Birthday--new bike

[Andy Taylor]

Yesterday was my 38th birthday. I have been talking about getting a bicycle for a few months. Our church is staring a riding group. The first ride is Saturday. I was planning on borrowing my step dad's bike so I could go. I haven't ridden since I got my driver's license at age 16. Back then I had a Schwinn Mesa Runner ten speed. I don't even recall what happened to that bike.
Anyway when I got home from work yesterday my wife asked me to go to the grocery store with her. The bike shop is in the same shopping center as the grocery store. When we pull into the parking lot she says we should stop and look at bikes for our son. His birthday is next month. So we go in. The guy behind the counter asks if he can help us. I start to tell him about our son's birthday and my wife goes toward the bikes and says "Honey, look at this one." Well I look and here is a blue bike with a "Happy Birthday" ribbon on it. Turns out it was to big for me, a 20". I need an 18.5". He says he has one in the warehouse, according to his computer and can have it for me tomorrow. I ask why bikes no longer have kickstands. He says for some types of bikes it is better, for this or that but on this type, a "comfort street" he realy doesn't know. He can add one for $8. I say please do. We leave and get a phone call on the way home. It is the bike shop. He is appologizing because his computer was wrong and he is sold out. This was an '08 model so they are gone. He ordered the '09 for me, and will let us have it at the quoted '08 price. they no longer make it in blue. It is available in black or green. He ordered both and I can have my pick when they get here on Friday. He will also through in the kickstand for free. I could tell he felt really bad about the whole situation. I told him that sounded fine.
The bike is a Jamis Citizen 1, with 21 speeds. I have never heard of this brand, but I am not a bicycle kind of guy. The guys in the shop said it is a good brand.
Here is a link to the company's website.
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/...zen/09_citizen1.html

Anyone here have any experience with this bike, or Jamis in general.

 

[Andy Taylor]

Yesterday was my 38th birthday. I have been talking about getting a bicycle for a few months. Our church is staring a riding group. The first ride is Saturday. I was planning on borrowing my step dad's bike so I could go. I haven't ridden since I got my driver's license at age 16. Back then I had a Schwinn Mesa Runner ten speed. I don't even recall what happened to that bike.
Anyway when I got home from work yesterday my wife asked me to go to the grocery store with her. The bike shop is in the same shopping center as the grocery store. When we pull into the parking lot she says we should stop and look at bikes for our son. His birthday is next month. So we go in. The guy behind the counter asks if he can help us. I start to tell him about our son's birthday and my wife goes toward the bikes and says "Honey, look at this one." Well I look and here is a blue bike with a "Happy Birthday" ribbon on it. Turns out it was to big for me, a 20". I need an 18.5". He says he has one in the warehouse, according to his computer and can have it for me tomorrow. I ask why bikes no longer have kickstands. He says for some types of bikes it is better, for this or that but on this type, a "comfort street" he realy doesn't know. He can add one for $8. I say please do. We leave and get a phone call on the way home. It is the bike shop. He is appologizing because his computer was wrong and he is sold out. This was an '08 model so they are gone. He ordered the '09 for me, and will let us have it at the quoted '08 price. they no longer make it in blue. It is available in black or green. He ordered both and I can have my pick when they get here on Friday. He will also through in the kickstand for free. I could tell he felt really bad about the whole situation. I told him that sounded fine.
The bike is a Jamis Citizen 1, with 21 speeds. I have never heard of this brand, but I am not a bicycle kind of guy. The guys in the shop said it is a good brand.
Here is a link to the company's website.
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/...zen/09_citizen1.html

Anyone here have any experience with this bike, or Jamis in general.

 

[zercool]

Nice ride!

I've heard the Jamis name but don't really know anything about them. The specs look decent, you should have a great cruiser! Enjoy!

 

[ncy54]

Decent bike, falls into the hybrid category, and illustrative of the nice, general purpose bikes available today. Jamis makes a comprehensive line of road, mountain, and hybrid bikes, made in China or Taiwan, like most brands these days. The wife and I have a pair of similar Specialized brand hybrids for noodling around.
The level of features and materials at this price point would be impossible just a decade ago.
Components at your price point are usually Japanese branded (Shimano), but built in one of the two countries listed above.
Manufacturers have built state of the art factories in China, especially, trained the workers properly, and have virtually everything built there. Costs to them are tiny compared to having things made here.
Quality is fine, unless you buy a "department store" brand, where you take your chances to save a few bucks.
Even the top line models of most brands are at least partially made in China. If you want an all "american-made" bike today they don't exist, in practical terms.
Even at my son's shop, their hand-made custom Independent Fabrications frames may use foreign manufactured tubing and many of the components (shifters, brakes, wheels, etc.) are from Japan or Italy. Quality, materials, and technical innovation at this level (complete bikes run $6k to $10k) is outstanding
Most of this stuff is just not available in the US, except for some niche component makers who make specialized items.
N. Young
www.cycles54.com

 

[M29since14]

Agree with Ncy54. In some things, foreign is just impossible to avoid (bikes, cameras, electronics, etc.) and the level of quality can be very good. We've done it to ourselves.

I ride a Trek 7300 hybrid that was among the last U.S.-made frames in that style/model. My kids ride identical 7300s, purchased a few years later - frames made in China.

All components on both bikes are foreign. I am not even sure if SRAM is making anything in the U.S. any more. I believe at one time, they were.

The positive thing here is that you appear to have purchased from a real bike shop (thank you!

), not the big box stores who sell bikes with the same level of skill and dedication they sell paper towels and frozen foods. You've done yourself a huge favor, which you will understand as soon as your bike needs a thorough tune-up. (Big boxes don't true wheels, or do much of anything else.)

Hope you enjoy that bike.

