Monday, July 1, 2019

First Ride On The New Jones!

Firstly, they still haven't kicked me off the radio, which means I'll be on WBAI here in New York City once again this morning at 10am.

You can also listen online via their website.  Or listen to it later on their archives.  Or not listen at all for all I care.

Secondly, despite my myriad familial responsibilities, I did manage to get some quality time with the Jones LWB Complete this past weekend:


As I mentioned last week, the LWB is the longer-wheelbase, 29-plus-wheeled, ready-to-ride-right-out-of-the-box version of the SWB I've been riding and loving for the past year.  By the way, while I've put many miles on that bike, I also freely acknowledge I have not come even remotely close to realizing its full potential, mainly because I'm a homebody and my idea of bikepacking is stuffing a windbreaker in my handlebar bag in case it gets chilly.  In light of that, I recommend you read this extremely thorough review of the SWB from someone who actually puts all those attachment points to good use:


Still, I'd argue that even I can appreciate the sheer versatility of the Jones, inasmuch as I'm (mostly) a ride-to-the-ride person as opposed to a spend-20-minutes-futzing-with-an-air-compressor-next-to-my-pickup-truck-before-heading-into-the-park-for-a-45-minute-"session" person.  See, for me this is the real beauty of the Jones: not only do you enjoy it on the singletrack, but you also enjoy it on the 10 or 15 miles of road you need to ride in order to get there and back.  The SWB has been a revelation to me in that department, and I was eager to see how the LWB compared.

My first outing on the LWB was into the wilds of Yonkers this past Friday with my elder son, and all signs pointed to "promising:"


My appetite for fat-tire riding having been whetted, I was eager to undertake a longer adult-sized excursion over the weekend.  However, owing to my wife's demanding career I was parenting solo.  So how to meet the bike-testing requirements of my own not-at-all-demanding "career?"  Well, I popped the Jones LWB on the trusty Saris SuperClamp EX (which accommodated the substantial dimensions of the bicycle with nary a complaint):


Then we headed to my mother's place in Queens where the kids disembarked, and from there I hopped on the Jones and rode to to Cunningham Park, undoubtedly the finest mountain bike trail system within New York City limits.  It's a good 10 miles or so from where my mother lives straight through the heart of the city's largest borough, and the ride takes you past storied landmarks such as the Unisphere:


...and, well, that's pretty much the only storied landmark, unless you count the LIE.

Anyway, Queens is a brilliant patchwork of cultures, and undoubtedly one of the most interesting places in the United States if not the entire world.  At the same time...well, let's just say it's not exactly the first place you'd choose for a long ride.  I mention this because a trans-Queens ride on a hot day (on a bike with 3-inch wide knobby tires no less) has all the makings of a slog, but in this case it didn't feel like a slog at all, and I credit the Jones for this.  This is largely due to the comfortable upright position and the multiple hand positions afforded by the bars, but I also wonder if maybe the bigger wheels and longer wheelbase made it feel a bit more "cruisy" and gave it better road manners.  Granted, it could have just been new bike excitement, but either way I arrived at Cunningham feeling much fresher than I should have given the high temperatures and the roughly 450,000 traffic lights between the start of my ride and the trailhead:


So how was the Jones on the trail?  Well, awhile back one commenter postulated that "I'd imagine the turning radius is ridiculous, making that bike unsuitable for silly-tight singletrack."

Well, it doesn't get more silly-tight than six miles of trail crammed into a park in Queens:


And I'm here to tell you that the LWB carved it up like a tofurkey on a vegan Thanksgiving.  Having only ridden Cunningham once on the SWB I'm loath to make any sweeping pronouncements about the differences between the two bikes, but the LBW sidled through even the tightest turns, and it went over those logpiles as gracefully as Fred Astaire.  (Fred Astaire was an avid mountain biker, by the way, everyone knows that.)  It does feel "bigger" than the SWB of course, but in a good way--it's smooth and stable, whereas the SWB is nimble in a way that makes you want to throw it around despite its substantial heft.  Still, to really know the differences between the two bikes I need to take the LWB on my usual SWB routes.  Also, my only complaint about the SWB as a full-on mountain bike has been the fact that it's somewhat prone to pedal strike, and I'm very eager to see if the LWB does better in that regard.  (Pedal strike certainly wasn't an issue on my Cunningham outing, but it's not particularly rocky there compared to the trails north of the city.)

Regardless, after 35 miles on a hot day in Queens I still love the bike, and that's saying something.

30 comments:

Wesley Bellairs said...

I'm told the giant Q-factor is reduced by incredible bb flex. True?

SE said...

Podium and style points for Junior.

huskerdont said...

Damn near got all of that park in Queens.

Wesley Bellairs said...

That's what BQ said. Just asking another guy's opine.

Billinrockhill said...

