Anyone on here riding a Jones Bike?
#1
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Anyone on here riding a Jones Bike?
My little brother keeps talking up Jones handlebars. I looked up the company and they make complete bikes and custom order bikes that are like nothing I have ever seen. Jeff, the company's founder, makes a lot of claims about comfort and efficiency that seem to be substantiated by 1st hand reviews.
What do you guys think? Are these actually awesome, "do everything" bikes or are they a faddish, heavy, overpriced turd of a bike? I have heard nothing bad about them so far so if you have one or have ridden one, please share with me your honest and unfiltered feedback!
What do you guys think? Are these actually awesome, "do everything" bikes or are they a faddish, heavy, overpriced turd of a bike? I have heard nothing bad about them so far so if you have one or have ridden one, please share with me your honest and unfiltered feedback!
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My little brother keeps talking up Jones handlebars. I looked up the company and they make complete bikes and custom order bikes that are like nothing I have ever seen. Jeff, the company's founder, makes a lot of claims about comfort and efficiency that seem to be substantiated by 1st hand reviews.
What do you guys think? Are these actually awesome, "do everything" bikes or are they a faddish, heavy, overpriced turd of a bike? I have heard nothing bad about them so far so if you have one or have ridden one, please share with me your honest and unfiltered feedback!
What do you guys think? Are these actually awesome, "do everything" bikes or are they a faddish, heavy, overpriced turd of a bike? I have heard nothing bad about them so far so if you have one or have ridden one, please share with me your honest and unfiltered feedback!
As far as being a fad though, they're too niche and non-mainstream to be a fad. Also, Jeff Jones has been doing his own thing for decades so I don't think this is really a fad, I think this is his own design philosophy that's been developed over many years.
I think you'd want to be really clear on your expectations though -- they seem like bombproof rigs that are at home on singletrack or bikepacking or touring or commuting, but you're not going to be racing crits or CX on them. At least not very well.
#3
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I've read the same reviews you have, and I haven't heard anything bad about them from actual users.
As far as being a fad though, they're too niche and non-mainstream to be a fad. Also, Jeff Jones has been doing his own thing for decades so I don't think this is really a fad, I think this is his own design philosophy that's been developed over many years.
I think you'd want to be really clear on your expectations though -- they seem like bombproof rigs that are at home on singletrack or bikepacking or touring or commuting, but you're not going to be racing crits or CX on them. At least not very well.
As far as being a fad though, they're too niche and non-mainstream to be a fad. Also, Jeff Jones has been doing his own thing for decades so I don't think this is really a fad, I think this is his own design philosophy that's been developed over many years.
I think you'd want to be really clear on your expectations though -- they seem like bombproof rigs that are at home on singletrack or bikepacking or touring or commuting, but you're not going to be racing crits or CX on them. At least not very well.
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BikeSnob NYC has two Jones Bikes, the 'budget' steel SWB and LWB. He's going to be giving one away.
Bike Snob NYC: This Just In: I'm Giving Away A Bike!
I've got a set of JONES Bars on my ancient 26in wheeled Rock Hopper. I'm pretty happy with them, I got the 2.5in riser loop version. The only thing they don't offer is a position to grab the bars like if you're riding your hoods (drop bars).
Bike Snob NYC: This Just In: I'm Giving Away A Bike!
I've got a set of JONES Bars on my ancient 26in wheeled Rock Hopper. I'm pretty happy with them, I got the 2.5in riser loop version. The only thing they don't offer is a position to grab the bars like if you're riding your hoods (drop bars).
#5
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BikeSnob NYC has two Jones Bikes, the 'budget' steel SWB and LWB. He's going to be giving one away.
Bike Snob NYC: This Just In: I'm Giving Away A Bike!
I've got a set of JONES Bars on my ancient 26in wheeled Rock Hopper. I'm pretty happy with them, I got the 2.5in riser loop version. The only thing they don't offer is a position to grab the bars like if you're riding your hoods (drop bars).
Bike Snob NYC: This Just In: I'm Giving Away A Bike!
I've got a set of JONES Bars on my ancient 26in wheeled Rock Hopper. I'm pretty happy with them, I got the 2.5in riser loop version. The only thing they don't offer is a position to grab the bars like if you're riding your hoods (drop bars).
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Awesome build you got there! An option to "test the Jones waters" which is in play is to take a Bianchi Incline frame I have (similar specs to your rockhopper, 26", cantis, etc") and turn it in to a cargo bike with a Crust Bikes Clydesdale fork and Jones bars and see how I like riding it before I drop $2 large + on a Jones frame build. Worst case scenario: I wind up with a cargo bike with an expensive set of bars I don't like but can easily swap!
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Have you dropped in on the drop bar illusion thread in General? Start from the end and work your way back. You will learn that riding hoods is just asking for trouble. Even possible death. You will also learn that 40%=75% when it comes to American obesity statistics.
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I may have very well had my hands on the hoods during a recent bike crash. Although I think the hidden curb I hit had more to do with the bent fork, sprained thumb, and subsequent new helmet purchase......
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I don't know of the Jones bikes or bars (other than pics).
Is Jeff Jones sort of a Grant Petersen in cycling terms?
Is Jeff Jones sort of a Grant Petersen in cycling terms?
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#11
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I have but that's alarming! I need to get rid of my drop-bar bike and start driving to work in order to avoid danger to my health and safety! I don't want to die young riding on the hoods.... are all the Grand Tour competitors doing it wrong? Has my whole life been a lie?
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But where Grant (I think) goes for beauty (beautiful lugs, funky names, and lovely colors), Jeff is going for design efficiency - maybe - disc brakes to accommodate a variety of wheel sizes, mostly black (only black, can't remember and too lazy to google) and titanium. Truss forks over suspension forks to save weight.
my 2 cents. now where do I get me some gum-rubber brake hoods......?
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I have but that's alarming! I need to get rid of my drop-bar bike and start driving to work in order to avoid danger to my health and safety! I don't want to die young riding on the hoods.... are all the Grand Tour competitors doing it wrong? Has my whole life been a lie?
I hit an unseen pothole on a March training ride, 1978 when a car passed me. Hard hit. My hands stayed on and I rode on thinking "all good, my wheels are still round". 8 miles later I looked down and saw that my handlebar was bent 30 degrees at the stem! (Old aluminum bars. It was their time.) Point is that this was a hard hit that I did not see but because I was in the drops, it wasn't a crash. Had I been on modern hoods set low as both I needed for an aero position and that my hands like, that would have been probably a season delaying collarbone (assuming the car missed me). (Editorial - good bike! I noticed this 20 miles from home but 4 miles from my riding partners house. Rode gingerly to her house, went in the kitchen door I knew she didn't lock and checked the train schedule behind the door. Train in 40 minutes. Rode the 1 mile to the station. Conductor allowed my otherwise banned bike on board when I showed him the handlebar. First stop 1 mile from home.)
Edit: I wasn't riding a Jones Bike but I was wearing a Jones cycling jersey. Jones Cycle Wear out of Leominster, MA, club sponsor. Wore its successor yesterday.
Ben
Last edited by 79pmooney; 09-05-19 at 12:18 PM.