Jamis Coda Elite

[Catrin]

Curious to hear opinions on the Jamis Coda Elite. My research on my next bike continues, it helps me to take my mind off my hamstring injury :cool: I had a long conversation with my fitter today and he encouraged me to check it out. I figure my chances of getting a Luna are very slim as she isn't take any more orders for the time being, so am looking at other options.

I really like Gunnar bikes, and right now there is a 75% chance that I will go that route next year, but I want to consider an appropriate stock steel bike as well. Obviously a stock bike is less expensive, though for custom bikes, Gunnars have a good price. At this point if I were to go with the Coda Elite I would likely just upgrade the rear cassette to a 34 rather than the stock 32.

Interestingly, my fitter steered me away from the Coda Femme. He doesn't like the quality of the components and thinks if I go this route that I would be far happier with the Elite, assuming the geometry fits me. I have certainly had better luck with my male/unisex LHT frame over the one WSD bike that I have owned. I also learned that my LBS does layaway on bikes - including custom :cool:

So, does anyone have an Elite? If so, what do you think about it?

[HillSlugger]

I ride a 2007 Coda Comp as my commuter bike. It's been very good to me.

[indysteel]

Out of curiosity, if you go with a stock bike, do you plan to change out the bars and shifters so that the set up is similar to your LTH? What does that add to the cost?

Other than my new Jamis Aurora, which hasn't gotten ridden since I bought it, I have no experience with them. Brian loves his Jamis road bike. There are a lot of other custom builders out there by the way. I'm not sure why you're limiting yourself to Gunnar and Luna.

Edited to add: I just took a look at Jamis's website. It indicates that the bike weighs 25.5 lbs. I imagine that's not for the smallest size, but thay may not offer the weight savings you're looking for. My steel bike in a size 50 weighs 19 pounds.

[Catrin]

Out of curiosity, if you go with a stock bike, do you plan to change out the bars and shifters so that the set up is similar to your LTH? What does that add to the cost?

Other than my new Jamis Aurora, which hasn't gotten ridden since I bought it, I have no experience with them. Brian loves his Jamis road bike. There are a lot of other custom builders out there by the way. I'm not sure why you're limiting yourself to Gunnar and Luna.

Edited to add: I just took a look at Jamis's website. It indicates that the bike weighs 25.5 lbs. I imagine that's not for the smallest size, but thay may not offer the weight savings you're looking for. My steel bike in a size 50 weighs 19 pounds.

Good questions!

The Jamis Coda is a flatbar bike, so it already has flatbars and trigger shifters :) The shifters are comparable quality with what is on my Surly. I would want a different rear cassette, and my LBS said they would probably upgrade it at no extra charge.

I know there are a lot of custom builders out there, but I do like Gunnars frame prices and everything I have read about them is quite positive. The Coda Elite is almost 10 pounds lighter than my LHT (without rack or bag on the LHT), I think that is pretty good for a stock steel bike.

The Gunnar would give me the weight savings that I would like as the steel is higher quality. I don't need to make my mind up until spring, and who can say what I will have decided by then, but right now they are my top contenders. Waterford and Rivendell are quite attractive as well, but they are far more expensive of course.

[indysteel]

I'd be curious as to what Gunnar could do for you weight and tubewise. I don't have anything against the Jamis; I just think you could potentially get even lighter with better tubing than what's offered on it (that will also likely result in a better ride quality). You might also take a look at Shamrock Cycles--a custom builder in Speedway. He does pretty stuff at a decent price.

[Catrin]

I'd be curious as to what Gunnar could do for you weight and tubewise. I don't have anything against the Jamis; I just think you could potentially get even lighter with better tubing than what's offered on it (that will also likely result in a better ride quality). You might also take a look at Shamrock Cycles--a custom builder in Speedway. He does pretty stuff at a decent price.

Gunnar uses a higher grade steel tubing and thus is no doubt lighter than the Jamis, that I do know. I've time to research and figure out the best way to balance my champagne tastes and beer budget :cool: I think that Jonathan mentioned Shamrock Cycles to me in the past. I've got all winter to look around, which is a good thing!

edited: I found Shamrock's website, pretty steel bikes indeed!

