Steel Road Bikes

[HillSlugger]

Chromoly is steel? Oh. I thought it was aluminum.

And, um, oh NOW I see where it says "steel." I swear I couldn't find that anywhere, before.

Maybe I need caffeine.

Chromoly is an abbreviation for "chromium-molybdenum steel" (sometimes spelled "cro-mo"). (from Wikipedia)

[KnottedYet]

That bike is steel.

The seat can be raised or lowered, even a new seatpost put on if you need a different range to fine tune the saddle position.

The stem is quilled, so the bars can be raised or lowered in about 30 seconds.

The way the bike fits the current owner is not necessarily going to be the way it fits you. I needed to lower Flossie's seat much lower than Limewave had it, to the point I needed to have the seatpost end cut shorter. LBS didn't charge me for that. I needed to have a shorter reach/higher rise stem put on Flossie, which came to about $50 with parts and labor. (I got a pretty one.)

$300 is a bit on the high side, but if this bike calls out to you, decide accordingly. The pictures look good.

Even if you buy the bike and end up not liking it, because it IS a Jamis Aurora, you will be able to re-sell it easily.

(Edit: BTW if I had somewhere to store that bike, I'd be bidding on it right now. Just as it is with the wider tires and lower gear cassette. Of course, my tax return is already spoken for, so I'm just talking thru my hat... but I'd be seriously tempted.)

[KnottedYet]

I'm 5'8" and that bike will fit me great. (though I'd probably get a shorter reach stem eventually) If you get it and are unhappy, PM me and we can cut a deal... I'm not kidding. Really, if you get it and decide it's not the right bike for you, PM me!

Start bidding, Pooks!

[pooks]

It's pretty, isn't it?

[pooks]

But you say $300 is high, and it's only going to go up from there.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

But you say $300 is high, and it's only going to go up from there.

I think that bike is worth way more than $300, especially with all those parts they've included.
Looks good to me. The 54" would probably fit me too. I'd put slimmer tires though. (And black ones!)

[uforgot]

No no no! It's a Jamis and they don't sell for much on ebay. The Quest is more expensive than the aurora and the most it goes for on ebay is around $400. The same components on a Bianchi, however, bring a much higher price. It's the beauty of eBay. I had a daily search on Jamis bikes for a long time before I got mine. I know they are better than that, but a 2002 Quest was mine for $330. Shimano 105 flight deck in like new condition. That's about right and the Quest retails for more than the Aurora, (Quest $1375 Aurora $850) so a 1995 Aurora is absolutely not worth that. A 2002-2006 maybe. Just wait. There will be one, but they don't come along often. You can find the geometrys on the later bikes, too, to compare to something you have ridden. I'll be surprised if it gets a bid. But hey, I've been wrong on here before. I just think you need to be patient. I did the research. You would be better off paying $850 for a new Aurora than $300 for one that is over 10 years old, doncha think? And trust me, they don't hold their value. I stripped the Shimano 105 parts off and sold my frame. No interest locally, and not much on ebay. Not that they aren't good bikes, I just really think no one knows about them.

[uforgot]

Go to completed items on ebay and it will give you a good idea of what they sell for.

[KnottedYet]

Meanwhile, you've got me interested in the 10-year-old Aurora if you don't want it.

Knot (who loves her 10 year old Waterford)

Edit: you could also try contacting the seller and offering less. Or wait to see if he lowers the price.

[KnottedYet]

I think that bike is worth way more than $300, especially with all those parts they've included.
Looks good to me. The 54" would probably fit me too. I'd put slimmer tires though. (And black ones!)

He's offering a pair of 23's, too.
Lisa, you and I are biased, because we loooooooove the steel bikes! I'd be all over this Jamis Aurora if I could even remotely justify it! (but being between jobs... well, must restrain myself). Maybe you and I could split the cost and share it!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

He's offering a pair of 23's, too.
Lisa, you and I are biased, because we loooooooove the steel bikes! I'd be all over this Jamis Aurora if I could even remotely justify it! (but being between jobs... well, must restrain myself). Maybe you and I could split the cost and share it!

Yeah you're right, we are biased. Maybe we could ship it back and forth every few months!

I saw an old blue English-made steel Raleigh in the garbage on my ride this morning. It was awfully hard to just leave it there, but it needed ALL new components and I think it was a bit small for me anyway. I couldn't justify what it would cost to redo it. Sad.

[uforgot]

You guys are impossible! Anyway, I'm not sure since I'm really only familiar with Shimano 105, ultegra and dura-ace, but isn't Tiagra and RSX their low end components? that's what is on this bike. The only 105 part is the sti shifters. Maybe someone who has dealt with components can give an opinion?

And oh yeah, I'm STILL in the steel club. I have a steel Burley Sahalie that rides like a dream. I solemnly swear to never own an aluminum road bike again.

And Pooks? Don't bid just yet...let it ride until the last day. I'm still wondering if you will see any bids at all. (Unless Lisa and Knotted jump in there!)

[pooks]

Oh, I wouldn't bid now, you're right, uforgot. And I see your point on all of it. Thanks.

[stella]

You guys are impossible! Anyway, I'm not sure since I'm really only familiar with Shimano 105, ultegra and dura-ace, but isn't Tiagra and RSX their low end components? that's what is on this bike. The only 105 part is the sti shifters. Maybe someone who has dealt with components can give an opinion?

Tiagra is a step down from 105. not sure about the rsx--I've gotta look at the advert again.

[Eden]

Tiagra is a step down from 105. not sure about the rsx--I've gotta look at the advert again.

RSX is part of the mt bike line of components, though I'm not sure where it fits in the quality scale