Shop Talk Blog
2016 Jamis Models in Stock
It's a pretty exciting time of the year for us at Eddie's Bikes right now. New 2016 Jamis models are rolling in, and we've got more than a few hot bikes on the sales floor right now, ready for test rides! This is a big year for Jamis; they've released a lot of super cool and exciting bikes this year. First up is their eagerly anticipated 26" fat bike, the Roughneck, and at only $1699, it's bound to attract some attention. Then, there's the 'sort of fat bike,' the 650B plus-sized Dragonslayer, adventure mountain bike steel hardtail which is bound to be a quiver-killer. The Dragonslayer is easily one the most sought after bikes of the entire 2016 Jamis line-up. It's 650 plus tires are faster than a fat bike, but still have enough volume to roll smoothly over nearly any terrain. Then, there's the Defcon series, Jamis's interpretation of a do-anything and do-everything enduro rig, that climbs nearly as well as it descends. We just got Defcon 3's in stock, and they look way better in person than we thought they did in the catalog! On the road side of things, the new steel adventure road bikes are available now; the Renegade Expat and the Exploit. The two full carbon models ( Elite and Expert ) have done really well for Jamis last year, and the reviews have been stellar, so Jamis expanded the category to include the two steel models, and one more aluminum entry-level model, the Exile ( which replaced the very popular Nova Sport. ) Exiles are not in stock yet, but will be very soon. But, the Expat is in stock and is ready for test riding, and for just $1199, it is a whole lot of bike! For more info on any of these great bikes, please visit www.jamisbikes.com Renegade Expat - adventure road bike - Reynolds 520 double butted chromoly steel w/ Size Specific Tubing Diameters  Renegade Exile - entry level aluminum adventure road bike  Renegade Elite - Jamis' top of the line adventure road bike, full carbon frame and fork.  | Roughneck - 26" Fat Bike - perfect for snow, sand, or riding wherever you want - no need for trails anymore.  Dragonslayer - 650 Plus - perfect for mountain biking or adventure mountain biking, load it up and have an adventure.  Dragonslayer ( adventure mode ) - this image gives you an idea of what the bike might look like if you set it up for a bikepacking trip.  Defcon 3 - 160mm Enduro - the Defcon is a no holds barred approach to aggressive trail riding. Park-riding, enduro, trail, all-mountain- the Defcon has you covered. If you like to do it all, FAST, then this is your bike.  |
What is 650B MTB?
One of the hot new mountain bikes trends is the 650B MTB. Its just another mountain bike wheel size. Bigger than 26" but smaller than a 29er. 650B mountain bike wheels are approx. 27.5" in diameter. It is also commonly referred to as the "tweener" wheel size. A lot of folks jumped on board the 29er wheel size a while back. But some mountain bikers, who may like the idea of a bigger wheel, and understand the clear advantages a bigger wheel brings, may not be totally stoked about the size of the big 29" hoops.
26" MTB is All but Dead
Most everyone is done with 26" wheels for mountain biking, but not all. The exception being just a few types of riders of course, like downhillers, dirtjumpers, and a few hardcore dudes with awesome 26" bikes they won't let go of. And comfort mountain bikes will likely keep rolling on 26ers. A new line of youth bikes from Jamis has adopted the 26" wheel. But, for the most part, the 26" mountain bike has given way to the 29er.
The 29er Reigns Supreme but...
29ers do have some clear advantages of which most mountain bikers are already well aware. 29" wheels have more traction, and once up to speed, its hard to slow them down. Its easier to maintain your momentum once you get going. Roots and rocks just do not slow you down because of that increased obstacle rollover. The 29er also has more bottom bracket drop, which lowers the center of gravity, making the 29er very stable. All of these things make the 29er pretty awesome. But, despite the clear advantages, 29" wheels are unwieldy for some short riders on smaller frames. Most mountain bikers like to be able to move the bike under them easily while carving up some trail, and 29ers are not very flickable. Those 29" monster hoops also do not jump well, they are harder to pump through sections of trail, harder to get around tight switchbacks, and they do not accelerate as quickly as 26" wheels did. So we have a dilemma, one wheel is too small, and the other might be too big.
