.



The other important components on the bike are the same from brand to brand. That is Shimano pieces and so forth. And many times the 'branded' parts such as stems, bars, and even wheels are all made in the same factories in Taiwan. For example, Ritchey, VeloMax, Bontrager, American Classic, and many other have wheels built in Taiwan (including the rims and hubs and final assembly).



Re-branding is common in the bicycle industry (just like in most other consumer products - think of DVD players, TVs, and even shoes). So a smart consumer can get the best value by not paying much attention to the decal on the down tube - and focus on the bike, the fit, and the price (and the discount).



I bought the Dawes real steel DLX and love it. All for $330 shipped to my door. They offer a great warranty and since I don’t trust bike shops with working on my bikes it suits me fine. I even save big by buying my cycling gear from online stores and Ebay. I save over 50% on everything in this way. So listen to the hype and buy high dollar name brand or read the facts above, the choice is yours.



Below is the domain registrants for some of these companies. Chicabike on Ebay is Motobecane, dawes is bikesdirect on Ebay, not sure who Ebay seller sprtymama (http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=sprtymama&iid=7187938630&frm=284) is I believe Windsor. Could be wrong on that but I’m sure it’s one of them.



Domain Name.......... dawescyclesusa.com
Creation Date........ 2004-04-30
Registration Date.... 2004-04-30
Expiry Date.......... 2014-04-30

Admin Name........... michael spratt
Organisation Name.... spratt cycle support, inc
Organisation Address. 3203 old barn court
Organisation Address.
Organisation Address. ponte vedra beach Organisation Address. 32082
Organisation Address. FL
Organisation Address. UNITED STATES







Domain Name: MOTOBECANE.COM







Administrative Contact :





Johnston, C chicabike



caj4bikes@AOL.COM



176 Summerfield



Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082



US



Phone: (904) 887-6262



Fax: 999 999 9999




Domain Name.......... cyclesmercier.com
Creation Date........ 2001-09-01
Registration Date.... 2001-09-01
Expiry Date.......... 2006-09-01
Organisation Name.... J. Mukhalis
Organisation Address. 176 Summerfield
Organisation Address.
Organisation Address. Ponte Vedra
Organisation Address. 32082
Organisation Address. FL
Organisation Address. UNITED STATES




Domain Name.......... windsorbicycles.com
Creation Date........ 2003-03-23
Registration Date.... 2003-03-23
Expiry Date.......... 2013-03-23
Organisation Name.... Rebecca Pratt
Organisation Address. 9848 Robin Hill Lane
Organisation Address. NULL
Organisation Address. Dallas
Organisation Address. 75238
Organisation Address. TX
Organisation Address. UNITED STATES



Domain Name: BIKESDIRECT.COM







Administrative Contact :





Sander, David



bikegawd@FLASH.NET



PO BOX 503



BARKER, TX 77413-0503



US



Phone: (713) 587-6808



Fax: (281) 579-1603







Technical Contact :





Verio Inc,



veriohostmaster@verio.net



5050 Conference Way N



Boca Raton, FL 33431



US



Phone: 888-663-6648



Fax: - - - - - - 707-251-5310