Next Bike — What Do I Want?

[ebubar]

More test rides! On today’s menu a Kona Jake (59 cm…blech) and a Kona Jake the Snake (53 cm…nice geometry, more than my budget). First of all, the shop shall remain nameless, mainly due to their lack of service effort. No attempt to fit anything to me or discuss my needs, not cool. They put me on a 59 cm that was clearly too big (though I did get a decent idea of the components. Tiagra and 105 mix felt super nice!). Also rode a Jake the Snake at 53 cm. Probably the right size for me. Nice components and a good deal (around 10% discount for their 2012 model) but I learned that I really do like having a triple. Perhaps its the familiarity from my current hybrid.

With all this test riding i’ve determined that:
1) I think I want a triple ring (double would be fine, triple is more comfy)
2) My size is narrowing down to a 53/55 cm.
Next step is a test ride in my bike gear with my GPS.

My test ride journey so far:
Jamis Nova – Nope. I’ll just stick with my hybrid.
53 cm Jake the Snake and 53 cm Kona Rove felt good. They were super light and I felt like I could accelerate nicely but too pricey. Need to find a 53 cm Jake the Snake.
55 cm Bianchi Volpe felt super smooth. A little heavy but very comfy. Perhaps a smidgeon too big. Need to try a 53 cm Bianchi Volpe.

[vvill]

Kona’s new Super Jake! (towards the end of the article)

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/kona-carbon-operator-disc-super-jake-sea-otter-2013-37128/

[TwoWheelsDC]

@ebubar 49676 wrote:

More test rides! On today’s menu a Kona Jake (59 cm…blech) and a Kona Jake the Snake (53 cm…nice geometry, more than my budget). First of all, the shop shall remain nameless, mainly due to their lack of service effort. No attempt to fit anything to me or discuss my needs, not cool. They put me on a 59 cm that was clearly too big (though I did get a decent idea of the components. Tiagra and 105 mix felt super nice!). Also rode a Jake the Snake at 53 cm. Probably the right size for me. Nice components and a good deal (around 10% discount for their 2012 model) but I learned that I really do like having a triple. Perhaps its the familiarity from my current hybrid.

With all this test riding i’ve determined that:
1) I think I want a triple ring (double would be fine, triple is more comfy)
2) My size is narrowing down to a 53/55 cm.
Next step is a test ride in my bike gear with my GPS.

My test ride journey so far:
Jamis Nova – Nope. I’ll just stick with my hybrid.
53 cm Jake the Snake and 53 cm Kona Rove felt good. They were super light and I felt like I could accelerate nicely but too pricey. Need to find a 53 cm Jake the Snake.
55 cm Bianchi Volpe felt super smooth. A little heavy but very comfy. Perhaps a smidgeon too big. Need to try a 53 cm Bianchi Volpe.

One thing I regret when buying a new CX commuter was buying one without disc brakes. If you’re going to be riding in the rain, try to at least test ride something with discs and see how you like it.

[jrenaut]

@TwoWheelsDC 49769 wrote:

One thing I regret when buying a new CX commuter was buying one without disc brakes. If you’re going to be riding in the rain, try to at least test ride something with discs and see how you like it.

I covet disc brakes, but couldn’t find anything in my price range that had them. Maybe next bike . . .

[vvill]

I was considering the 2012 (orange) model of this for quite awhile, but no local shops seem to stock them on the floor. I saw some on ebay for several hundred less than retail a few months ago and was still tempted…

[mstone]

@vvill 49775 wrote:

I was considering the 2012 (orange) model of this for quite awhile, but no local shops seem to stock them on the floor. I saw some on ebay for several hundred less than retail a few months ago and was still tempted…

I liked the looks on that one a lot, but then read that the tire clearance is actually pretty limited (which seems nuts on a bike positioned like that one).

[vvill]

The 2012 model (which is the one I actually researched) seemed to have plenty. But yeah that’s a peeve of mine that “38 or 35 with fenders!” is often claimed as a generous tire clearance.
(Those are 28s in there apparently)

[ebubar]

@TwoWheelsDC 49769 wrote:

One thing I regret when buying a new CX commuter was buying one without disc brakes. If you’re going to be riding in the rain, try to at least test ride something with discs and see how you like it.

I really liked the disc brakes on the kona rove, but way out of my price range. This is why I’m hunting for a 2013 Jake. In my price range, with disc brakes and good components from what my feeble research suggests! Just need to see if its much less comfy compared to the Volpe.

[mstone]

@vvill 49781 wrote:

The 2012 model (which is the one I actually researched) seemed to have plenty.

Oh yeah, that looks fine. I’d read it was in the low 30s, which is why I was like “?”.

[bikenurse]

@ebubar 49793 wrote:

I really liked the disc brakes on the kona rove, but way out of my price range. This is why I’m hunting for a 2013 Jake. In my price range, with disc brakes and good components from what my feeble research suggests! Just need to see if its much less comfy compared to the Volpe.

No 2013 Jakes available right now – but I’ve got one on back order! –Laurie

[vvill]

@ebubar 49793 wrote:

I really liked the disc brakes on the kona rove, but way out of my price range. This is why I’m hunting for a 2013 Jake. In my price range, with disc brakes and good components from what my feeble research suggests! Just need to see if its much less comfy compared to the Volpe.

I have 1000 miles on my 2013 Jake I haven’t had a steel bike in ages so I can’t really compare, but I will say with an all aluminum fork it’s less comfy than my road bike with carbon fork and seat stays, assuming you have the same tires on each – I have run 23s on the Jake before. With 32s/lower PSI though it’s not as big a deal.

[culimerc]

I Heart My Vaya its a little on the heavy side, but for a commuter-light tourer, its great. It works as a CX racer, but only barely.

[ebubar]

@vvill 49844 wrote:

I have 1000 miles on my 2013 Jake I haven’t had a steel bike in ages so I can’t really compare, but I will say with an all aluminum fork it’s less comfy than my road bike with carbon fork and seat stays, assuming you have the same tires on each – I have run 23s on the Jake before. With 32s/lower PSI though it’s not as big a deal.

Interesting to hear. I’m wondering how much I can smooth the ride on the Jake with slightly fatter lower PSI tires. I’m liking the idea of a lighter, more “racy” bike with disc brakes that I can abuse a little bit more. Plus its $150 cheaper than the Volpe and includes a lifetime frame warranty. Oh first world problems of shopping for new bikes!

[ebubar]

@culimerc 49852 wrote:

I Heart My Vaya its a little on the heavy side, but for a commuter-light tourer, its great. It works as a CX racer, but only barely.

Looks nice, but I think its out of my price range. The Volpe actually is at 1299. I’ll just have to do a lot more housework to convince the wife that I need it :p

I could really use that study I read about on a thread about how people on CX bikes are like 85% safer on roads…Maybe I’ll write it under a pseudonym…Sir Bikey von Cyclepants…

[TwoWheelsDC]

@ebubar 49867 wrote:

Looks nice, but I think its out of my price range. The Volpe actually is at 1299. I’ll just have to do a lot more housework to convince the wife that I need it :p

I could really use that study I read about on a thread about how people on CX bikes are like 85% safer on roads…Maybe I’ll write it under a pseudonym…Sir Bikey von Cyclepants…

Don’t forget the Raleigh Roper. Sometimes I kick myself for not trying one out. REI carries them, so you can get a bike and a dividend rebate!

http://www.raleighusa.com/archive/2012-steel-road/roper-12/

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