Bike Check: Terry’s 1999 Jamis Durango SX
Words & Pictures: Terry. With added commentary from Andy, Renny and Parker
So it may not look like much right now – I mean, I think it looks pretty good – but this Jamis Durangy SX was my first ‘real’ bike. It was what I learned to mountain bike on way back in the Edmonton river valley. Then it ‘was’ a trials bike. Then it learned how to drop-to-flat for a while. The Jamis and I did our first xc race together sometime around 2001. Then it commuted to school and work through a couple Edmonton winters. Then it was what I rode when I got back into riding bicycles again a few years ago in Victoria. At that point, years of commuting had rendered the drivetrain … somewhat compromised. So it was converted to a modified two speed – one gear for riding to the dump, shift gears with the barrel adjuster at the trail head, and one gear for the hills. Ok, so it might not be in the best shape right now. But it’s picked up a random assortment of mountain biking’s ever changing rolodex of technology over the course of it’s life. Somehow it even traveled back in time to pick up that beauty Rock Shox Indy. Now it survives as great around town bike that no one in their right mind would ever steal.
Since they have to put up with this thing hanging out in the shop all the time, Renny, Andy and Parker weighed in on what they actually think about this bike. There’s some feelings. It gets emotional.
A striking profile that screams ‘late 90’s XC’ … or just screams
The beautiful Rock Shox Indy S provides something that was once called suspension
Parker: “I’m pretty sure that I was in kindergarten when this fork was released.”
Andy: [Starts laughing] “One of the worst suspension forks ever made. It went up & down, and that was it.”
V-Brakes. Worse than remember, or maybe that’s just these ProMax version of the v-brake
The remains of a cassette and drivetrain
Parker: “An All Hail The Black Market sticker features on the inside of the chainstay. Everyone’s favourite very questionable, drunk bike blogger.”
Two-ish speed transmission
Parker: “Heavy on the ish.”
Two gears and a whack of spacers
Andy: “A proper 2×2 drivetrain.”
Parker: “There is a reason no one else runs this setup.”
Match to two chainrings up front.
(Peanut gallery either has no comment, or is speechless)
Stem for days
Renny: [Shudders] “Ugggh. That thing is disgusting.”
Andy: “A proper stem should always be the same length as your top tube.”
Parker: “I’m just intimidated by this.”
Pink Oury grips
Andy: “Good grips for huge hands and no gloves.”
Renny: “They look really good, but feel like someone dipped your grips in tree sap. Which is maybe a good thing?”
Parker: “I’ve run these on my fixed gear before. Seriously.”
Acera ‘8-speed’
Parker: “Wireless drivetrain.”
Showing a couple signs of wear
Parker: “Patina”
If you’re in Edmonton, this shop is the best. They have no idea what this bike looks like now, and would be horrified if they did. Please don’t tell them.
Andy: “Good to see that Terry bought this bike from the second best mountain shop in Edmonton.” [Editor’s note: Andy spent years working at rival Edmonton shop, Pedalhead.]
Renny: “Yeah yeah yeah. Those guys… fucking fast though!” [Editor’s note: This is about the highest praise ever on offer from Renny.]
Party like it’s 1999. And Wellgo pedals – always a mark of quality
Andy: “Hell yeah.”. [Editor’s note: Andy was one of the sole holdouts using TIME ATAC pedals up until summer ’15…]
Shoes fit in easier without the toe straps?
Parker: “Note. The RH pedal is a punched SPD. LH is this horrible thing. Makes sense, right?”
Selle Italia Trans-Am with a few km’s on it
Parker: “It’s Italian. How bad could it be?”
Andy: “Decent saddle. Didn’t fit my butt whatsoever.”
AlexRims DM18, possibly referring to it’s weight in pounds. Drop to flat king
Sun Rims Rhyno Lite. Looks so very lite …
Andy: “Good, cheap downhill rim in it’s day.”
And a beautiful Kenda Klaw XT Bear
Renny: “I like that.”
Parker: “Twenty six inch? I’ve heard rumour about that tire size. It’s the new standard, right?”