Jamis Aurora Touring Bicycle

By Attila Horvath

Riding the Jamis Aurora is a reminder of what is joy it is to have the right tool for a job. In this case, the tasks at hand are loaded touring, commuting, spirited centuries or even a mellow twilight spin.

The Aurora is rare breed – a true touring bike – built to ride smoothly, comfortably and quickly, with or without a load. The Reynolds 520 steel frame is outfitted with mounts for racks and fenders which help make the Aurora practical for everyday use, and the drop handlebars help you cheat the wind and ride fast when you want, as well as give the rider more hand position options than a flat bar rig.

Though the bike should be built with more rear tire clearance, the Aurora is geared well, equipped with shifters integrated into the brake levers (far superior to the bar-end shifters common in this price range) and brakes very well.

Despite the versatility of touring bikes, most bike shops don’t stock a lot of them (if any), so you may have to travel more than you prefer to find bikes to test ride, but definitely put the Aurora on your short list for high quality touring bikes under $1,000.

Cost: $865 is the MSRP

Buy it at: Your local bike shop