CommuterKat

I am considering a Soma Double Cross for these very same reasons. I currently commute on an early 90's Specialized Rockhopper, and think that a road bike would be a bit too unforgiving of the roads around here, and a mountain bike is just too heavy, not enough hand positions (even with bar ends), and just not fast enough on some of the longer road trips I take.

I recently found a guy in the town that I live in that has a small repair shop, and he also builds a few bikes a year to sell. I poked around his shop, and he showed me the Double Cross, and I just fell in love with it. He is going to build it up for me over the winter with used parts mainly, and by spring (when I can finally afford it), I will have a spiffy new cross bike!

skitbraviking

How about a Surly Crosscheck? Nice solid steel designed by those who ride 'em.

RonH

Thanks for all of your suggestions and thoughts.
I went to 3 bike shops and looked at some really good looking bikes. Here are my opinions:
Surly CrossCheck - didn't like the bar end shifters
Trek XO-1 - double chainring and didn't like the gearing
Lemond Poprad - double chainring and didn't like gearing
Redline and KHS didn't impress me
Felt F1X - didn't like the gearing and kinda pricey
Bianchi Axis - didn't like the gearing or the cables spread out across a flat top tube
Bianchi Volpe - this was high on my list of contenders but I didn't like the gearing

Some were my size, others were "close" to the right size. All of the bikes were in-stock and most will be clearance priced next weekend, but regardless of price, if I don't like the bike or it doesn't fit then it's not a bargain.


So I bit the bullet and ordered a 2005 Jamis Nova. There aren't any in the USA yet. Jamis isn't even showing the 2005s on their website. I saw the bike in the catalog at the shop. It's black with gray accents. The bike shop owner contacted the factory and told me I may be able to pick it up around Thanksgiving.
I guess I'll put the Raleigh (shown below) on the auction block in time for someone to get a "new" bike for Christmas.

Daily Commute

It may be too late RonH, but for others reading the thread, I think the bar-end shifters on my Crosscheck work great for commuting. You don't need to constantly shift. I don't know the Jamis Nova, but I hope you enjoy it.

bsyptak

The Nova is a nice bike. It's got excellent components on it for the price. There's really nothing to switch out, no junk components. That was the same with my Jamis Quest. Similar bike, though the Quest is pure road. The 631 frame is nice and cushy, the seat is awesome. You're gonna love it.

Though time will appear to stop in it's tracks as you wait for it!

Dahon.Steve

I have a Jamis and it rides very well. I'm in the process of getting a shorter stem to get a better fit but a nice bike overall. Mine is the inexpensive Aurora but the frame really absorbs the road grind.

ajkloss42

Icky. No offense intended, but I'm not a big fan of bar-end shifters for much of anything. I've only ridden a bike with them for a few miles, but they bug me, and I've heard people ***** about banging them with their knees causing them to shift while climbing which would be just about the worst thing I could image happening. STI, downtube, fixed gear, crappy grip-shift, fine. Anything but bar-ends.

kjorissen

I too loved everything except the bar-ends on the Cross-Check. I had them put on STI shifters instead. I bought the Tiagra build complete bike and had them swap out the brakes and the bar-ends for 105 STI shifters. I tried for the Tiagra shifters but Shimano is a bit slow on some parts these days. This way I got exactly what I wanted on the bike and now have a nice set set of brakes that are going on a friend's fixed-gear conversion of a mid-70's Peugot.

As stated above, the Cross-Check has a ton of braze-ons for extra bits. And for tire clearance, I now have 35mm Nokian W106 studded tires working under the Planet Bike full fenders. The fenders required some careful adjustment, but it fits. Bring on the snow.

Daily Commute

I have never bumped my bar-end shifters. I like them, but I have never tried the more advanced shifters attached to the break levers. To each his or her own. If you don't like the bar-ends, buy the frame and build it the way you like it.

Zin

You can't go wrong with the Jamis! Very much an overlooked manufacturer in the U.S. market. I think the Nova would be a great commuter!