Jamis Aurora

I've got a 2001 Aurora. I haven't put any really huge miles on it but if you google "jamis aurora"
and my name, I'm a pretty big fan.

It's a comfortable machine, at least for me. the gearing can be a bit tall--I don't think I've
*ever* had any use for the 52/11 top gear--but I believe that's been addressed with the wider-range
cassette in the recent 2003 model.

clearance for tires is adequate, but not overgenerous: my stock Ritchey Tom Slicks (labelled 30mm,
but really something more like 32) fit nicely underneath a set of fenders. I *might* be able to coax
one more tire size out of it, but I'm not sure, and I haven't tried it.

I dig the braze-ons. Fenders. Rack. and a pump peg.

On the road it rides great--! extremely comfortable. confidence-inspiring. there is, however, some
toeclip/fender overlap (I have US size 10.5 feet) in slow-speed turns.

Oh and note: all my praise for the Jamis Aurora is for the 2001 model, and applies to the 2003 model
in equal measure. If you're considering the 2002 model...don't. Someone at Jamis goofed, and instead
of cantilevers, put dual-pivot caliper brakes on the bike--resulting in a bike that had braze-ons
for fenders...and NO clearnce for them. If you see a 2002 aurora...don't be tempted.

Now as to the Fuji:

I considered the Fuji briefly, but it was out of my price range. I bagged my Aurora on sale
(previous year's model) at deep discount--paid maybe US$450.00 for it. Shops that stocked the Fuji
were asking another US$200 for it. Things the Fuji may have in its favour:

-Shimano Tiagra gear instead of the the Sora stuff you see on the Aurora. The Tiagra comes in 9
speeds, Sora only in 8, and on Tiagra you can shift from the drops easier. Also, the design of the
brifteurs is different in each case. A sora brifteur uses the brake lever to shift one way, and a
little lever right about where your thumb would fall on the inside of the brake hood to shift the
other way (which, by the way, is the way Campagnolo Ergopowers shift). Tiagra and above shift with
the brake lever and a second lever mounted immediately behind the brake lever, enabling you to shift
from the drops should you so wish.

-Fuji Touring comes with a rack. this is an *eh* thing, since I got my Aurora at enough discount
that I got a for it and still paid a little under what normal list would have been for that
year's bike.

-Fuji comes with spare spoke holder and spare spokes. I haven't needed spare spokes on my Aurora
(yet). a frill, maybe, but thoughtful.

Final analysis: it's your money and your bike. The bikes are more or less comparable, I think. Test
ride each and see which one you like more. me, I really like my Aurora...

-Luigi ...i miss my home bike!

I bought mine last june and have over 2700 miles on it now. I just finished a 750 mile tour of the
Delaware and Susquehana river valleys. I can't say I've had a problem yet. at first I didn't really
feel comfortable with it but it has since grown on me and I really like it. I had two 100 mile days
and felt fine after. <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Would appreciate comments on Jamis Aurora frame reliability and construction specifically from
riders who have put substantial miles on the frame. In addition, if you know, how does the Fuji
tourer frame measure up against the Jamis frame?

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Would appreciate comments on Jamis Aurora frame reliability and construction specifically from
riders who have put substantial miles on the frame. In addition, if you know, how does the Fuji
tourer frame measure up against the Jamis frame?

I didn't mention I weigh 180 lbs and 47 lbs of gear on the tour not including front and rear rack
weight <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Would appreciate comments on Jamis Aurora frame reliability and construction specifically from
riders who have put substantial miles on the frame. In addition, if you know, how does the Fuji
tourer frame measure up against the Jamis frame?

Quoted message said:

Would appreciate comments on Jamis Aurora frame reliability and construction specifically from
riders who have put substantial miles on the frame.

The provided wheelset is very strong; the rear weighs about the same as a Mavic T520 and is able to
take higher tension. It's too bad that Ritchey doesn't sell their zero-dish touring wheelset
seperately from this bike.

There is some toe-fender overlap even on my large (58cm) frame. Also, the paint is easily scratched
and it took a while to get the brake levers working properly with the cantilever brakes.

Quoted message said:

In addition, if you know, how does the Fuji tourer frame measure up against the Jamis frame?

The Fuji was great when it was priced $150 lower, but today $850 is too much to pay for Sora with a
bit of Tiagra thrown in here and there. For the same price as the Fuji, you can get the Bianchi
Velope with full Tiagria.

-Mike

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Would appreciate comments on Jamis Aurora frame reliability and construction specifically from
riders who have put substantial miles on the frame.

The provided wheelset is very strong; the rear weighs about the same as a Mavic T520 and is able
to take higher tension. It's too bad that Ritchey doesn't sell their zero-dish touring wheelset
seperately from this bike.

There is some toe-fender overlap even on my large (58cm) frame. Also, the paint is easily
scratched and it took a while to get the brake levers working properly with the cantilever brakes.

Quoted message said:

In addition, if you know, how does the Fuji tourer frame measure up against the Jamis frame?

The Fuji was great when it was priced $150 lower, but today $850 is too much to pay for Sora with
a bit of Tiagra thrown in here and there. For the same price as the Fuji, you can get the Bianchi
Velope with full Tiagria.

But the Volpe is fugly! At least the 2003 version is. I don't care a whole lot about color and
appearance, but I just couldn't get past the Volpe's color, and ruled it out for that reason.

--
David Kerber An optimist says "Good morning, Lord." While a pessimist says "Good Lord,
it's morning".

Remove the ns_ from the address before e-mailing.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In addition, if you know, how does the Fuji tourer frame measure up against the Jamis frame?

I've read a couple of reviews on RoadBikeReview.com, and they raved about the Fuji's frame. I
haven't picked up mine yet, though.

Quoted message said:

The Fuji was great when it was priced $150 lower, but today $850 is too much to pay for Sora with
a bit of Tiagra thrown in here and there. For the same price as the Fuji, you can get the Bianchi
Velope with full Tiagria.

BTW, The 2003 and 2004 Fuji Touring are Deore/Tiagra, not Sora/Tiagra. I don't know about previous
years, though.

--
David Kerber An optimist says "Good morning, Lord." While a pessimist says "Good Lord,
it's morning".

Remove the ns_ from the address before e-mailing.

David Kerber <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

But the Volpe is fugly! At least the 2003 version is. I don't care a whole lot about color and
appearance, but I just couldn't get past the Volpe's color, and ruled it out for that reason.

huh? a quick surf over to the website shows the 2003 Volpe in Red. Now, I might have understood your
misgivings if it it were all Celeste, like, say, the Veloce, or even part-celeste like the '02
model. But what have you got against red?

-Luigi

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

David Kerber <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

But the Volpe is fugly! At least the 2003 version is. I don't care a whole lot about color and
appearance, but I just couldn't get past the Volpe's color, and ruled it out for that reason.

huh? a quick surf over to the website shows the 2003 Volpe in Red. Now, I might have understood
your misgivings if it it were all Celeste, like, say, the Veloce, or even part-celeste like the
'02 model. But what have you got against red?

To me, that red looks like a kid's entry-level bike. It's just the wrong shade, and has no trim
to relieve it. I don't care for the celeste much, either, but it's better than that shade of red
with no trim.

--
David Kerber An optimist says "Good morning, Lord." While a pessimist says "Good Lord,
it's morning".

Remove the ns_ from the address before e-mailing.