Originally Posted by
GaryinLA
I had the 25mm tires installed because they were readily available from a small store where i go, they were inexpensive but decent quality and my immediate goal with this bike was just to ride it recreationally on an upcoming trip-- not for touring and commuting. It is just accidentally that i got this bike that happens to be a touring frame bike so now i am wondering if/when i want/need a touring bike is this one good enough or will i want/need a Trek 520 or Surly LHT because maybe it's a lighter, better handling bike. Right now for recreational rides this Jamis feels clumsy and a little bit like a pig of a bike ( as someone online in a review described it). It doenst seem to match with 25mm tires very well. My other road bikes are more sporty rides. But having never ridden a Surly LHT or Cross Check, or a Trek 520 I dont know how they compare. Thats why i am asking. These other bikes are about $1100 new and i got this Jamis cheap.
I'll try to rephrase my previous reply... They're basically going to ride the same. I don't know what your Jamis weighs, but most loaded touring bikes nudge 30 lbs. stripped.
A touring bike, and even some CX bikes will handle lazily compared to road bike based on a race frame. It isn't so much because of the added weight, but due to a longer wheelbase and slacker head tube geometry inherent in the touring frame's design.
Riding a touring bike was a new thing for me earlier this year so that memory is still fresh. I had a couple of near OOPS moments cornering at speed, but that was it. I find the touring bike to work very well on those relaxed pace recreational rides as well as a those where I've set a mileage/time goal. For how you're using the Jamis now and for you future plans, I think the Jamis is a good choice.
When I want to rail some turns I grab the crit bike.
Brad