My 10 year old Bridgestone MB is getting tired, so I will be retiring it for winter use only. I would like to get another bike for my 7 mile commute (14 miles total) and occasional longer rides (up to about 28 miles total.) Anyway, I've narrowed my choice down to two bikes:

1) Jamis Coda Comp https://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/05_codacomp.html
2) Bianchi Bergamo https://www.bianchiusa.com/602.html

Each has features that I like. I prefer the Coda Comp's cromo frame and carbon fork. Nice ride! OTOH, the Bergamo is by no means a bad ride... just a different "feel" inherent w/ an aluminum frame bike. I happen to like aluminum because of its light weight; I do have to carry the bike up stairs. Still, as 'they' say "steel is real" and it's generally my preference. I wish the Bergamo had a carbon fork like Coda Comp. I think that would smooth out the ride for my longer trips.

Both bikes are a good fit in the 23" size, but the Comp has an adjustable stem,which gives me a slightly better fit. I like the fact that the Bergamo has an SRAM DualDrive single-sided shifting system. (Nice clean look without the extra chain rings!) Also, I like the wider tires of the Bergamo 700x38c - the Comp's tires are 700x28c. Ideally, I'd like a 700 32c tire. I don't know if there would be enough room for fender-clearance if I put the wider 32c on the Comp. So if anyone knows, I'd appreciate being told about that.

The Comp cost more than the Bergamo --naturally I prefer spending less-- but I will go for the best 'bang for buck'. If anyone owns either of these bikes, would you mind telling me what you paid for it? I look forward to some input.

Since you mention liking the carbon fiber fork for smoothing out the ride, I think you should go with the Jamis...cause just the steel frame alone will make for a more comfortable ride. My Nova is a steel frame bike, and I carry it up a flight of stairs every day...it's not that bad. ;-) As far as stuffing a 700x32 tire on it under fenders...I don't know how close the frame geometry is to a Jamis Nova, but I have fenders on that, and 700x32 tires, and no problems with the fit.

The Jamis is more of what I'd call a speedbike, whereas the Bianchi looks more like a leisure bike. Those swept back handlebars aren't designed for speed on the Bianchi. Also, the fork looks threaded with an old style stem.

I suppose it depends on what kind of riding you plan to do. 7 miles isn't exactly a short distance, so I think riding the slower bike would get "old".

If you're near a Performance Bike Shop, you might want to give them a call and see if they have any 04s Jamis' left. The price should be pretty good and you can get 10% back in store credit if you join their buyers club.

I like the Bergamo and wish I had purchased that bike when I started cycling several years ago instead of the Milano. However, you really need a street bike and not a traditional town bike. I bet the Bergamo probably weights more than the Coda even though it's aluminum! There's a big misconception that Reynolds 520 is a heavy alloy because it's not. There's NO WAY the Bergamo is less than 24.75 lbs because my Milano weights about 26 lbs! All things being equal, I would take Reynolds 520 any day of the week over 7005.

If you just getting into cycling, I would tell you to get the Bergamo but that's not the case here. The 3 speed hub on the Bergamo is a plus but you don't ride components. The biggest issue here is if fenders can be installed on the Coda. If they can be installed, the choice is easy. Go with the Jamis.

I love my Jamis Coda Comp. I used to have fenders on it. They are easy to install. I took them off for personal preference. Maybe I'll put them back someday. My Jamis Coda Comp is a 2003, and does not have the carbon fork. It is still light, responsive, speedy, and very comfortable. The carbon fork is really great, and someday maybe I'll get one. I have not tried the Bianchi Bergamo. But I am still super-enthused about my Jamis Coda, even after almost 2 years.

Coda Comps used to go for around $800 retail, but 04 models may be discounted. I don't regret the purchase at all. It's alot cheaper than a car!

Good one. Well I guess the choice is easy then. It's Jamis Coda all the way.

I would go with the Jamis. I, too, have a Jamis Nova and am very happy with it. I have Freddy Fenders (touring size) and they fit just fine. Besides, the fact that the Bianchi web site refers to the Bergamo frame as "zippy" makes me think it's not very zippy.