[Crankin]

Catrin, why are you considering this bike? Is it to get a more "road bike" type of bike?
I have the Coda Femme. It's my second bike. I have hardly ridden it this year, for no particular reason. It's smooth as butter, in terms of handling, but it is *heavy.* I have one pannier on it, with just a Road Morph pump and tire levers inside. When I have gone shopping with the pannier full, it's really heavy.
This bike is billed as a flat bar road bike, but to me, it feels nothing like my real road bike. It feels like a heavy cruiser to me! A heavy cruiser that handles well. I know my idea of what's heavy or not is skewed from having a carbon 14.7 lb. road bike, but I cannot get above an average 12.5 on my Coda. Yes, I live in a hilly area and I am small, but this is a considerable difference from my average on my road bike (like about 2-3 mph or more). I didn't use this bike to commute when I was teaching, because it would have taken me at least 15 minutes longer. This is despite the fact, it would have been easier to commute with a pannier.
I guess I am wondering how the Coda Elite is going to be different than what you already have? I know you are set on steel, but you have considered the Specialized Vita? It's an aluminum flat bar road bike that is light. My friend has one and she loves it. Maybe the components are too crappy for you, though. Just a thought.

[Trek420]

On sale right here on TE is this Pacer. It's already set up the way you want. Snap it up or it may already be gone. :cool:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=40455

Jamis is a fine bike, but Gunnar's made in the USA. It would be nice to keep a job or two here. This being an international board I've nothing against Chinese products, they make fabulous stuff but when offered a choice I like to get stuff made here.

OTOH since about 1/5th of the weight of the bike is the frame, if you like the ride, feel and fit of the LHT are there upgrades that could lighten it? Lighter wheels perhaps?

[Catrin]

I like, very much, that the Gunnar is American made. I am even close enough to drive up there for a fitting if I wanted to do so. I think my heart is pretty much set on one, I like their prices and have found nothing but positive comments regarding their quality.

Crankin - thanks for your input on the weight of the Jamis Coda. I love my LHT for all-day, or multiple-day, trips when speed doesn't really matter. I strongly dislike aluminum and will not go that way again, I love the ride of steel. The Gunnar, or some other custom high-grade/light-weight steel bike will give me a much lighter bike for those times when speed does matter - such as club rides and randonneuring without losing the cushier ride of steel.

I can have a Gunnar frame for $800 and build it up from there. The frame would only be more if we determine that none of their stock sizes will fit me properly, then it is an additional $300 for the frame, still less than the other custom frames I am familiar with - but without compromising on quality.

I have considered changing parts on the LHT to make her lighter, but I like her just as she is. Her wheel-set is pretty much bomb-proof and she is very good at what she does.

I did think about the Pacer being offered here for a few minutes, but she is too small for me. I also just moved which means no new expense for a bit :o

Thanks for all of your thoughts and questions - they really do help me to think this through. I won't be doing anything until my savings have built up a bit, but at least this time I know a lot more about what I want - and why I want it :cool:

[HillSlugger]

My Coda Elite is a 19 inch and weighs about 27 pounds with a rack and fenders. I get it up to 20mph all the time. With a loaded panniers I generally average about 14mph on my commute.

[Crankin]

I guess I'm a wimp....
Maybe it's the geometry of the bike, as I always feel like I'm not in the right position when i try to push it on my Coda. But, most likely, I'm just weak! I've certainly been up to 20 mph, but I pretty much stopped looking at my average when I ride the Coda. I mostly use it to do errands or ride on a bike path, go out to eat, etc. Maybe I should ride it more, to get stonger :).

[indysteel]

Catherine,

You might take a look at Curtlo too. Similar to Gunnar in that they offer quality steel frames for less.

Crankin and company have touched on what I was trying to get at in my previous posts--although not very artfully. You're right that the Coda is lighter than your LHT, but it's still heavy by road bike standards. Heck, the 2011 Coda is just a pound lighter than my 2010 Jamis Aurora. I'm afraid that if you go the Coda route, you'll eventually kick yourself for not going with a lighter bike.

That said, it's helpful to remember that the frame is just one element of weight. Even if you go with a Gunnar frame, it's not going to be particularly light if you build it up with heavy parts. So, keep that in mind as you decide what to do. I would also note that you may not need mountain gearing if you end up getting a lighter bike. You could potentially get away with generous road gearing. That'll help with weight and give you much more closely spaced gears--which I personally like on central Indiana's mostly flat roads. It's much easier to find that perfect gear.

Having road bike shopping!