Jamis 2001 Eclipse

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at Beech Mountain Sport

Favorite Ride:
Blue Ridge Parkway - US 221 Blowing Rock to Linville

Bike Setup:
Stock, except that I replaced the saddle with the one I had been using.

Summary:
This bike does everything I ask it to. It is very responsive, corners incredibly, and flies down descents, but be aware, slight weight shifts cause it to respond. What I have been enjoying the most is how well this bike climbs. The transfer of power is quick and definite. I regularly gain 1000-2000 vertical feet in a 30 mile ride, and one 7.5 mile loop in my neighborhood has a little over 1000 feet of climbing. I find that I like this bike more with every ride. It is an incredibly comfortable ride with a smooth as silk feel, and when you step on it, it has a real get up and go. I have not see any other Eclipses on group rides that I have done, and I do not understand. It is such a great bike. I am thoroughly satisfied with my purchase (actually my wife purchased it for me for Christmas), and I would recommend this bike for anyone who is interested in a steel bike that will stand up and run with anything in a weekly group ride or century. I have not raced this bike, but I suspect that it would perform very well.

Strengths:
The comfortable fell of the bike. The components!!

Weaknesses:
I do not know of any

Similar Products Used:
Bianchi Eros, Litespeed Arenberg, Jamis Comet

Price Paid:  $2100.00 at lbs

Favorite Ride:
anywhere with new asphalt

Bike Setup:
stock except for s-works saddle, conti 3000 tires. added look pedals

Summary:
great bike for the money. silky smooth ride with the 853 steel. ultegra drivetrain works flawlessly. great climbing ksyrium wheels. am very happy the way the bike handles. on smooth road surfaces, you could only hear the tires rolling. such a great machinery for the price.

Strengths:
price. light steel frame. components.

Weaknesses:
saddle (selle italia gel xo). paint--susceptible to chipping. hutchinson tires--had several flats and the rear-side-wall has a gash after 500 miles.

Similar Products Used:
tried trek 5200 oclv, lemond zurich, cannondale r8000, and fuji team.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bikes & Bargains, La

Favorite Ride:
A1A from Deefield Beach, FL to Palm Beach and back

Bike Setup:
Out of the box, just changed the seat to a Trico
Split seat and put on an Astrale Cat Eye.

Summary:
Dollar-for-dollar it is difficult to beat this bike for quality of ride and
components. The 4.5 chain rings that Bicycle Magazine gave the
Eclipse is well deserved. I have put over 100 miles a week in on training
rides during the last 6 months and rode a metric century on it a few
weeks ago. It rides smooth and quiet and handles like a dream.
The Ksyrium wheel-set is the envy of many riders in my Saturday
group. My only quibble is the seat, which I swapped out
rather quickly. Otherwise, out of the box, it has been a dream. This is a
great bike if you have a streak of the non-conformist in you, as
not a lot of people in my area ride it.

Strengths:
The quality components: Strong steel frame, Ultegra group, Mavic brakes and Ksyrium wheels, Time
fork. Jamis did a great job of putting together these components
to create a great riding experience

Weaknesses:
The Selle seat was not for me. Swap it
out for one that you like.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondales, a variety of Aluminum Treks and
Specialized and Airborne Zepp (test bike
at a LBS)

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at Performance Bike

Favorite Ride:
Not too particular

Bike Setup:
Stock.

Summary:
An unbelievable bargain. The spec is light years ahead of what you'd expect at the price, and the Reynolds 853 frame rides beautifully. Like Bicycling said, there really is nothing to upgrade.

Strengths:
The components. Ksyrium wheels, full Ultegra, 3T prima bar and Zepp stem, Thompson seatpost, Time fork.

Weaknesses:
None noticed yet.

Similar Products Used:
LeMond Zurich, Trek 2300

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at BIkes & More, Dallas

Favorite Ride:
Hotter Than Hell

Bike Setup:
Stock but with a straight Thompson seatpost and 44cm 3T bars and SPD's.

Summary:
I did a lot of research before I bought this bike. I wanted to try a quality steel frame. I have had aluminum and carbon fiber and this bike rides better than either of them. I don't know if it is the frame, wheels, fork or all of the above but it is very smooth over rough roads. I ride about 100 miles a week and average 16 to 17 mph so I am not a racer but I love this thing. I keep it in my office so I can look at it. The value is unbeatable and it rides like a dream. The only complaint I have is that the handlebars were too narrow for a 61cm frame and I did not like the setback seatpost. I changed them out and added SPD's. I plan on keeping this bike for a long time.

Strengths:
Great value, stiff compliant frame, super wheels and componants, corners like it is on rails.

Weaknesses:
Narrow handlebars and setback seatpost.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 2200 with Shimono 105.