Jamis’ sponsored pro Tyler Wren successfully crushed the Tushar in 2012 aboard a prototype carbon fiber Supernova disc brake ‘cross bike, which was followed with production alloy Novas before the carbon frame got final.
Now, he’s looking to repeat the performance aboard the all-new Jamis Renegade adventure road bike.
Built from the ground up to be both racy and all-day comfortable, the Renegade uses a consistently progressive stack and reach growth across all frame sizes. The frame is a mix of high- and mid-modulus carbon using their NearNet molding process and uses size specific layups and tube sizes with three different fork offsets. Then they built in three different BB drops, three different rear-center measurements and two rear triangle sizes. They say that makes it as close to custom as you’re likely to get off the shelf. From there, spec is very good with two complete bikes ready for pretty much anything, with looks ready to rebel against pavement at a moment’s notice…
To boost comfort on the bike, the ECO (Enhanced Compliance Offset) fork legs are raked forward further to allow for better vertical compliance to handle road irregularities, washboards, etc.. To prevent it from feeling floppy, they use internal ribbing and a 15mm thru axle that’s offset behind the legs to keep it stiff for both steering and the increased braking forces from hydraulic discs.
It, and the frame, provides clearance for 700x40c tires, or 35c wide treads with full fenders. And both builds are spec’d with wide, tubeless ready rims.
To get that tire clearance working properly in the back, the bottom bracket is BB386 EVO. That let them push the chainstays wide enough to clear the larger rubber. By setting them wider, along with flaring the seat tube out wider, it also made the area much stiffer for better power transfer. The drive side chainstay gets a slight angle where the chainrings pass it to keep clearance at acceptable levels.
Seatstays were made smaller and set lower to add a bit of compliance, and they get an ovalized shape to allow compliance only in the vertical plane but remain laterally stiff, all of which is enhanced by the lower contact point of the seatstays on the seat tube. Combine that with the beefier chainstays and you get a frame that’s ready for strong legs and strong brakes. By spec’ing only hydraulic disc brakes, though, your hands can be as weak as you want and you won’t need to worry about fatigue from pulling cable all day long. Yes, it does make a huge difference.
The Renegade has relaxed endurance geo, stretched out a bit compared to their road and ‘cross bikes. Jamis’ rep said they had to open a lot of molds to make all the different rear ends, forks and parts to make each frame size ride just as well as the next, but they wanted a bike that felt right for every size rider.
The prototype size 56 is coming in with a painted frame weight of 1120g (w/o hardware) and the fork at 470g. Road PM Todd Corbitt told us he expects production weights to be the same.
It’ll hit shops in January 2015 with two builds: Elite with 11-speed Shimano Ultegra, Shimano hydraulic disc-brakes and American Classic Argent tubeless wheels for $4200, and the Expert with 11-speed Shimano 105 build, TRP hydraulic disc brakes and Alex tubeless wheels for $2400. Even though both builds are mechanical, the frame’s ready for electronic drivetrains and internal seatpost batteries, too.
