Meet Aurora

The good folks at Proteus Bicycles recommended that we ride a new bike for about a month, and then bring it back to the shop for a free tune-up (included with the purchase of a new bicycle). Last week, we dropped off our 2009 model Jamis Aurora to do just that. So, we thought it might be nice to introduce you to the second of our two sweet rides...

We know... It's a pretty bike. Even if you're not a cycling buff, the vintage color (specs call it "bone") and custom-designed suede saddle are pretty eye-catching. But don't let the aesthetics distract you from the important stuff.

Since our tour will be fully supported (all of our stuff will be in a van that accompanies us along the way), we weren't necessarily looking for a heavier, sturdier machine. Some folks might even suggest sticking to aluminum to save a few pounds. However, Jamis (and all of the employees we talked to at Proteus and College Park Bicycles) recommended a steel frame for its smoothness and durability over a long period of time.

When we began shopping, we were very careful to stay within our modest price range. These were our first touring bikes, after all. We learned that January (and the beginning of the year, in general) is a great time to shop for new bikes. Many shops offer significant discounts on the last year's models to make room for the new year's bunch. We bought the Aurora for 60% of its original price.

The biggest challenge in finding bike #2 seemed to be finding a bike that was small enough for a 5'1" female, while also being fitted for a cross-country tour. Apparently, a 47' touring frame is a little tough to come by. In this situation, having a full fitting included in the purchase of the bike was a big deal. One month of riding led to the discovery that having relatively long legs and a short torso can result in some strain on the shoulders/deltoids from trying to reach for handlebars with locked arms. Along with the full tune-up, we decided to roll back the handlebars and angle the nose of the saddle down a bit, which was a huge improvement... and just in time for our longest ride so far.

There are two other characteristics of the Aurora that make it short-rider friendly. For one, it has Tektro safety levers, which we thought were purely for convenience. It turns out that these safety levers (also called extension levers) have a pretty neat backstory (courtesy of Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Technical Info):


In the early 1970s, many people bought bicycles with drop handlebars, for reasons of fashion, even though drop bars did not suit their casual riding style. Given the frame and stem designs commonly available at the time, it was generally impossible to get drop handlebars high enough up to allow a low-intensity rider to reach the drops comfortably.

The problem was worse for many women, whose shorter torso made it hard to reach forward to the drops. Though a taller handlebar stem with less forward reach might be installed, this often did not occur. Also, small hands could not comfortably grasp typical drop-bar brake levers of that time.

Dia Compe invented bolt-on extensions that allowed Weinmann-type brake levers to be operated from the tops and middle of the handlebars, making this type of bar bearable for casual cyclists, since they never had to use the drops. This was so popular that Weinmann traded licensing with Dia Compe, so that each could copy the other's products. (Check out the full story here.)

The drop handlebars on the Aurora are also very ergonomically designed. On most bikes, it is common for cyclists to experience numbness and tingling sensations in their arms, hands and/or wrists during long rides because of the angled grip needed for the curved bars. A close look at the final curve of the Aurora's drop bars reveals an inverted line, serving two purposes: a straighter angle from the rider's wrist to shoulder and and easier reach to the Shimano Tiagra STI brake levers. With both the extension brake levers and uniquely shaped drop handlebars, the Aurora makes for a pretty comfy ride!