TT length (Jamis)/steel flat-bar bike

[Catrin]

The effective TT length on Ms. Explorer is 515 mm with an actual length of 508 mm according to Surly's website.

I want to build up a Gunnar, but am also considering a less expensive though heavier Jamis Coda Elite - though if I can find a lighter production steel flat-bar bike I will consider it. There are very few production steel flat-bar bikes though (the Coda might be it). It IS lighter than my LHT though, stripped my LHT is right at 32 pounds and the 2011 Coda Elite is 26.5 pounds - though I would like to go lower than that (the Gunnar would be).

The smallest Coda Elite is 16 inch with an effective TT 545 mm. That is 33 mm longer than my beloved LHT - which is what, almost 1.5 inches longer? I wonder if it is even worth my while to test ride one, but of course it has different geometry. I will see if I can locate one in that size to test ride - just to settle my curiosity. I may be wrong about this being the smallest size though, their specs pdf confuses me regarding the available sizes.

I guess that I am processing here more than asking a real question - other than to ask if anyone knows of another production steel bike that comes with flat-bars. If I don't go custom then I don't want to have to do another bar/shifters conversion - and of course aluminum isn't an option and I am not interested in carbon. I will not consider either. I hate that aluminum buzz, I am very susceptible to it even with carbon forks - steel is another world

edited: I did find the Raleigh steel bikes (Reynolds 520 steel) though their flat-bar bikes (road nor hybrid) appear to all be single-speeds so that won't work for me. Gunnar just keeps looking better all the time. Checked out Rivendells site - fantastic bikes, but would likely get a Waterford if I were going to spend that much money.

[Crankin]

Hi Catrin,

My Coda (it's not the "Elite" one) is a 44 cm. It's the smallest bike I have ever had... I don't have the exact measurements of the tt, but I know that my other bike is 515. The Coda, while small, feels a bit long, but nothing so uncomfortable that I feel like I want to get rid of it. In fact, at times, I think I should have gone up to the next size, but that would probably be too big. The geometry just feels really different than any road bike I have had, or the mountain bike I just sold. It does feel a bit like the alu mountain bike I started riding on, which felt long, because it was a medium that had been rigged up for me to ride. The bike handles well, so I just chalk it up to the differences in a flat bar vs. a dropped bar bike.

[Becky]

What are the seat tube angles for each of those bikes? In order to directly compare the effective top tube (ETT) length, they must be the same. If they're not, you have to do some math. Roughly speaking, for every degree that the STA becomes steeper, the ETT becomes ~1 cm longer.

As the seat tube angle changes, the relative relationship between the head tube (handlebars) and the bottom bracket also changes. As the STA becomes steeper (say 74 or 75 degrees), the handlebars get further away from the bottom bracket. As the STA becomes slacker (72 or 73 degrees), the saddle moves away from the bottom bracket and the handlbars move towards it. The triangle rotates, so to speak.

The moral of this long, poorly-explained story is that ETTs aren't absolute numbers, and different geometries work better for different bodies. And then there's that whole personal preference thing....

This would be a great conversation to have with your fitter sometime, as he's fit you before and will have some suggestions for bikes/frames that will fit your particular body best.

Good luck, and happy Thanksgiving!

[Catrin]

Thanks, I am going to look into that and we have already started that conversation. I am just trying to learn more so that I can do more effective research. I think I will most likely still get the Gunnar, but I owe it to myself to at least consider another bike as well. I am finding my desire to keep to steel really cuts down my choices, and I am fine with that.

[Becky]

I don't blame you there... I'm a "researcher" too, when it comes to purchases

[Catrin]

I don't blame you there... I'm a "researcher" too, when it comes to purchases

Especially when there is the potential of such a large price tag

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Catrin]

Hi Catrin,

My Coda (it's not the "Elite" one) is a 44 cm. It's the smallest bike I have ever had... I don't have the exact measurements of the tt, but I know that my other bike is 515. The Coda, while small, feels a bit long, but nothing so uncomfortable that I feel like I want to get rid of it. In fact, at times, I think I should have gone up to the next size, but that would probably be too big. The geometry just feels really different than any road bike I have had, or the mountain bike I just sold. It does feel a bit like the alu mountain bike I started riding on, which felt long, because it was a medium that had been rigged up for me to ride. The bike handles well, so I just chalk it up to the differences in a flat bar vs. a dropped bar bike.

Crankin - thanks for this and you mentioned your experiences with your Coda in another thread where I mentioned this as a possibility. I seem to remember reading somewhere that some of the bikes from Jamis have a different geometry than similar bikes from other companies.

The reason I am focusing on the Elite are the components. My fitter does not like the quality of the components in the Coda Femme and does not think that I would be happy with it - that I would likely upgrade fewer components if I went with the Elite (assuming it fits). The nice thing about the Coda is what it was designed for flat bars, rather than my converting a stock production bike designed for road bars to a flat-bar bike.

I know that the steel isn't as high a grade as what Gunnar uses, and I do wonder if the weight savings for the Elite would be enough when compared with my LHT. I think I need to find one to test ride in my size...

I hope that you and yours have a great Thanksgiving! I am so used to working massive overtime that I keep resisting the urge to do a little work...but NOT on Thanksgiving

[indysteel]

I personally don't think you'll be happy with the weight savings, at least for climbing. The Code Elite weighs about the same as the new Aurora I just got, and it feels darn heavy to me when compared to either my Moots or Bianchi. I certainly wouldn't be happy to have it as my primary road bike. I have a feeling that you'd ultimately regret getting it over the Gunnar.

[Catrin]

I personally don't think you'll be happy with the weight savings, at least for climbing. The Code Elite weighs about the same as the new Aurora I just got, and it feels darn heavy to me when compared to either my Moots or Bianchi. I certainly wouldn't be happy to have it as my primary road bike. I have a feeling that you'd ultimately regret getting it over the Gunnar.

This is good to know, I hadn't realized it was about the same weight as the Aurora and I HAVE ridden one of those. You are right, it really didn't feel much lighter than my LHT. I really do want/prefer the Gunnar, just the interior bookkeeper was looking at the prices and noted how much less I would spend for the Coda Elite.

I really would like this to be the last bike I purchase for some time to come, outside of my possibly getting into mountain biking (not in 2011). I do not want to settle on something just because of the price, and let's face it, when it comes to custom bikes Gunnars are certainly far more reasonable in price than others.

There is no doubt in my mind that I will be happy with whatever Gunner I wind up with - and if it takes a little longer to build it once I get the frame and fork, then so be it. The frame and fork will be the most expensive part of the equation.

The more I think about this, the more excited I get about the Gunnar It really is meant to be my primary road bike while my beloved Ms. Explorer will be more for long country jaunts, sight-seeing and someday at least a credit-card tour.

[indysteel]

No doubt it'll take more time and savings to pay for the Gunnar, but that bike will likely be your last (road bike at least). My gut tells me that if you buy the Coda, you'll continue to pine for a light road bike. So, in the end, it might not save you anything.

[Catrin]

My gut is telling me the same thing, my interior bookkeeper has been squashed into submission I am excited about the Gunnar, not about the Jamis. That says a lot right there - thanks everyone for responding to this, it is appreciated.

I remember now why/how I came to find TE, I was looking for advice on whether to purchase the Trek or a comfort bike this time last year - and encouragement that I wasn't crazy for wanting to learn to ride a bike at 50