 

[tom turner]

Hi,

Congratulations on your new bike. It is absolutely PERFECT for your "comeback rider" needs. Absolutely PERFECT.

You did it right . . .

1. Went to a real bike shop
2. Got fitted for the right sized frame and type of bike you need, etc.
3. They also sold you the RIGHT type of bike for you needs.
4. Best of all, it's no 35 pound "lead sled," ill-fitting bike from a big box retailer. Those ruin so many people from enjoying the benefits of cycling.

Instead, yours is reasonably light (hugely important), has 700C wheels, suspension front fork and seat stem, and a proper type "big-azz seat for a comeback rider. Also hugely important, the frame geometry will allow you to ride in a more comfortable position. Another name for this type of bike is a "comfort bike." Although this term is an oxymoron, it IS pretty accurate . . . and you'll soon fall in love with this bike!

WHAT'S MISSING . . .

Two recommendations:

1. Get mountain bike petals and bike shoes that allow you to "click in" to the petals. This will allow you to both push DOWN on the petals just like you always have but, MORE IMPORTANTLY, you'll also be able to use your legs in lifting UP.

You'll tone your legs fully this way and develop a lot more power, speed and stamina.

Downside? You'll have to practice "clipping in" and out of the petals. They'll show you how at the shop. You might even stop on an early ride and tip over to the side . . . because you forgot to clip out before you stopped the bike. No big deal except your pride. Truly, you will soon be moving to this type petal if you don't from the start. There's really no better way to ride!


2. GET YOUR WIFE ONE TOO . . . and ride together if possible! My wife and I did this on bikes similar to yours and it was like dating again after 30 years. The time you two spend together will be magical. She soon had lost a lot of weight . . . and was down to LESS than she was when we got married in 1973. We both felt a lot better too. Fifty mile rides were soon the norm!!!

RON JAMIS . . . THE FOUNDER . . .

I actually KNEW Ron Jamis about 30 years ago when he was just starting his company while living in Tallahassee Florida. Nice guy . . . but he's long ago been bought out after his bikes made a reputation for being a fine bike at good price points.

BACK TO YOUR BIKE
You will love that bike. Hopefully you've also purchased a good-fitting "brain bucket" too. As my wife found out, you never have a warning when you need it. There's no way I'd ride without one. EVER!

Enjoy!

Tom

WARNING . . . like S&W revolvers . . . bikes are addictive! We now have sleek road bikes that are light as a feather and more "aggressive" in the position it places the rider for aerodynamics, speed and power. But . . . we still love our "comfort bikes" for all those times when we just want to relax and tool around on leisurely rides in town OR in the country!

You made the RIGHT purchase!

T.

 

[M29since14]

Tom's right about pedals and shoes, but you better ride for a bit before you do that. Those are a little tricky if you have to deal with things like dogs, stop lights, kids running out in front of you, city traffic, parking lots, etc. Not much fun to walk on cleats too, if you are going to need to walk any distance at all.

Best to try them in a controlled environment and be sure you are comfortable with them before you buy. Your bike store man can watch you ride and tell you whether you are ready for them or not. The mental prep is up to you. If you ride in a "hazard rich" environment, I would avoid the things altogether.

There are a lot of brands, and like anything else, some are better than others. I have LOOKs on my road bike and have always liked them, but they are old school. Try several different brands and, for a recreational street rider, see which one you can get out of quickly and easily. Unless you become a very athletic rider, getting out fast is a lot more important than how easily you can clip in. It's almost like the safety on a gun. There is always plenty of time to clip in, but when you want out, you may want out really, really fast.

JMHO, FWIW.

Happy 38!

 

[labworm]

You've done well, buying the hybrid for the type of riding I think you will be doing.

Great for general pavement and dirt path riding.

Your not going mountain climbing or entering in the Tour de France, so once again you made the right choice.

Don't start spending money on extras until you have ridden it for at least a month.

One of the best ways to exercise without damaging the body, believe me you will really notice the new life your body will receive.

Good luck, have fun, and stay safe. I always where my helmet, got to protect the old squash.

 

[Roose Hurro]

Sounds like you have a good bike coming soon. Mine is a 2002 Bianchi Milano, and I've never regretted buying it. (Pic is a 2003 model in black, mine is Celeste...)

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[Marshwheeling]

That looks like a nice bike. I stick with the 3-speeds, like my DL-1 rod-braker:
http://img357.imageshack.us/im.../6011/img0646wl5.jpg

 

[Andy Taylor]

Thanks for all the info guys. I knew there would be bicycle people on this forum.
We learned the Real Bike Shop vs Target/Wal-Mart etc. lesson a few years back when we bought a bike at Target for our son. Parts were falling off the first time he rode the bike, just up the street and back. No stunts or such as Mom and I were watching.
I will mostly be riding around our nieghborhood and it is fairly flat. We will see how this bike group at church goes. Sacramento has some pretty good bike trails.

 

[labworm]

Originally posted by Lucky Derby:
Thanks for all the info guys. I knew there would be bicycle people on this forum.
We learned the Real Bike Shop vs Target/Wal-Mart etc. lesson a few years back when we bought a bike at Target for our son. Parts were falling off the first time he rode the bike, just up the street and back. No stunts or such as Mom and I were watching.
I will mostly be riding around our nieghborhood and it is fairly flat. We will see how this bike group at church goes. Sacramento has some pretty good bike trails.

You will enjoy yourself, you definitely are going to get flashbacks from your childhood while cruising along.

 

[Andy Taylor]

There are a lot of flashbacks to be had. From when I was 6 thill about 14 if I wasn't on a bike, it meant that I was in school, or a swimming pool, or in winter, sliding down a hill on a sled at the Sunnyside City Park.