Those are some really nice looking bikes. I bet they ride great - they sure look good!
(I have a Jamis, but its the antithisis of these builds. 14.99lbs, ultra short wheelbase, 75 degree head tube, stiff as possible to pull 3-4 Gs in a sharp turn (25 meter radius turn at 40mph). Hurts my neck just to think about it.
lawnman wrote:Keepamonte, how do you like the vittoria terreno dry tires? What size are they?
I cannot say anything but great things about these tires! I have over 1800 miles on them without incident and the rear center tread is just starting to show wear. They're staying on for DK200 in a few short weeks. I have dry 40's and also have a set of wet 40's just in case. They measure almost 41mm with my wide rims, about the max I can fit with fenders on my bike. I really love how smooth and quiet they run on pavement as we do a lot of mixed rides that include pavement. They've more than carried their weight in wet weather.
Thought I'd bump this old thread about the Jamis Renegade because the 2019 offerings are out: quite different and a little strange. The Exploit has gone 1x as has the Escapde, which previously came in an Ultegra version that was really short lived. The 38x11 top gear on the new Escapade seems a little low to me. And you can "upgrade" to the carbon Expert model for $300 less than the Escapade. Like I said, the offerings seem a little strange to me. Granted, the Expert has 105 vs Sram Force on the Escapade. But very unusual for a company to offer a carbon model version for less than a steel one. Much as I like steel, this makes the Expert seem a much better value IMHO. Ofcourse there's also the bargain Expat for $1300. That and the top of the line Elite are largely unchanged. https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/renegadeescapade.html
I had a serious look at the 2018 Renegade, in both carbon and steel. While I ended up getting a Bombtrack Hook EXT, it was a close call. We have a Jamis shop close by (Toronto) and they sell close-outs, previous years' models, etc., so it was a good price.
I would have been more likely to get the 2019 version after looking at the spec. It's not that anything was wrong with the 2018 spec, but I already have a road bike and wanted something purely for gravel and dirt. The 2018's, with 105/Ultegra were too similar to my road bike...with the only difference being wider tires. But I wanted much wider tires (the bike I got has 650b wheels, up to 52mm+).
What I like about the 2019 is the 1x drivetrain (Force!, that's a good deal), and the Stans rims with 23mm internal width. At the price these would sell for at the shop mentioned above (later in the year), it would probably be a deal I couldn't pass up.
I'm also interested in this bike. I think I want a steel bike with a threaded BB that can be taken out on a 100mi gravel ride and also used to bike camp. I have a 2002 Jamis Eclipse and its been bullet proof. I've ridden with too many folks on press fit BBs that creek. Given those criteria what is the mainstream competition? thanks.
I haven't ridden the 9er or Jamis. But I did look at a lot of bikes and the Spec. Sequoia really surprised me. Super comfy - I just thought -> hey, this is a bike I could literally ride all day long. I ended up getting something lighter and more agile, but if I wanted a steel endurance type bike, this would be at the top of my list.
I would think that most people want a bike that can climb easier than one that can hammer harder (especially with steel).
I'm a fairly strong rider, but I can do everything I want solo on a 36x11. Faster than that and I'm just coasting. I do need (and use) my bigger chain ring for fast paved group rides, but rarely shift out of my 36t chain ring riding solo.
I do think it is odd when they sell gravel bikes with a 53t chainring though...
Hello Badgerhoo If I could ride only on gravel with my Renegade, I probably would. And then a 38X11 would be just fine. But to get to gravel roads and sometimes riding in between them I am on pavement maybe 40% of the time. That's when I think I would spin out sometimes with a top gear of less than 100 gear inches. When I bought my Exploit which came with a Shimano 105 50/34 compact I had them switch a 46 for the 50t ring and swap in an 11-36 cassette for the more standard 11-32. The 46X11 is just about right for long paved descents and occasionally on smooth dirt downhills too. Anyhow, since you are going to be doing some bike packing and generally don't seem to think the bike will see much pavement, then I can see where a 38X11 tall gear might be enough.
