Imperial century challenge completed (on multiple rides) on the Jamis Quest, which I would put as a '98 or '99. It has been a spirited ride and has been fun to cruise around on as a commuter and on family rides. It has a longer reach than what I am used to, and the geometry was not my favorite for commuting in traffic. However, I've enjoyed the challenge and the old 700x23mm Vittoria tires held up remarkably well. It has taught me a lot:
- It's amazing what a little cleaning and WD-40 can accomplish
- While I would never run 23mm tires on my Bianchi Volpe (primary road bike), I might consider dropping down from 28mm to 25mm at some point
- I love my Trek 7.2 FX for in town riding with traffic
- I love my Bianchi for distance riding, and it is exceptionally comfortable
- There are some screaming deals on Craigslist - especially if you're willing to get your hands dirty and work on shifters and derailleurs
I'll be keeping the Jamis and returning it to its original purpose - trainer bike in the basement. Tomorrow the Trek will return to commuter duty.
Keep the awesome pictures and stories coming!