Originally Posted by
VT_Speed_TR
While I have many bikes, I ride a lot so they are worth it. Other members in my family ride far less, yet I've found the Jamis line of bikes very nice. My wife & daughter have a Jamis Coda, steel frame, triple crank, nice lower gearing, flat handlebars. List is $550, though I found a leftover at the local outdoor store for 30% off this spring. I just got my son a Jamis Satellite Sport, $600, steel frame, triple, not as low gearing as the Code, drop bars and brifters.
The Jamis have really held up over the past couple of years and seem to fit your criteria.
My limited experience with Jamis is very good. We picked up a Commuter 2 a few years ago and it was well worth the money. About $75 less than comparable bikes, light weight, and I really like the fact that it did not have multiple front chainrings. Here in FLA that can be overkill. It does have quite a large first sprocket in the rear that can bail you out of just about anything around here.