It's all downhill (then uphill, then down again)
I'd been wanting a nicer bike than my ElCheapo Walmart/Target type bike for a couple of years, even though it did fit what I used it for, and now I've got one.
A Jamis Dakar XLT 20th Anniversary Edition (the 2005 model) to be exact.
Now that I'm in Colorado, I want to start riding more interesting terrain, and my heavy, rigid frame bike just wasn't going to cut it.
I originally intended to get a hardtail because the full suspensions were a bit more than I wanted to spend.
I'd rather have a nicer frame hardtail with good components than a decent full-sus frame with lower quality components.
I spent about two weeks browsing sites for specs and visiting local shops to test ride what they had and found that I liked the fit of Giant bicycles.
Their price point wasn't too bad and they really did fit me well.
I went to Ute City Cycles here in Aspen, but was unimpressed with them because they didn't carry any hardtails in stock.
After meeting Chris at the Carbondale store, my attitude changed.
I had been to pretty much every LBS in the valley and was leaning towards a Specialized bike, either the Rockhopper Comp Disc or the FSR-XC, or maybe a Giant Pistol.
Even though I only spent about 45 seconds in the Aspen store, I realized that I should check them out because as my roommate said, I should try as many bikes as possible (since I'm basically a newbie and he's done road racing and coaching of riding teams, I figure I ought to listen to him).
The Carbondale store is bigger than the Aspen store, and they were 30 seconds from another shop I had been to.
I told Chris what I was looking to spend and he showed me a couple of hardtail bikes in that range, and like any other salesman worth their salt, tried to upsell.
I knew I could afford the few extra bucks, it was just a matter of whether I wanted to afford it.
Chris spent a lot of time talking to me and was very helpful in answering questions that I had.
After I first test rode the Dakar, I had asked a few questions and then asked, essentially, 'If I were to buy this bike, is there anything you would suggest upgrading straight away?'.
The only thing he suggested would be the hubs and rims, the whole wheel essentially.
He basically said 'Sure, the stock equipment isn't top of the line, but it's good quality stuff. When you've worn down the stock gear, then yeah, let's upgrade a couple things.'
He gave me exactly the answer I suspected from my research and my roomie's advice.
I knew that anything I bought (or even considered buying) would be such a huge improvement over what I had, I wouldn't notice any difference between the best parts and the step or two down that would be on what I bought.
I knew before asking that I couldn't afford both the bike and new wheels, so that's going to wait for a season or two.
Maybe I'll upgrade the SRAM X7 shifters to X9, go tubeless on the tires, some clipless pedals, a different saddle, a different rear shock, or some other little improvement later this season or next, but for now, I'm happy with what I've got.
I pretty much knew that was the bike I wanted.
I went home to compare the Dakar with everything else I'd seen (I'd even made a spreadsheet to compare everything), and sleep on it.
I called the shop the next morning and told Chris to put it up on the rack and give it a once-over because I'd be there in about an hour to pick it up.
They did a great job setting up the machine for me, adjusting the shift levers, brake levers, saddle, derailers, and rear shock to give me a good fit that felt like I wanted it to.
He asked if I needed any other parts or accessories and I just couldn't think of anything I needed.
After thinking for a few minutes and nothing coming to mind, I thought a shock pump for the rear shock might be good, since it's an air preload type (Fox Float R) and he said I didn't really need one, but if I'd had an air fork, then yeah, I ought to get one.
And if I needed any adjustment on it, I could very easily go and have it done at the store in Aspen.
How's that for honesty?
I highly recommend paying Chris a visit if you're in the area and looking for a bike.
And so far, I'm really diggin' this bike.
As they told me at the shop, Jamis makes a quality bike, they just don't spend as much money on advertising as some other companies, and so they add value to their bikes with better components.
I'd love to stay and chat more, but there's a trail somewhere calling my name.
A Jamis Dakar XLT 20th Anniversary Edition (the 2005 model) to be exact.
Now that I'm in Colorado, I want to start riding more interesting terrain, and my heavy, rigid frame bike just wasn't going to cut it.
I originally intended to get a hardtail because the full suspensions were a bit more than I wanted to spend.
I'd rather have a nicer frame hardtail with good components than a decent full-sus frame with lower quality components.
I spent about two weeks browsing sites for specs and visiting local shops to test ride what they had and found that I liked the fit of Giant bicycles.
Their price point wasn't too bad and they really did fit me well.
I went to Ute City Cycles here in Aspen, but was unimpressed with them because they didn't carry any hardtails in stock.
After meeting Chris at the Carbondale store, my attitude changed.
I had been to pretty much every LBS in the valley and was leaning towards a Specialized bike, either the Rockhopper Comp Disc or the FSR-XC, or maybe a Giant Pistol.
Even though I only spent about 45 seconds in the Aspen store, I realized that I should check them out because as my roommate said, I should try as many bikes as possible (since I'm basically a newbie and he's done road racing and coaching of riding teams, I figure I ought to listen to him).
The Carbondale store is bigger than the Aspen store, and they were 30 seconds from another shop I had been to.
I told Chris what I was looking to spend and he showed me a couple of hardtail bikes in that range, and like any other salesman worth their salt, tried to upsell.
I knew I could afford the few extra bucks, it was just a matter of whether I wanted to afford it.
Chris spent a lot of time talking to me and was very helpful in answering questions that I had.
After I first test rode the Dakar, I had asked a few questions and then asked, essentially, 'If I were to buy this bike, is there anything you would suggest upgrading straight away?'.
The only thing he suggested would be the hubs and rims, the whole wheel essentially.
He basically said 'Sure, the stock equipment isn't top of the line, but it's good quality stuff. When you've worn down the stock gear, then yeah, let's upgrade a couple things.'
He gave me exactly the answer I suspected from my research and my roomie's advice.
I knew that anything I bought (or even considered buying) would be such a huge improvement over what I had, I wouldn't notice any difference between the best parts and the step or two down that would be on what I bought.
I knew before asking that I couldn't afford both the bike and new wheels, so that's going to wait for a season or two.
Maybe I'll upgrade the SRAM X7 shifters to X9, go tubeless on the tires, some clipless pedals, a different saddle, a different rear shock, or some other little improvement later this season or next, but for now, I'm happy with what I've got.
I pretty much knew that was the bike I wanted.
I went home to compare the Dakar with everything else I'd seen (I'd even made a spreadsheet to compare everything), and sleep on it.
I called the shop the next morning and told Chris to put it up on the rack and give it a once-over because I'd be there in about an hour to pick it up.
They did a great job setting up the machine for me, adjusting the shift levers, brake levers, saddle, derailers, and rear shock to give me a good fit that felt like I wanted it to.
He asked if I needed any other parts or accessories and I just couldn't think of anything I needed.
After thinking for a few minutes and nothing coming to mind, I thought a shock pump for the rear shock might be good, since it's an air preload type (Fox Float R) and he said I didn't really need one, but if I'd had an air fork, then yeah, I ought to get one.
And if I needed any adjustment on it, I could very easily go and have it done at the store in Aspen.
How's that for honesty?
I highly recommend paying Chris a visit if you're in the area and looking for a bike.
And so far, I'm really diggin' this bike.
As they told me at the shop, Jamis makes a quality bike, they just don't spend as much money on advertising as some other companies, and so they add value to their bikes with better components.
I'd love to stay and chat more, but there's a trail somewhere calling my name.
posted by urbnsol at 1:02 PM
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