I'm in love...lust...no, definitely love (Jamis Quest)

[Biciclista]

sounds like the Jamis Femme will be just the thing. you do what you like with your stipend, you're going to EARN it!

[badgercat]

Thanks for the input, ladies. I knew there were a few Jamis fans here and I'm glad to hear the support for the brand.

I'm definitely smitten, but after taking into consideration that my parents are in a bit of a financial bind right now with a house that's been sitting on the market for a year, my mom was out of work for several months, etc... they don't support me financially anymore, but I still feel like it might be a bit... insensitive if I, the "poor grad student," dropped that much of my money on a new bike *before* the summer stipend rolls in.

I can happily ride my Trek FX for a couple more charity rides, and treat myself to the road bike in the fall for all my hard work (that's when the weather starts to get more reasonable in AZ anyway, and maybe I'll catch an end-of-season sale!). Besides--I'm going to be living in another city/state (Omaha) in a shared house for the summer... I'm probably only going to bring one bike, the hybrid would be the most practical choice, and then I wouldn't have to a. worry about keeping track of my new investment in a house where my renter's insurance probably won't apply or b. being sad about leaving my sweet new ride back at home for 3 months.

All things considered, it just seems like I should wait through the summer. But, it doesn't hurt that I'm doing my homework now, right? I'll have to avoid setting my computer wallpaper to a picture of the Quest Femme and sighing a lot for the next 6 months.

[Zen]

Well...you could sell the Trek to offset the price a bit.
I'm just sayin'

[badgercat]

Well...you could sell the Trek to offset the price a bit.
I'm just sayin'

Hey now!

Nah, I'm planning to keep the Trek. I have a late-'70s Raleigh mixte that I ride for day-to-day business, but outfitted with my rack and baskets it's pushing 40 pounds. I love it, but its heft makes it a pain to maneuver out of the house in the mornings when loaded up with books/laptop/lunch/etc, and it's not that comfortable to ride for more than short jaunts. The Trek fits me better and weighs less, so I think it'd be a lovely daily commuter (though I probably wouldn't feel as cool riding it ). So, I'm not ready to completely give up any of my current bikes yet--I only have 2, after all!

[uforgot]

I've been looking at that very same bike! 51 also. I can't seem to find anyone in Mo who stocks them. The geometry looks perfect, but I want to test ride. I decided to take all summer and find one somewhere. I had a Quest a few years ago, but it wasn't femme. Great ride, just too long in the top tube. If anyone knows someone who stocks them, I'm willing to travel!

[moderncyclista]

I've owned my Jamis Aurora awhile and while I like the fit - I hate the Brifters. The component group Shimano Tiagra with a Deore rear deraileur has never worked right. I've adjusted it myself (within my limited and dangerous knowledge base) and taken it to my LBS and had it adjusted multiple times. Cable-slack removed, etc. It never shifts well. I much prefer the simplicity of my 520's uncomplicated bar-ends (which knock on wood runs like clockwork) and LX component group. I've considered (seriously) either converting the Aurora to bar-ends or trading it in (gasp) at the end of this year-ish for a Surly Long Haul Trucker. Off-Topic: would converting it to bar-end shifters be expensive? also, if I upgraded to LX components I bet that it would make it almost the same price all-together as the SurlyLHT.

Anyhow, those are my personal random musings. At one of the LBS, their guy told me that Surly is one of the few manufacturers that doesn't cheap out on components. He said the rest of them were very guilty of this. (they carried Trek, Felt, Giant, Surly, Redline, and others) Please, don't get upset - these are merely opinions and shared information for others benefit. I do like my Aurora alright.

[uforgot]

Interesting that your lbs should say that, as Jamis has always been known for more bang for your buck as far as components. The Quest, which this thread is about, has Shimano 105 and Ultegra. Hardly a "cheap out on components. And I'm not knocking Surly, I have a Cross check, which I had built with Shimano 105. Sounds like you just really love your friction shifters and should go with that! They should work on the Aurora as it is a touring/commuting bike.

[irrealised]

I've been looking at that very same bike! 51 also. I can't seem to find anyone in Mo who stocks them. The geometry looks perfect, but I want to test ride. I decided to take all summer and find one somewhere. I had a Quest a few years ago, but it wasn't femme. Great ride, just too long in the top tube. If anyone knows someone who stocks them, I'm willing to travel!

If you find one, let me know. I'm in St Louis and was also thinking about the Quest and the Satellite, but haven't found any decent Jamis dealers around here. My mountain bike is a Jamis and I love it, but if I can't find a dealer I may have to branch out!

[uforgot]

If you find one, let me know. I'm in St Louis and was also thinking about the Quest and the Satellite, but haven't found any decent Jamis dealers around here. My mountain bike is a Jamis and I love it, but if I can't find a dealer I may have to branch out!

I did find one in Kansas City. (I'm just outside St. Louis myself). Everyone who "says" they have Jamis always tries to steer me to Specialized aluminum. I emailed Volker Bikes in KC and he said he thought he had a 51 on the floor to drop in and see it, or call to make sure. Well, I may do that one of these days when I can get up there. If you want to head up there first, be my guest. Whoever gets one first has to let the other try it out.

edit: Did you notice that St. Louis bicycle company went out of business?