Jones Bikes

Cyclotourist

Cyclotourist

iMTB Hooligan
I'm kinda' looking around for a rigid steel mountain bike. Not a ton of those outside of custom builders. One bike I keep coming back to is the Jones. They seem like good bikes for just riding everywhere with the most simplicity. I like the swept back bars and the rest of his geometry ideas intrigue me to say the least. Attracted to the SWB models with 27.5+ wheels. Seems like it would be a nice compliment to the modern aluminum and carbon suspended bikes in the garage. Any experience with his bikes?

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I think Jones nailed it in the vid – in essence, if that's what you want, it's good. Hard to know if you want something withyout trying it. At least it's not a big commitment. His gear seems well thought out. I can imagine it being comfortable for long rides and increasing appreciation of your other bikes at times. Got garage space, why not... :geek:
 
The cost of entry is pretty reasonable on the steel bikes. I find that most of my riding is just meandering around on trails, and therthe leading up to them. I mostly ride my drop bar bikes in these situations, but realizing I don't use the drops hardly at all. So started thinking about flat bars, which led to swept flat bars like the Jones H bars, and that got me thinking about Jones bikes... It's a slippery slope.

I'm not a super fan plus tires, so that's a negative on them. and I don't like the 150 mm front hub, as that means I can't swap wheels from other bikes. But the geometry and layout is something I'm at least interested in trying out.
 
Cyclotourist said:
The cost of entry is pretty reasonable on the steel bikes. I find that most of my riding is just meandering around on trails, and therthe leading up to them. I mostly ride my drop bar bikes in these situations, but realizing I don't use the drops hardly at all. So started thinking about flat bars, which led to swept flat bars like the Jones H bars, and that got me thinking about Jones bikes... It's a slippery slope.

I'm not a super fan plus tires, so that's a negative on them. and I don't like the 150 mm front hub, as that means I can't swap wheels from other bikes. But the geometry and layout is something I'm at least interested in trying out.
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Inspired by Urban Battleships! :thumbsup:
 
littlewave said:
@bigringrider101

I’ve wanted one for years. I have Jones bars on my trek stache. I have a different bike on order from a steel is real company but I’m pretty tired of waiting for something that’s in stock and should have been delivered months ago. Might cancel that and get a Jones. None of that is helpful to you though...
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A Karate Monkey with a rigid fork is the option if I want just a regular-ish bike. Kind of where I started the process at. Boost spacing so takes wheels I already have.
What are you looking at if I may ask?
 
Cyclotourist said:
A Karate Monkey with a rigid fork is the option if I want just a regular-ish bike. Kind of where I started the process at. Boost spacing so takes wheels I already have.
What are you looking at if I may ask?
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Not a mountain bike. For town/hauling kids. Step through frame. No disc brakes or carbon allowed!
 
Cyclotourist said:
Sounds like a little place I know in Walnut Creek.

I'm also looking at Richie Ultra which should be a more flexible frame then karate monkey or maybe a Jones.
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Yeah. Finally pulled the trigger on a bike with them but it’s been way too long, even allowing Covid grace. Already had a couple “thought we already shipped that” emails. Their new mountain bike looks cool but definitely not boost compatible! So who knows maybe I’ll cancel and try the Jones kool aid.
 
littlewave said:
Yeah. Finally pulled the trigger on a bike with them but it’s been way too long, even allowing Covid grace. Already had a couple “thought we already shipped that” emails. Their new mountain bike looks cool but definitely not boost compatible! So who knows maybe I’ll cancel and try the Jones kool aid.
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They share a lot of similarities, with the long wheel base and extra-long chainstays. Hope you get it soon, they're cool bikes!
 
Don't know whether any of you "knew" him when he had his shop in Laguna Niguel, then the second in Dana Point twenty plus years ago. He always seemed knowledgeable and had innovative stuff, but wasn't the easiest guy to get along with (for me). He had worked for GT in Santa Ana before that AIR. I'm probably upside down on this, but plus tires mean more difficult pedaling to me and that shoots them into the realm of the unnecessary for my riding.
 