Flickable is a term used by people to sound overly sophisticated when describing the handling of a mountain bike or motorcycle." For example, "A 26er has more flickability because all 29ers handle like dump trucks!" -Urban Dictionary 
650B is Just Right
So both wheel sizes, 26" and 29", have distinct advantages and disadvantages. What if there was a wheel right in the middle? Can a happy medium exist between too big, and too little? It only seems logical, right? The 650B, or 27.5, wheel size is promising to be the best of both worlds, or wheels, er, ...whatever, you get the point. 650B MTB has all the advantages of the big and little hoops, combined into one lovely wheel size. A wheel size that not only feels right, but also allows for more room in bicycle frames for tire clearances, front derailleurs, and more travel in full-suspension frames. These are great advantages in bicycle design.
So, 650B resides right in the middle of all. Promising good obstacle roll-over, good traction, better handling, more flickability, more forgiveness in frame design, and more choices for mountain bikers. Our opinion on this wheel size debate, is that every rider needs to make up their own mind. Listen to all the hype, and then test ride some bikes. Try the 29er, and then try the 650B, and see what feels better to you. It seems taller riders like the 29ers and shorter riders like the 650B. So, height is a consideration, but not the only one. Your choice should also influenced by the terrain you plan to ride the most. If you're just want to roll gravel roads or ride long XC routes, a twentyniner might be best. If you want to pump through sections of trail, catch air wherever you can, and you value maneuverability above obstacle rollover, then a 650B might be best. Personally, I am 6' tall, and I like both wheel sizes. But, my choice of terrain determines the bike I ride. Rothrock is a great place to ride, but its rocky, and I prefer the 29er hardtail over a 650B hardtail out there. If the 650B is full-suspension with 130mm front and rear, well then that changes my decision significantly. A 650B dualie is a pretty formidable weapon on any trail. Its maneuverable, its plush, it jumps, it carves, it is awesome. On a 650B MTB with full suspension the small decrease in obstacle rollover is alleviated the the rear travel.
Jamis Bikes has a Big Headstart
So, if you are looking to try out a 650B mountain bike, come see us and try out a Jamis! www.jamisbikes.com
And now, a look at the future... the 650 plus adventure mountain bike... the Dragonslayer.
650B wheels with 3" wide tires.
Thousands of trails, hundreds of resources for your next epic ride! IMBA Destinations!
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Jamis Renegade Adventure Road Bikes Are In Stock NOW!
The Renegade has come to Eddie's Bicycles! Its very easily one of the most highly anticipated Jamis bikes of all time. And the Jamis Renegade certainly does not disappoint. Jamis definitely did their homework when they designed this bike! "...this bike is ready for back roads, beat up streets, dirt paths...you name it." There weren't too many choices up until this point for cyclists who wanted a lightweight drop bar road bike that can truly go anywhere and do most anything. Say "hello" to the Renegade. A true to form, lightweight adventure road bike suited for mixed terrain routes and bike packing and touring and commuting and touring and... the list goes on and on. This is not a cyclocross bike. The Renegades strength lies in its 'long and low' endurance inspired geometry. Adventure bikes are equipped with disc brakes, for dependable all weather braking performance. They also have the ability to run a full bodied 40c tire for true off-road adventure capability. But, if you want to do the local road race on the weekend, then swap those 40c tires for something in a 25c tire. If you want to commute to work once in a while, then try a 35c tire with full wrap fenders. There are plenty of options with just one bike. Hidden rack mounts and removable fender mounts make all of this possible without detracting from the simple beauty of the unadulterated bike. Just recently, Jamis completely updated their website, and they did a fantastic job. Check out the adventure category webpage... just follow the link. Adventure Bikes So far, the new carbon adventure bike from Jamis is being highly praised by a number of different publications. If you're interested in reading some reviews, you'll find them below. |     |
BionX bikes Introduction and Overview
BionX electric bikes are so fun and easy to use, anyone can enjoy the benefits from the pedal assisted BionX system. Check out the short video below
, to introduce yourself to quite possibly the easiest to use electric bike system in the world. If you like what you see, come down to the shop and test ride a BionX equipped bicycle today! Learn more about BionX in some of our previous blog posts...
, to introduce yourself to quite possibly the easiest to use electric bike system in the world. If you like what you see, come down to the shop and test ride a BionX equipped bicycle today! Learn more about BionX in some of our previous blog posts... The BionX Jamis Coda Sport Electric BicycleDon't pass up the chance to test ride a BionX electric bicycle! Stop and visit us anytime!
