Jamis Aurora vs. Aurora Elite vs. Something Else

[xeney]

As I said, the problem is that I can't just test them all out because bike shops tend to not have them in stock, or at best, have only one size in stock.

I would really prefer modern componetry if possible. I love my single speeds but I need gears to pull the trailer and am not excited about non-indexed shifting.

[cosc]

Xeney, I've been encountering all your sizing problems and no inventory to test problems too. I've been interested in testing a aurora, but the closest shop that carries them are very far away. He says he has the bike but hasn't had time to put the bike together after a month. No wonder tour-style bike aren't popular because the bike shops don't carry those models.

I am taller than you, but do have the long leg-short torso fit problems. I test rode a specialized tri cross that fit my poportions better than most. It has a shorter top tube than the full touring bikes. The down-side it is an aluminum bike so might not be as comfy as steel. I've seen 07 sport models being sold for $700-800. You might want to check out the geomentry.

I wish you much luck in getting just the right bike.

[xeney]

Cosc, I just read your thread and it depressed me! I'm sorry you haven't found your bike, either. I noticed you were going to ride the Bleriot ... I considered that one but the top tubes are really long, which seems to be true of all the Rivendells except for the mixte.

Since my daughter hates the trailer anyway I've decided not to join the cycling club for now. I don't want to try to keep up on mountain bike and I'm too annoyed to think any more about road bikes. I mostly stopped riding my road bike two years ago because it's just not comfortable, and I'm thinking I'm just going to sell it and forget about road cycling.

[tulip]

Xeney, I hate to see you throw the baby out with the bathwater, as they say.

You probably have already called all the shops in your area, but Bicycle Chef looks good. They have women's stuff and they also carry Terry bikes. Have you looked at Terry bikes? Very woman-friendly geometry-wise.

http://www.bicyclechef.com/products.html

And Davis is so bike friendly, there must be a shop that can help you out. Here's a listing:

http://daviswiki.org/Bicycle_Shops

Best of luck.
-tulip

[xeney]

Bicycle Chef is my bike shop. They only stock Terrys in small sizes, and they don't have any of the steel ones, and I've talked to the owner about them before (he's a friend) and he doesn't think a Terry will fit me.

I'm going to go talk to him about the Aurora but I really do not think it is going to work for me. At best I think it will be similar to the road bike I already have that doesn't fit me.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Xeney, have you mentioned your price range yet?

And yes, if you are having issues with too-long toptubes, I would not recommend Rivendells for you.
You would probably do best with a WSD bike or a custom made frame.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Bicycle Chef is my bike shop. They only stock Terrys in small sizes, and they don't have any of the steel ones, and I've talked to the owner about them before (he's a friend) and he doesn't think a Terry will fit me.

Why wouldn't it fit you?

And- if they are a Terry dealer, why couldn't they order you any steel Terry in any size you want? Do they only sell bikes that they already have in the store?

[xeney]

No, of course he could order me one and would if I asked him to. But he thinks I would find a Terry too cramped ... when we talked about this before, he thought I was in the middle, not short-torsoed/armed enough for a Terry but with proportions that make a standard road bike not comfortable for me.

And a touring style bike is, obviously, going to be significantly less comfortable. It was a little dumb of me to get excited about something that is so obviously not going to be a good fit.

[TxDoc]

Hi Xeney,
have you tried the Bianchi Axis?

ooops, I just realized that you already bought a bike... I guess I am still sleepy and only read the first page of the thread!

Good luck, hope you are having fun with your new purchase!

[VeloVT]

Xeney, how frustrating. If I were in your place, I would grab somebody with authority -- the owner or manager, and let them know that I was not pleased with the service I was getting. I do think it's possible to do this without being a jerk and without "burning your bridges." You dropped a chunk of change at their establishment with the understanding that you would have a bike in a reasonable amount of time, and they need to follow through.

[xeney]

Well, it's the shop owner I've been dealing with. I'm not sure what to do but I think I'm just going to bring the frame and fork home. My husband can do almost everything to build it up ... he'd rather not cut the steerer and he doesn't have the tools to install a headset, but he can do everything else. I'm bummed about the experience because I was hoping to get somebody to work with me on the fit, but I'm now 0 for 2 on local bike shops and I am starting to think that the LBS as font of all bike knowledge is a big myth.

I have already paid about a 25 percent premium over what I would have paid to just buy it directly from Soma. I think I'm done paying the bike shop premium when I'm getting nothing back in return.

[xeney]

An update: we went in to pick up the frame, and it's dented pretty badly. There are no paint chips and it really looks like the frame was dented before it was painted, which is really a bummer because otherwise it's gorgeous. The shop is going to try to get me a new one, and they are also trying to locate the components I want. Not sure if they will build it up or my husband will, but at least we've made some progress. At this point, though, I may just be getting my deposit back because they aren't sure their Soma source has another frame in my size.

[Blueberry]

xeney-

that sucks I hope everything works out - sounds like you weren't 100% sure on the bike, so maybe it's the the best. Maybe the mixte will fit you after all

CA

[burntsianna]

You may want to check out a Terry bicycle - Georgena Terry just released a cross bike in her 2009 line-up - the Valkyrie (http://www.terrybicycles.com/cycling...s.html?redir=1).
Her bike geometry is designed for women and especially appropriate with women who need a shorter top tube due to shorter torso - this seems to be the place most bike geometry fails because it's designed around a man's body. And though WSD is getting more popular - it's typically only for road or hybrid bikes - I haven't seen anything really for mass market touring or cross bikes. Only issue with Terry bikes is they aren't cheap - the Valkyrie cross is around $2500, much more expensive than the aurora and comparable bikes. Good luck!