Jamis Aurora!?!?

[sandra]

I vote black Brooks to go with the nice black lettering on the bike.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Where is Deore in the Shimano pecking order?

Deore is Shimano's line of "mountain/touring" components.

Way back before mountain bikes were invented, or hybrid bikes even....there were racing bikes, there were casual/errand/delivery/working bikes, and there were touring bikes built for long distance rides over varied terrain and steep hills.

Touring bikes, unlike casual/working or racing bikes, have a wider range of gears to get up big hills. They often have special deraillers and big cassettes in back and triple rings up front.
When mountain bikes were invented, they too needed super low gears to get up steep hills. Manufacturers put touring rear deraillers on them to handle the gear spread. They started calling the touring deraillers "mountain deraillers"....but they are the same parts as the original touring deraillers.
Nowadays, because of the multitude of mountain bikes around as opposed to touring bikes, these parts are usually called mountain parts. Oh, the irony.

My Rivendell is made like a semi-touring bike. It has some really low gears in a wide spread, and to accommodate them it has a rear touring derailler- a Shimano Deore LX (also known as a "mountain derailler" now). It didn't come stock with this extra wide gear range and "mountain" derailler- we asked for it. The other components on my bike are mostly Shimano 105, but the rear derailler is a Shimano Deore LX. If I gave up some low gears I could go back to a 105 rear derailler. No way, love my low gears!

My next bike is going to be similar- basically a road bike with semi-touring geometry and wide range gears. I'm going to move up on it a bit from Shimano 105 to Shimano Ultegra components....but I'll still have a Deore rear derailler to handle the gear spread.

Oh- and Shimano Deore components have their own pecking order- the "LX" is in the middle somewhere I think, but I'm sure someone else has that information better than I.

[sandra]

I wonder how Elk is enjoying her new Jamis. I bet she went back to try and buy it first thing this morning

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hopefully she'll take another test ride before buying it! It's on hold already, so it won't get sold out from under her.
I wonder what kind of tires they have on it?- she could make them swap a few parts before buying it.
Kind of like buying a car...at the last moment you say- "If you throw some mud flaps and fog lights in at no charge, I'll sit down right this minute and write you a check."

[sandra]

"If you will throw in a Brooks saddle, consider it sold!"

[uforgot]

As far as quality, look here for a short lesson on steel in bikes.

I had a Jamis Quest and the quality was outstanding and the ride great. It was just too small for me.

[elk]

heehee I woke up with a COLD...but I'm goin out anyway....

I'm not sure how willing they are to deal: they are the only store in store who has them, and not many. There is a tiny ding in the top tube...I pointed it out, mentioning that steel rusts and the guy said, we can patch that and I don't think it goes down to the tube anyway....kind of thing.

It is a collective, not a "real" BS....

But...what would you ask for as far as tires and parts? I want it fast but grippy and fairly puncture proof...

I think I'll go for antique brown saddle and get brown tape....I think...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

But...what would you ask for as far as tires and parts? I want it fast but grippy and fairly puncture proof...

I think I'll go for antique brown saddle and get brown tape....I think...

If it were me I'd get the kind of tire I love to ride on all kinds of surfaces and which are not too heavy:
I get Pasela Panaracers in 700x28 with "Tourguard" (a Kevlar puncture resistant inner belt)
I'm assuming your wheels are 700's, right?

Definitely get a tire that's at least 28mm wide, and that has a Kevlar belt. I can't believe the rough stuff I can ride over and not get flats. I used to have the same tires but in 700x38, they seemed excessively wide and heavy after a while. 28's are the narrowest I'll go on rough gravel roads and feel safe.
Again- just my own experience, others may have other recomm's...

I like your idea of dark brown saddle and tape.

[elk]

I'll ask!

If they have another 47 in teh box....maybe I'll ask them to build it anew....and put fenders on? (SKS plastic)....should I do fenders?

I want to keep it light for awhile..use a saddle bag...wait on racks.

e
ps I have been using that side shot of Lisa in the drops on her Riv as a template for position...it has really helped me visualize.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Fenders...if you want to commute to work on it in Portland, then yes. If you will just be riding it for enjoyment, errands, and fitness- then maybe not, as you wouldn't be likely to go riding on a day that lots of rain is forecast.
I always thought I'd put fenders on my bike, but never found much need. If the weather says rainy, I don't ride. I structure errands around the weather too.
Yes ride it light for a while, it will be fun! You can always get racks later.

P.S. don't use me as an example of good bike position- i have lots to improve! Also keep in mind that my bike is a little bit too long in the top tube for me- so I have a shorter than normal stem and bars, and I don't actually feel perfectly balanced on it. It's generally comfortable.

[mimitabby]

Elk, you're planning on riding all year round? you want fenders. Those rooster tails up your butt are for amateurs.

I agree with Lisa, get a bigger tire size if you can for winter.

[mcoleman]

I'll second your choice of Jamis. I ride a pink Jamis Ventura and I love it.
Enjoy!

[elk]

It's MINE!

I got them to throw in the fenders...and I ended up adding a rear rack too because I'm not sure there's enough room for a saddlebag without a rack for it to rest on...I also got an antique brown B68 for the old price So I did well!!

And That little bike rocks!!! It's so smooth and responsive. Have to wait to pick it up....not sure what to do. I'm MASHED by this cold and wanna take a nap...but but but It'll be ready in about an hour or so....(it's a traffic-y over the bridge drive....) hmmmm such troubles...a nap or go get my new bike...

I want PICTURES of your Jamis bikes!!! and Lisa...I use it as a guide more than a template...ever since you said that thing about "floating over your bike" I've been in search of that valhalla...

[sandra]

I knew it! CONGRATULATIONS! Of course we want pictures immediately!

[elk]

thanks Sandra!