Originally Posted by
late
The Jamis looks a bit more relaxed. The distance between the handlebars and the saddle is a bit shorter.
The bike is also just a bit longer. If there are no problems getting a good fit, I'd pick the Jamis if I was limited
to those two.
Neither is designed with commuting in mind. A commuter will take a larger tire, have fittings for racks.
Cyclocross bikes and touring bikes are popular with commuters. The wheels and tires will be more rugged and reliable.
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...rora_spec.html
On the other hand the Scott has a triple which might be more useful for both commuting and getting into riding more regularly. For me I also like the look of the Scott a little more - that's entirely aesthetic though.
You'll probably find that both bikes are equally reliable, so beyond riding them and seeing if one seems right for you, I'd look at gearing and wheels. I think that the Scott's gearing is more versatile, and it seems that the wheels may be similar in quality (both Alex rims) but the Scott has a lower spoke count. If you're more towards the heavy side, that might steer you back towards the Jamis that has a higher spoke count - the wheels will be less likely to go out of true when you hit a pothole on your way to work.
Good luck with your choice.