Commuting - Jamis Aurora? Bianchi Volpe? Fuji Touring? Your votes please...

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Skinny Knees
07-03-05, 02:09 AM
Hey, as I mentioned in an earlier thread, I've been trying to check out (and probably purchase) a 59 cm Jamis Aurora and am being told by nearly all the dealers of Jamis in the Seattle area that it's nearly impossible to get- the production has stopped. Still, it's a drag- in addition to the sweet test ride I had on a 56 cm model (the size notwithstanding), I've read a lot of good comments about the bike here and really wish I had a shot at it in my size.

So I'm debating whether I should cut it as a loss for this summer and wait til 2006 for a Jamis or if I should go with the Volpe or the Fuji Touring. Is there anyone out there that has any one of these 3 bikes and can register their vote?

rnagaoka
07-05-05, 01:18 AM
Hey, as I mentioned in an earlier thread, I've been trying to check out (and probably purchase) a 59 cm Jamis Aurora and am being told by nearly all the dealers of Jamis in the Seattle area that it's nearly impossible to get- the production has stopped. Still, it's a drag- in addition to the sweet test ride I had on a 56 cm model (the size notwithstanding), I've read a lot of good comments about the bike here and really wish I had a shot at it in my size.

So I'm debating whether I should cut it as a loss for this summer and wait til 2006 for a Jamis or if I should go with the Volpe or the Fuji Touring. Is there anyone out there that has any one of these 3 bikes and can register their vote?

All three have been written up favorably here and are a good value. (The REI Randonee is another bike you might want to consider that's in the same price category.) I have the 2004 Fuji Touring used for commuting and touring...and can give it a 3/4 thumbs up.

Speced out with decent components for the price. Gearing is fine for 99% of my riding--you may want to go lower for extreme inclines. The rack and seat had to go. I swapped it for a Jandd Expedition and Brooks B17.

My main beef is the rear wheel. I had lots of spoke breakage problems. This seems to be hit or miss with others on this forum. I think it mainly is due to improper spoke tensioning at the factory. Anyway, the LBS gave up on replacing the spokes and ordered a new wheel under warranty.

(Edit: You might want to post this in the touring forum since it seems you're in the market for a touring specific bike.)