So I have a new dealer close by carrying Jamis. It looks like they have a Renegade reynolds 631 steel bike with full ultegra. Looks promising. Anyone familiar with Jamis steel frame gravel bikes? Was actually wanting to go with steel this time over carbon for hopefully some of the ride quality steel offers. Less expensive too. Any advice? Thx
I have the 2017 Renegade Exploit which is the same frame but with Shimano 105. It is a really nice riding bike. Just the right balance between quick and stable handling. And the steel frame and carbon fork soak up the bumps nicely. The Ultegra version you are looking at is the Escapade. Besides having Ultegra vs 105, the wheels are upgraded a bit from the Exploit. So it would be an even better and slightly quicker ride than the one I've got. I highly recommend you take a serious look at either one of these bikes. And if you do have the extra cash, the Escapade would be worth the upgrade.
Pauley, thx for the reply. Any idea what your bike weighs? Size? Not looking for a bike to race in events. I mtb alot and want something to compliment my riding when off the mountain bike. So comfortable is more important than all out speed. Kinda why I'm leaning to steel. Thx
My bike is a 56cm. Haven't weighed it. The site says it weighs 23.75lb but it doesn't specify what size. I'm not too concerned about that sort of thing as long as the bike doesn't handle like a truck. But I can say it is a very comfortable ride. I mostly do hard packed dirt roads with pavement in between. But have also taken it on rail trails and unmaintained roads where it proved to be pretty bomb proof. If you were really interested in gravel racing I'd say there are definitely lighter, quicker handling bikes out there for the money. Also, it doesn't have massive tire clearance for monster cross type riding. But for everything in between those two extremes its just about perfect.
I just purchased a 2018 Jamis Renegade Escapade frameset. The complete is a really great deal, but I'm a SRAM guy and already had most of the parts form a previous CX bike.
The first ride I did on the bike was a 70mile gravel grinder. The bike is super smooth. I was surprised at how well it climbed. Since then I've ridden it half a dozen times around town tweaking my fit. I've been riding an All-City Mr. Pink road bike for months before hopping on this gravel bike and it's taking a little getting used to. The upright position is totally different but isn't a slug. No complaints.
spoked_matt wrote:I just purchased a 2018 Jamis Renegade Escapade frameset. The complete is a really great deal, but I'm a SRAM guy and already had most of the parts form a previous CX bike.
The first ride I did on the bike was a 70mile gravel grinder. The bike is super smooth. I was surprised at how well it climbed. Since then I've ridden it half a dozen times around town tweaking my fit. I've been riding an All-City Mr. Pink road bike for months before hopping on this gravel bike and it's taking a little getting used to. The upright position is totally different but isn't a slug. No complaints.
Did not know Jamis Regegade was available as framesets. Where did you buy yours?
Did another 53 mile ride with 3,500ft of climbing this weekend. The bike was great. On a few really steep climbs my back wheel spun out when I was climbing out of the saddle since I had all of my weight forward but that was due to my poor form. Hit about 40 mph on a few gravel descents, too, and the bike felt super stable. I never felt out of control.
spoked_matt wrote:I own Spoked Bikes & Stuff in St. Louis, MO. I purchased it from Jamis.
Did another 53 mile ride with 3,500ft of climbing this weekend. The bike was great. On a few really steep climbs my back wheel spun out when I was climbing out of the saddle since I had all of my weight forward but that was due to my poor form. Hit about 40 mph on a few gravel descents, too, and the bike felt super stable. I never felt out of control.
Sounds fund Matt. The frame is bombproof stable. Would love to hear more details about your Sram build.
Welcome to Riding Gravel, Matt! I've been in your shop while visiting family in St. Louis. It's a very fine shop. I'd encourage anyone to visit if you're ever in the area.
I have a 2016 Jamis Exploit that I have heavily modified. Easton EC90SL 1X11 DI2 XTR, Easton Carbon bars and stem, and some custom HEDC2+ Hope Hubs wheelset. I love this bike, I have her down to 22lbs with cages and pedals. While she is not 16 lb version of a carbon bike, she rides like a '77 Fleetwood Cadillac, especially going downhill. I have well over a couple thousand miles on her and in the winter she's my outside training bike. Only issue I've had is a questionable crack on the thruaxle front fork drop outs after I cleaned her this past weekend from Land Run 100. Jamis already has a replacement fork coming my way via my bike shop. Theyre a smaller East coast company so inventory can be a challenge. It's a great bike and I have 2-3 team mates that have one as well. Buy with confidence!
That's a lot of carbon. I would think that the carbon bars and stem would be a little stiff and make the ride a little harsh. I've been going back and forth about adding some carbon to mine.
The ride is significantly improved, definitely less harsh. Being able to ride on 40mm tubeless at 35 psi helps. The bike is especially sweet on the pavement as well. I do also use pair of Reynolds ATR carbon hoops that I switch back and forth.
spoked_matt wrote:I own Spoked Bikes & Stuff in St. Louis, MO. I purchased it from Jamis.
Did another 53 mile ride with 3,500ft of climbing this weekend. The bike was great. On a few really steep climbs my back wheel spun out when I was climbing out of the saddle since I had all of my weight forward but that was due to my poor form. Hit about 40 mph on a few gravel descents, too, and the bike felt super stable. I never felt out of control.
I went to my LBS hoping to buy the Explore (the alloy) frame as a frameset only for a build but they said Jamis did not offer and Renegade frames as framset only. Darn.
(Oh well. Ended up with a Nova Pro frameset instead)
Bumping an old thread to share my 650b'd Jamis Renegade Escapade! I switched it over to Easton 650b wheels with tubelessly installed Compass Switchback Hill tires and PBW fenders. Switched out some parts to suit me, gear range and fit-wise and so far it's working for me pretty well. I really like the way it turned out and it sure rolls smooth! This setup is basically what I've wanted for the last 3 or so years. I thought I'd have to go custom to fit 650bX50 tires and fenders, but this bike is 90%+ what I wanted for half the money.
stevef wrote:Bumping an old thread to share my 650b'd Jamis Renegade Escapade! I switched it over to Easton 650b wheels with tubelessly installed Compass Switchback Hill tires and PBW fenders. Switched out some parts to suit me, gear range and fit-wise and so far it's working for me pretty well. I really like the way it turned out and it sure rolls smooth! This setup is basically what I've wanted for the last 3 or so years. I thought I'd have to go custom to fit 650bX50 tires and fenders, but this bike is 90%+ what I wanted for half the money.