Thank you all for your input. More specifically:

Thanks Roger. Good logic in all of your post. And, I agree that if your Nova works well w/ 700x32 tires and fenders It's likely it will be the same for the Coda
Comp. I'll look into that a bit more.

Thanks "bsyptak." You may well be right that over time riding a slow
bike could get 'old.' Btw, there is no Performance bike shop in my area.

Thanks "Dahon Steve" One of the LBS's in my area had suggested that a Milano
might be the ticket... guess it might NOT be ay? ) I don't know what the
Bergamo weighs, but, as you suggest, it may very well be MORE
than the Comp.

Thanks "Velogirl." The fact that you own a Jamis Coda Comp and are
enthusiastic about it is encouraging. Also I appreciate that you told me
how much it cost. I'll keep $800 figure in mind when I negotiation the final cost.

I'm certainly motivated to get the Coda at this point. Still I keep thinking that maybe I should simply go for the cheap Jamis "Commuter"

<https://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/05_commuter.html#>

biding my time until there's more "commuter-friendly" bikes available on the
market. With more choices, I could get a "stock bike" that has all the features I like w/o having to pay a "custom price" Ideal for me would be something that has 45 degree adjustable-rise bars, carbon fork, and a single chain ring w/ a 9 speed cog. Btw, I did test ride the new 2005 "Jamis Commuter." It's really decent for an inexpensive bike, although, the shifting was not smooth enough, imo. A carbon fork certainly would have "helped out" the aluminum frame.

The Jamis looks like a more practical bike for an everyday ride, if only because the shifting components are more suited for everyday riding. That Bianchi would wear you out before you wear it out!

You didn't mention what type of commute you have--urban (potholes, etc), country roads...My commute is 12 miles each way. About half is through gritty urban Washington, DC, which has quite a reputation for potholes. The other half is on a nice, paved bike trail along the river. I've seen some Codas for slightly less than $800, but I don't know if they were older models. I can't imagine you would have to pay any more than $800--that's the highest I've seen. Get them to throw a rack or fenders in (or at least the water bottle cage). Oh, and HAVE FUN!

Jamis looks more suitable to me of the two, which by the sounds of it seems to be your decision. The Bianchi might be ok for the 7 mile commute, but would be painful on a longer ride. Looks like more of a 'grocery-getter' frame to me - not something you'd want to spend too much time on.

Any reason you're not considering a bike with drop handlebars? E.g. something like a Bianchi Volpe or Jamis Aurora? The drop bars are much more comfortable on longer rides, as they offer more hand positions. Just something else to think about before dropping down your hard earned cash... The Volpe or Aurora really give you the best of both worlds - wider tires for stability, rack and fender mounts for commuting and touring, and the ability to take even skinnier tires and be used essentially as a road bike.

Tires... I'd at least give the 700x28 tires a go if I were you. I commute during the summer on 700x28s, and switch to 700x32 knobby tires for the winter when there's a bit of snow and debris on my route. I used 700x32 slick tires on my previous commuter, which was a Giant hybrid similar to the Jamis Coda. The bike was fine for my commute (about 12 miles), but changing to my current bike (Surly Cross-Check, a lot like the Bianchi Volpe) with drop bars and 700x28 tires made a huge difference to my comfort and speed.

Adjustable rise bars - in my opinion, you're better off asking your LBS to work with you to fit the bike perfectly to you. Get them to try different stems on the bike until you find the rise and reach that fits you perfectly.

Another one I'd consider... the Bianchi Castro Valley. Looks like a pretty decent starting point for a commuter bike to me. Single chainring (42), 11-26 9-speed rear, dynamo light, fenders... if your commute isn't too hilly, could work like a charm. Cro-mo fork with 700x28s gives a nice, smooth ride around town, too.

