I've got a 2002 Jamis Aurora that needs a bit of an overhaul, and I want to turn it into a touring bike in the process.

In researching touring bikes, I found people like the Trek 520, the LHT, and often also mention the Jamis Aurora... I'm wondering if the one I have is one of those touring capable bikes, or not.

It needs a bit of work, and I'm not sure if it is possible to turn it into a touring bike, and if so how I would go about doing so. So I'd love to hear what people think!

it would be sporty for a touring bike but if its your size it might be pretty nice. it should take 32mm tires and fenders so if you can get racks on it you should be good to go. racks can be fastened with p clamps and most bike shops have a bunch of them left over from rack installations. the real issue will be gearing. you may want to lower the number of teeth in one or more of the rings on your crank. the reynolds frame should feel great.

p.s. i did see the bike came with 32 hole wheels so that may be an issue. but hell ride it an see. you'll eventually buy or build wheels for everything.

The back crank broke off a few weeks ago while I was pushing up a hill, so I need a whole new thing... Also, the index shifters need to go at the same time if possible.

Back crank...meaning rear wheel axle?

If you fix that bike up, itll be significantly cheaper than anything new.
Thats the best thing going for the Jamis...you have it and can try out touring for the least $.

The gearing may not be the best if you plan to ride up hills. Just fyi.

You need to tell us a bit more about the build.


Is it this build https://www.bicyclebluebook.com/sear....aspx?id=36923 ? Pay attention to the cassette, chain ring size etc.

It's a touring bike if you tour with it. "Back crank", do you mean derailleur? How much do you weigh?

Its just another brand of bike, pack it up and ride! lots of brands will do.


Touring is the activity.. use any bike you like . we see Hundreds of cyclist touring the Oregon Coast every summer ..

They are riding all sorts of bicycles, type and brand.

it just has to work reliably and carry your stuff , and feel OK to ride day after day.


Bring money to fix what may break along the way..

took my Jamis Aurora from San Diego to Cape Coral, FL in 39 days in October 2009

Sorry, what I meant was the front dereilleur crankset (front spokes, chainwheel, chain ring, meatgrinder). There are two chainrings on the front, and one of them had its bolts pop and bent the other chainring bolt. Its not huge damage, actually, it could be fixed easily. So, I figured I could fix the gearing, swap out the shifters and maybe I'd pay less than a new touring bike. I probably can't convert to bar-end though, too bad.

It has mid-fork braze-ons and dropout braze-ons, but everything on it is stock. Its basically an aluminum stem, a VP headset and dual-control Shimano Sora STI shifters, and Shimano Sora derailleur:

Hubs: Front: Ritchey Comp, Rear: Ritchey Comp Zero
Rims: Front: Ritchey Rock Comp, Rear: Ritchy Rock Comp OCR, 32-hole
Tires: 700 x 30c Ritchey Tom Slick
Spoke Brand: Ritchey stainless steel, 14ga. (2.0mm) straight gauge
Spoke Nipples: Brass nipples
Brakeset: Tektro cantilever brakes, Shimano Sora STI Dual Control levers
Shift Levers: Shimano Sora STI Dual Control
Crankset: Cyclone aluminum, 30/42/52 teeth
Pedals: Wellgo LU-209
Bottom Bracket: Tien Hsin BB-7418AL, 113mm spindle
BB Shell Width: 68mm English
Rear Cogs: 8-speed, 12 - 25 teeth
Seatpost: Aluminum micro-adjust, 27.2mm diameter
Saddle: Selle Royale Look-In
Handlebar: Ritchey Biomax II
Handlebar Stem: Aluminum
Headset: 1inch VP

It is my size (and I'm 6'3", so finding my size used is not easy)... I've been looking at Trek 520 bikes (and Surly LHT) as these seem to be the gold standard for touring, but finding one used my size is not easy. I can find them new for a pretty penny, and then I'd need to swap out a bunch of stuff to make it good, so I'd easily be paying a couple grand to get it going. So, I'm trying to determine what I could do to this Jamis to turn it into a just as good touring bike.

I'm not very skilled in this area, so I dont really understand why 32 hole wheels are an issue?

That does look like the same bike, I didn't measure the cassette or chain ring size to be sure, but all the parts are the same.

I'm only 175lbs, just the thing was loose and I was cranking hard up a hill. Its just a 15-year old bike that I was neglecting.

Tool up, & get skilled in replacing a spoke, with no outside assistance , and it wont be an issue..





...

typically less spokes means a less strong wheel but i am guessing the wheels are fairly stout, and at 175lbs your not going to be too hard on them anyway.