Road Bike Party 2
The BionX Jamis Coda Sport Electric Bicycle
The Jamis Coda Sport has been our best-selling bicycle for 4 years running. The Jamis Coda is the perfect choice for just about everyone, whether its their only bike, or their second, or possibly third bike. It is a 700c flat bar hybrid with a steel frame, a rigid fork, and a multi-speed drivetrain. Coda's are great for road riding, gravel riding, fitness riding, light touring, commuting, and path or rails-to-trails riding. The only thing the Coda cannot do is go mountain biking. The Coda's versatility made it an excellent choice for a fast, long range, efficient electric bike. The BionX installed easily on the Coda Sport's roomy steel frame. There was no need to mount the battery to a rear rack, like we did on the Hudson. The down tube mounted battery fits easily inside the main triangle of the Coda. The control console looks nice and svelte centered on the narrow flat handlebar with a Problem Solvers accessory mount. The connecting cables were barely noticeable once everything was all hooked up. The Coda seemed like it was meant for a BionX. We couldn't wait to test ride it! The abilities of the Coda during the initial test ride were immediately apparent. It definitely accelerated faster than the Hudson; it was ridiculously quick and easy to reach top speed at 20 mph. The motor was obviously working less with the skinnier 700c high pressure tires. The Coda's riding position is also more aero than the Hudson cruiser, so that also meant less work for the motor, which conserves battery life. Now, the BionX system stops "assisting" the rider after the bicycle reaches 20 mph. On the BionX Hudson, it was difficult to maintain speeds above 20 mph once the BionX assist cuts off. But on the Coda, it was much easier to maintain speeds above twenty mph after the assist cut off. I liked the fact that I could make the Coda go faster if I wanted to really work for it. After longer test rides, it was obvious that the battery was using less charge than the Hudson. I have been commuting back and forth to work on the BionX Coda demo bike for a few weeks now, and I must say, it has been a supremely pleasant experience. I have a big hill to climb on the way to work, and on the way home, and sprinting uphill at 20 mph is certainly more fun than slugging along at 8 or 10 mph. I love cycling, but sometimes, after a long day at work, I just want to zip on home and relax, and not mash up some hill with my last remaining bit of energy. On especially cold days, its painful to breathe really hard, the BionX has been a lifesaver, giving you that much needed boost. Its also nice when I sleep in, and must make it to work quickly, the BionX is never groggy. Another cool thing about the BionX is using the regenerative braking to slow myself down going downhill, especially in the snow and ice. Braking can cause the wheel to slide, using the regenerative braking allows the ride to slow down the bike without the risk of the wheel sliding. This is ideal for winter riding. Basically, I put the BionX in Generation Mode, and the bike coasts downhill at a very controllable pace. You can control your speed going downhill without using the hand brakes at all. This is good for prolonging the life of your brake pads, and keeping maintenance costs low. Not only that, but you're recharging your battery at the same time. The BionX system is a very intelligent way to travel by bike. Speaking of traveling by bike, one of the nice things I noticed while riding in traffic is that its easier to keep up with the speed of automobile traffic downtown. I felt that motorists were giving me more passing room out of respect for the obvious speed I was traveling at. I did not feel like I was "...in the way." Instead, I was keeping up, and sometimes keeping ahead of traffic. This made me feel confident being on the road alongside automobiles. You almost feel like you're in a car on a BionX, except you still have all the advantages of being on a bicycle. Ride on sidewalks, ride around campus, use the bicycle rack, do all the things an unassisted bike can do, but also keep up with cars most of the time, too. I took a ride not too long ago right after Christmas, just for fun. It was a brisk, windy day and I ended up doing about 15 miles. I was just looking to get out of the house, get some fresh air, get a little exercise, and have some fun. My ride on the BionX Coda was the perfect choice. I had a beautiful time just zipping along the bike path enjoying the scenery. I went up and over any and all hills with ease, allowing me to just focus on enjoying myself and the beautiful scenery around me. Even though I was riding fast, I was not overexerting myself, even pedaling into a headwind, going uphill. This is great for winter riding, since the last thing you want to do is start sweating under multiple layers of warm clothing. I am a strong rider, and I certainly don't need a BionX to get around, or go uphill, but I was really surprised by how much I was enjoying the ride on the BionX Coda. Its not being lazy. That was my misconception. You still have to work. Its just that with a BionX, your work now has a higher output. Its like boosting your return on investment. You pedal your normal amount, except you get a lot more out of what you're putting in. For me, it was nice that day to cover a lot of ground on a cold day, get out of the house, get a little exercise, but not be killing myself to do it. I love the BionX system, and I am saving up for one myself. Hopefully, around tax return time, I'll have my own. I am looking forward to long rides on the fire roads in Rothrock State Forest. I think a nice leisurely ride to Whipple's Dam would be a lot of fun. |    |
