Steel Road Bikes

[SadieKate]

Jamis makes some nice bikes. It's worth looking at them. Remember FIT, FIT, FIT!

[SadieKate]

And on the aluminum/carbon vs steel. You need to go ride each to determine which you bike you like. Depending on the tubing, you can get very different rides even in the same material.

Just go ride a bunch of bikes in your price range.

[uforgot]

I had a Jamis Quest I purchased off of ebay. I loved that bike. I really like the look and feel of steel. That bike convinced me that I wanted steel from now on. Unfortunately it was too small! Who knew? At 5'4" you would think 50cm was a fit, but it wasn't, so listen to SadieKate when she says fit fit fit! Jamis also gives you a lot of bang for your buck, but I have noticed that they don't re-sell as well as Bianchi or other well known steel bikes. (I just sold the Jamis frame on ebay, and have been watching how they sell for awhile). Anyway, they are certainly worth taking the drive to look at them, and they have WSD ones now too! I also heard somewhere that they have a woman CEO...

[pooks]

I'm prepared to ride, ride, ride in order to find the fit, fit, fit.

Actually, I was prepared to do that the first time, except that the hubster was so determined to buy chainless. And of course, the chainless wasn't the prob -- the fit was!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think that Jamis you linked to is one GORGEOUS bike.
Giving up the lugs for welded steel is where you will save big bucks. Notice they have full brazons already installed for mounting fenders AND racks, and come with 700x28mm tires! You can go on gravel dirt roads with those tires, plus load it for touring!

The steel frame tends to be more comfortable to ride than aluminum frames, which tend to be a bit lighter but a stiffer ride. Steel is great for riding many hours or long distances. Carbon and titanium are great and light, but more expensive. Carbon can be much less repairable after a crack up.

I think that is a great value for the money, and a real beauty of a bike. Worth a few long drives to order the right size frame to begin with, and then have it fitted specifically to you at the dealer's. That's where you'll have to insst that they make sure the bike fits you just right even BEFORE they order the frame. Fit from start to finish.
I love that copper/ivory color combo! Ooh BABY!!!

[mimitabby]

Jamis is a great bike. Where's Knot? She can talk a blue streak about them.

And I'm not so sure aluminum is that much lighter; because you have to use more aluminum to make the same strength as steel.

As they say; steel is real.


ps I like the red one WAY better, but I know you like yellow

[Offthegrid]

I think I'm in love with that bike. Can I have an affair?

[HillSlugger]

Both bikes are pretty. The Ventura has better components but it's a double as compared to a triple on the Aurora. Between the triple and the 11/32 cassette the Aurora has a huge gear range.

[spokewench]

Jamis is a great bike. Where's Knot? She can talk a blue streak about them.

And I'm not so sure aluminum is that much lighter; because you have to use more aluminum to make the same strength as steel.

As they say; steel is real.


ps I like the red one WAY better, but I know you like yellow

In general Aluminum is lighter than steel. The tubes are oversized yes, but it is possible to butt (sp?) the material in the tubes and the material thickness is less than is required for a steel bike for the same strength; so in general an aluminum bike is lighter. I have an aluminum Klein hard tail mountain bike (made up there by you Mimi (or used to be)) and mine was made by Klein before they sold out. With mountain bike tires, it is lighter than most steel road frames!