Well Stubacca, I rode my brother-in-laws Univega road bike to work for about a year, when I first moved to New England. I've have tried a few others since then, but never liked drop bars. I have a slipped disc, so that makes me somewhat stiffer than the average bear. Having said that, I admit that I like the look of a road bike. Whenever I see cyclists riding them I think to myself... "There's a *real* biker" ) The Volpe, Aurora, and Castro Valley are all great looking bicycles and I envy those who can ride them comfortably.

I use our bike path for much of my commute. I don't know if the 700x28 tires that come with the Comp are puncture resistant... They would have to be. The contractor who paved path tried cutting costs by not grinding the glass-filler enough. Consequently, flats are a major problem for anyone who doesn't have mountain bike tires or some sort of kevlar protection. I was thinking about getting the 32c Conti's (4 Seasons) or Specialized Armadillos - or maybe even a cheap Performance tire w/ kevlar.

As for the riser bars, "Yeah," I'm going to talk w/ the LBS people about substituting the flat bar w/ something that has some rise to it. I hope they can manage that w/o having to replace the cables with longer ones. Thanks for your input.

Hi Velogirl. Regarding the road conditions of my commute: During the late-Spring, Summer and Fall I use our bike path (see my previous message to Stubacca) In the winter I use Route 9, which is a fairly well maintained state road (it's plowed during winters, but at some point there is build-up of snow along the sides, which puts me in the line of fire from autos.) After winter, there are some potholes; usually they are filled sometime during the summer months. So not too bad really. Occasionally, some idiot will break a bottle and there will be glass debris. I have to be careful not to over-react by swinging out into traffic to avoid it. Luckily, there's not a lot of that either. You say your commute is 12 miles? ugh.. I don't think I'd like that on a daily basis. Seven miles is about right for me. Lastly, I certainly will try to get bike shop to throw in a rack and maybe swap out the tires for something that is puncture proof. I take it that your original tires are serving you well?

Looks to be unanimous, Tree Trunk. Jamis it is! Unless a bunch of you guys and gals talk me out of it pretty soon ;o)

Fair enough. Might still be worth a try, though... the bikes I've listed have a more upright riding position than a road bike, and could certainly accomodate a stem with a good amount of rise. You can easily add a second set of brake levers on the flat parts of the bars, too, which is incredibly useful around town. I virtually never ride down in the drops themselves, but find the curved ends and the top of the brake hoods very comfortable and responsive.

I have a friend with major lower back issues thanks to a skiing accident a few years back. He can't get comfortable on a road bike at all for even short rides, but rides a KHS cyclocross bike very comfortably even on century rides. The KHS is a soft-tail bike, with a small shock absorber at the top of the seat stays to cushion out some of the bumps without sapping too much efficiency. Add a Brooks leather saddle and you just never know what might work out for you...

I can vouch for the Specialized Armadillos. I use those in 700x28 on some debris-strewn roads. I had one flat the first day I put them on from a mother chunk of glass, but no problems at all for the past 2000+ miles, though I have just about worn out the rear tire. That's what you get for being 220lbs and carrying a pair of panniers every day .

There is one model below the Comp which is the sport. It goes for $499, but I've seen it on sale for about $449. Steel fork instead of carbon, and slightly lower component group.

Doesn't the Jamis come with adj stem? Raising that solves the riser bar desire, plus it lets you lower it when/if you get more comfortable riding in a lower position. I also suggest putting on bar ends at the time of sale. It gives you more positions for your hands.

Here's my Giant Cypress SX. By the way, I looked at the Coda Sport and Comp and lots of other bikes and decided to go with the Giant. Wanted better components than the Sport, but didn't want to spend $800 for the Comp. Cypress fit in nicely at $600. I've upgraded a few things (saddle, carbon flat bar, added bar ends, fenders, rack panniers), but it's a good bike as well.

Tires: My bike came with Hutchinson Excel tires since I got the bike in March 2003. I just had to change them because they were getting worn out. I don't know how many miles I put on them because I don't have a bike computer anymore (eaten by a pothole) and I decided that life is too short to keep track of that stuff. But I ride alot. Over the past 1-1/2 years I never had a flat--NEVER. I do not use anti-flat things, but I make sure that my tires are properly inflated--around 100 or so psi. Under-inflated tires are often the culprit in flat tires. I pump mine up every week.