The BionX Hudson Sport Electric Bicycle
BionX e-bike technology is the most intuitive and easy-to-use in the world. Adding only a few Kg’s to your bicycle, the BionX system works seamlessly with you as you pedal. The control processor continuously analyzes your torque input and feeds that information to the motor, which applies electric assist in proportion to how hard you are pedaling. The harder you pedal, the more torque the system senses, and the more electric assist you get. The power is seamlessly applied and never distracting, so you can just enjoy the ride.This first unit we installed on a Jamis Hudson Sport, and it is the BionX S-350 RX. The S-350 RX has a 65mi range with a 48V Lithium Ion battery rated at 8.8Ah 423Wh. Its nominal and maximum torque is 6.6/29.5 lb-ft. Since this Hudson Sport has a step-thru frame, which prevents a downtube mounted battery, this rear rack mounted BionX kit was ideal. We stock both rear rack and down tube mounted kits.
You just won't believe how smooth and seamless a BionX motor kit feels on a bicycle. The torque sensor is incredibly sensitive, which gives the rider immense control over the system. A small increase in pedaling force, and the motor starts helping you along a little bit. A larger increase in pedaling force, and the motor helps a great deal more. Nothing feels more natural. The BionX pedal assist offers 4 modes. In the first mode, the motor increases your input by 35%, which is great for riding on level ground. In the second assist mode, the motor's level of assist is 75%, great for slight inclines, or riding into headwinds. The third level of assistance goes to 150%, ideal for steep hills or strong headwinds. The fourth assistance level gives you a proportional assistance of 300%, which is obviously great for very steep hills... and just ripping along and having fun!
In addition to 4 levels of assistance, the BionX also has 4 levels of resistance, where the motor will actually generate electricity instead of using it, thereby charging the battery. This feature lets you do a couple of things. First, you can slow the bike down without risking the rear wheel loosing traction. This is great for steep descents. Secondly, in generate mode, you can pedal hard downhill and recharge your battery; this can help extend the range of a single charge of the battery. Generate mode lets you get a great workout going downhill while replenishing your battery.
Obviously, test riding a BionX bicycle is the best way to see what an e-bike can do for you. Its hard to fully conceptualize how cool riding an e-bike really is until you try it. Admittedly, at first, I was extraordinarily skeptical of the e-bike. My first misconception was that an e-bike might make me lazy. However, after test riding one, I found that to be completely untrue. Since the BionX is pedal assist, you're still working to get from point A to point B, you can just go faster on an e-bike with the same level of input. But you're not really working any less, just going faster. Additionally, if you switch the BionX to Generate Mode, where the motor actually slows the bike down and puts electricity back into the battery, it takes much greater effort to pedal the bicycle in this mode...hence, you get an even better workout going downhill.
So, we just finished building a BionX demo-bike, installed on a Jamis Hudson Sport, a 26" wheeled comfort cruiser bike. A second e-bike demo is on the way, except this one will be on a 700c flat bar hybrid, a Jamis Coda Sport. Stop down, check them out, and take one for spin.
You just won't believe how smooth and seamless a BionX motor kit feels on a bicycle. The torque sensor is incredibly sensitive, which gives the rider immense control over the system. A small increase in pedaling force, and the motor starts helping you along a little bit. A larger increase in pedaling force, and the motor helps a great deal more. Nothing feels more natural. The BionX pedal assist offers 4 modes. In the first mode, the motor increases your input by 35%, which is great for riding on level ground. In the second assist mode, the motor's level of assist is 75%, great for slight inclines, or riding into headwinds. The third level of assistance goes to 150%, ideal for steep hills or strong headwinds. The fourth assistance level gives you a proportional assistance of 300%, which is obviously great for very steep hills... and just ripping along and having fun!