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fos'l said:
Don't know whether any of you "knew" him when he had his shop in Laguna Niguel, then the second in Dana Point twenty plus years ago. He always seemed knowledgeable and had innovative stuff, but wasn't the easiest guy to get along with (for me). He had worked for GT in Santa Ana before that AIR. I'm probably upside down on this, but plus tires mean more difficult pedaling to me and that shoot them into the realm of the unnecessary for my riding.
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We rode with him out of Sunset Bikes
in Oceanside 30 years ago. He was working
for GT at the times. Great rider. He built a
tandem for himself and wife, they killed it
on that bike!
 
fos'l said:
Don't know whether any of you "knew" him when he had his shop in Laguna Niguel, then the second in Dana Point twenty plus years ago. He always seemed knowledgeable and had innovative stuff, but wasn't the easiest guy to get along with (for me). He had worked for GT in Santa Ana before that AIR. I'm probably upside down on this, but plus tires mean more difficult pedaling to me and that shoot them into the realm of the unnecessary for my riding.
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I know he worked @ GT at some point. There is definitely a degree of eccentricity that runs within the bike building community. I know of at least three builders that pretty much had psychotic breaks (I am not a doctor, I just play on on television) and lost it all. And many others that just don't fit into society's boxes. Pretty cool that they can go and live in the woods and tinker on bikes!

As for bikes, I mentioned that what I'm looking for is an early 90's type of bike, but a 29er and modern build (Boost, 1X12, etc). He suggested the Stooge, which, heeeey.....

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Stooge-Cycles-Steel-is-Real8881.jpg
 
Cyclotourist said:
So I'm on the waitlist for a Stooge Scrambler 20". The run is all pre-ordered, but Andrew the owner says a better than zero chance that someone will cancel. 600GBP + shipping. Similar to a Jones in geo, but with a bi-plane fork vs. unicrown.

http://stoogecycles.co.uk/2020/05/30/coming-soon-the-stooge-scrambler/

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Pulled the trigger yesterday, should be here sometime in 2020! Should be a great bike for where/how I ride. I like the ocher color a lot, and am getting some of their wide/swept back bars for it. Probably going to start of B+ as that is the wheelset I have and basically what it was designed around. Pretty stoked!

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Went for the 20in, even though they recommend the 18 for most people. Hopefully I didn't over-think that, but the 20in matches up more with what I have now. Compare and contrast with un-sagged Chameleon. Pretty spot on!

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Cyclotourist said:
Pulled the trigger yesterday, should be here sometime in 2020! Should be a great bike for where/how I ride. I like the ocher color a lot, and am getting some of their wide/swept back bars for it. Probably going to start of B+ as that is the wheelset I have and basically what it was designed around. Pretty stoked!

View attachment 69083

Went for the 20in, even though they recommend the 18 for most people. Hopefully I didn't over-think that, but the 20in matches up more with what I have now. Compare and contrast with un-sagged Chameleon. Pretty spot on!

View attachment 69086
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Very nice...

Does this mean the Chameleon will be kept as a single speed?
 
Faust29 said:
Very nice...

Does this mean the Chameleon will be kept as a single speed?
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Yes, that's the plan. I want to keep a dedicated SS around, as I haven't given up on it. But if I continue to ride inconsistently, I'll need gears! I'm planning on keeping both, but being honest with myself about how I'm riding and could move one along. But right now I can have both as well as my Tallboy, and minimize the overlap enough to justify all three.

What I'm really thinking is turning the Black Mountain into more of a dedicated road bike, and using the Stooge where I previously rode that. The BMC is honestly the bike I think I'll ride least if that happens. At that point I'll probably have too many bikes, but that's not the worst thing in life...
 
Cyclotourist said:
Yes, that's the plan. I want to keep a dedicated SS around, as I haven't given up on it. But if I continue to ride inconsistently, I'll need gears! I'm planning on keeping both, but being honest with myself about how I'm riding and could move one along. But right now I can have both as well as my Tallboy, and minimize the overlap enough to justify all three.

What I'm really thinking is turning the Black Mountain into more of a dedicated road bike, and using the Stooge where I previously rode that. The BMC is honestly the bike I think I'll ride least if that happens. At that point I'll probably have too many bikes, but that's not the worst thing in life...
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Too many bikes = the right number (whatever that is) + $$$$$ (happened to me).
 
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