Last week I put new tires on, and I stuck with the Hutchinson Exel again. Why mess with a good thing? However, if I had to do it all over again, I would buy the blue Hutchinson Excel with reflective sidewalls for better visibility and a bit of pizzazz.

I've heard good things about the Armadillos, too.

Oh, and I understand that the Aurora and Coda use the same frame. The main difference is the drop bars on the Aurora. One of these days I'll get another road bike (my old racing frame is history). I won't race again, but I'll definitely check out the Jamis road bikes for some country riding.

I ride the Jamis Coda Elite (one step up from Comp) and like a lot -- it's perfect for my 7 to 10 mile commute (each way). And light and responsive enough to enjoy longer weekend pleasure rides too. So I also endorse the Jamis Coda as a great solution for your ride.

Unlike Velogirl, I had to swap out the Excel tires it came with -- I had ridden them only about a week or two before they flatted after picking up a small glass sliver. Now I am a big guy (~200 lbs) so I am sure that contributed to the flat, tho I do top off the air pressure every morning before going to work.

After the flat, I replaced with Specialized Armadillos, which have been great.

Many thanks to Stubacco, bsyptak, Velo Girl, and aiguy.

Stubacco: Regarding your nudges toward getting a road bike. Nah ) A few weeks back, I tried a Specialized Sequoia equipped w/ a carbon fork. It was probably the most comfortable road bike I've ridden to date - but not comfortable enough. Having the extra hand positions means nothing to me because that "extra" area (drops, curved ends etc.) is in places that aren't comfortable for me. Plus I don't feel like I have complete control of the bike... so again, "no thanks." Except for the "drop-bar factor," I think the cyclocross idea is a good one. Swapping out the saddle for a Brooks is something I'll definitely consider. I have a B66 on my Bridgestone MB and like it. Thanks for your endorsement on the Specialized Armadillos. There is a Specialized dealer nearby. They sell them for $20, which is about right I think.

bsyptak: I did test ride the Coda Sport but it wasn't in my size (23") The LBS told me that they may not be open this Friday, due to a Thanksgiving holiday extension; but, if they do work, they will build one in a 23 size. I'll try it out on whatever day they are open for business. Probably on Thursday. I hate to have to wait that long, but "open-days" have been reduced to Thur-Saturday since the middle of October.

I like the look of your Giant Cypress SX - for sure! One concern is that I probably would have to change the wheel. Does it have the standard amount of spokes? Viewing your pic, I'm thinking it might be a few shy of standard. I'm 250 pounds and will be carrying additional weight in my panniers. Hey, I can only hope to get down to _your_ weight ) I'm 6'2" and carry it fairly well.... but still. Also, at this point, I think I'd like to get some experience w/ a carbon fork. I've come to this conclusion recently, since my first posting. When I first posted this thread it wasn't that big a factor (after all I was seriously considering the Bergamo, which is all aluminum). Now I'm a bit more serious on "carbon" for those longer rides.

Velo Girl: Gosh that Aurora looks great --and the Nova does too!-- but looks aren't everything, I'm going to opt for comfort ) Regarding the stock tires again, see aiguy's post --btw, thanks for your endorsement aiguy-- he points out that weight may make a difference. Sounds reasonable to me.

Again, "thanks" to all for your valuable input!

I haven't counted, but it looks like 24 spokes. I was a little worried as well. I'm a spindly 147 lbs, down about 15 lbs since I started commuting! Back to my college weight as many years ago. So far, I only twisted a couple of spokes 1/4 turn to get them to stop rubbing the brake pads. I'm assuming it's just new bike adjustments. I do hop off curbs with the bags full, no problems so far. But I do go very slow onto curbs--too much weight in the back to clear, plus I was never great at bunny hopping! I figure when/if they wear out, I'll buy some Mavic Open Pros or some other cyclocross/touring rims that are lightweight & stout.

Good luck with the Jamis.