In addition to 4 levels of assistance, the BionX also has 4 levels of resistance, where the motor will actually generate electricity instead of using it, thereby charging the battery. This feature lets you do a couple of things. First, you can slow the bike down without risking the rear wheel loosing traction. This is great for steep descents. Secondly, in generate mode, you can pedal hard downhill and recharge your battery; this can help extend the range of a single charge of the battery. Generate mode lets you get a great workout going downhill while replenishing your battery.
Obviously, test riding a BionX bicycle is the best way to see what an e-bike can do for you. Its hard to fully conceptualize how cool riding an e-bike really is until you try it. Admittedly, at first, I was extraordinarily skeptical of the e-bike. My first misconception was that an e-bike might make me lazy. However, after test riding one, I found that to be completely untrue. Since the BionX is pedal assist, you're still working to get from point A to point B, you can just go faster on an e-bike with the same level of input. But you're not really working any less, just going faster. Additionally, if you switch the BionX to Generate Mode, where the motor actually slows the bike down and puts electricity back into the battery, it takes much greater effort to pedal the bicycle in this mode...hence, you get an even better workout going downhill.
So, we just finished building a BionX demo-bike, installed on a Jamis Hudson Sport, a 26" wheeled comfort cruiser bike. A second e-bike demo is on the way, except this one will be on a 700c flat bar hybrid, a Jamis Coda Sport. Stop down, check them out, and take one for spin.
Stop down to Eddie's Bicycles and Hockey Equipment and test ride the BionX; the Best E-bike in the World! For more information on BionX, please check out their website by clicking on the BionX logo below.
Have some more questions?
Click the link here for the BIONX FAQ
Eddie's Bicycles Shop Tour
Jamis Renegade Adventure Bike "Where we're going...we don't need roads!"
The all new Jamis Renegade is an adventure bike. What's that mean? Well, simply put, you can get on this bike and pretty much ride anywhere and do anything you want to, and in the process, you're certain to have some adventures. Its not really a road bike, and not exactly a cyclocross bike; it lives somewhere in between. Start out on a road, and end up on a trail, or gravel road, or a rail trail. Use it however you want to use it. There's no right or wrong place to take an adventure bike; its just going to handle anything you throw at it. Jamis is offering the Renegade in two different builds, or price points, and apparently both models have hydraulic disc brakes.
For starters, the Renegade can fit up to 40c tires, 35c tires with fenders, which greatly expands the versatility of the bike. A 40c tire can pretty much take you anywhere you want to go, and they smooth out just about any trails or roads. Secondly, there are disc brakes. For all-weather, all-terrain riding, disc brakes are unparalleled in their ability to provide stopping power and superb braking modulation. Also notable on the new Renegade are the ride tuned seat stays, making longer all day rides over gravel roads a lot more comfortable. The ovalized seat stays are laterally stiff, but vertically compliant. There is also a 15mm thru-axle on the front wheel, with a new fork, with an Enhanced Compliance Offset (ECO), which makes the fork a lot more vertically compliant. The 15mm front axle helps the fork feel stable in any terrain. Both versions of the Renegade will have tubeless ready rims. There will be more on this great new bike as the details become available to us... check back again soon! In the meantime, read a more in depth review from Bike Rumor... this review goes into more detail on the unique frame features.
For starters, the Renegade can fit up to 40c tires, 35c tires with fenders, which greatly expands the versatility of the bike. A 40c tire can pretty much take you anywhere you want to go, and they smooth out just about any trails or roads. Secondly, there are disc brakes. For all-weather, all-terrain riding, disc brakes are unparalleled in their ability to provide stopping power and superb braking modulation. Also notable on the new Renegade are the ride tuned seat stays, making longer all day rides over gravel roads a lot more comfortable. The ovalized seat stays are laterally stiff, but vertically compliant. There is also a 15mm thru-axle on the front wheel, with a new fork, with an Enhanced Compliance Offset (ECO), which makes the fork a lot more vertically compliant. The 15mm front axle helps the fork feel stable in any terrain. Both versions of the Renegade will have tubeless ready rims. There will be more on this great new bike as the details become available to us... check back again soon! In the meantime, read a more in depth review from Bike Rumor... this review goes into more detail on the unique frame features.
Preview of the All-new Renegade Jamis Adventure Bike -from Bike Rumor
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