Congratulations on your successful LWB test ride. Jeff Jones really does design a great, functional bike. The upright, hands back stance is very comfortable (and as you noted, a comfortable rider equals a better riding experience.) But isn't it strange that riding a bike with a comfortable riding position is so unconventional within our current "racing" biek culture? It's the presence of drop bars that is ridiculous for 99.9% of the actual riding being done out there. So have fun, trade back and forth between SWB and LWB, and report your impressions. And think about the Jones when you are struggling around the circuit in your next race.

Chazu said...

I remember when H. Simpson visited NYC. He was particularly interested in "Flushing Meadows".

Steve Barner said...

I bet every time that kid sees himself in a mirror he thanks Lob that he got his mother's looks and not yours.

Anonymous said...

You gotta get that kid in some jorts, so he can be cool like his dad!

Pist Off said...

I dunno, definitely could see some Eben in the youngster. Not a bad thing. Following the LWB reviews in earnest for thoughts on the long wheelbase, the weight, and particularly about pedal strike. Today is the first I’ve ever read about BB flex in a Jones, and between Bikepacking and NSMB they’d mention it if it was there. Not that I’d question Heine and his renames “supple” Paselas. There are multiple long reviews from various bikey subcultures on the LWB, and all are positive. My wallet says a LWB should be my next bike; my heart says the Rivendell Gus. Of course it’s meant to be a forever bike, just like the last four.

dancesonpedals said...

George Plimpton used to loan Fred Astaire his Y-bike

BamaPhred said...

Every time I hear your radio show I’m appalled that eighteen wheel delivery trucks are rumbling through the city during, what would be the correct term, ?peak? traffic hours. And the victim blaming and privilege displayed, just numbing.

mikeweb said...

I'm writing this comment AT THE SAME AS listening to today's radio show archive.

(mind blown)

All hail the Lob of all media.

paulb said...

A) Good looking kid. I mean your son, not you. No offense.
B) Good radio show. Points I'll state briefly but would have tried to explore at more length if I'd been free to call in: *Car owners and drivers are convinced that they are always the highest priority and most important users of public space. *Despite the frequent animosity of pedestrians, pedestrians and bikes have much more in common than cars and bikes. *It's no picnic being a pedestrian in NYC, and as we know it's not the fault of bikes, e or otherwise.

Anonymous said...

Jones bike is goofy looking and slow... suits your riding style perfectly.

BikeSnobNYC said...

Anonymous 3:55am,

Jones bike looks about a thousand times better than the typical dual-suspension monstrosity. And I am faster than you.

--Tan Tenovo

Wesley Bellairs said...

Bicycle Quarterly rigorously tests all bikes and their test of the Ti Jones determined that it was THE FASTEST BIKE THEY EVER TESTED! Faster than Jan's Firefly, faster than Crabon, fast AF.
I do not own one and I do not sell them but he is definitely onto something.

hellbelly said...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder (highly likely that Jeff Jones would smoke anyone on this page aboard one his "goofy" bikes) always, but despite BSNYC's self-deprecating affect I am positive that he is much faster than he lets on. On the same day I rode 19 miles in just slightly less time compared to his 35 miles. In my defense, I was completely off-road and gained nearly 4K of elevation in very technical terrain that required way more hike-a-bike efforts than I would have liked. Nevertheless, I have witnessed him racing cyclocross and he can roll. Maybe one day when I grow up I'll go for a ride with him on his local terrain.

wishiwasmerckx said...

So Mark Cavendish was left off of Dimension Data's TdF team.

No Cavendish at this year's tour.

Cavendish reportedly salved his disappointment by burying his face between the ample bosoms of his wife, Peta Todd.

Anonymous said...

Boooooo......Adios Missile!

wle said...

DEATH - did you make it home or become #15?

wishiwasmerckx said...

Existential question of the day:

Is a Tour without Chris Froome, Paul Sherwin and Mark Cavendish still a Tour?

Anonymous said...

Cav is and has been a force, but I wonder if between the virus and the crash with Sagan at the TdF two years ago he still has it. Of course, 30 stage wins is nothing to sneeze at. [Bonus question: Where did THAT phrase come from?]

I remain saddened by Paul Sherwen's departure. I hear Bob Roll will be Phil's side-kick. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt because Paul's shoes are simply to big to fill. [Bonus question 2: Where did that phrase come from?]

Saw TT a while ago in Prospect Park - very fine and strong rider; yes, he is self deprecatingly so!

Anonymous said...

Yes, but Paul and the Cav will be sorely missed.

huskerdont said...

WIWMerckx

I'm sad about two of those three. Yet the TdF approaches and I'll be watching.

Anonymous said...

If it was not for the Chateaux pics I would not be watching the tour.

Chazu said...

"Florida girl who played football, wanted to be a Marine is killed by suspected drunken driver
"She was a Warhawk. She was a Marine. She was our friend": Sophia Delott, 17, was on her bike when she was hit by a car."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/florida-girl-who-played-football-wanted-be-marine-killed-suspected-n1025796

BamaPhred said...

Wait, the Classics are over? The Giro? Already? It’s hot as balls so it must be time for LeTour.

wishiwasmerckx said...

Anon 12:45, apparently Cav has not yet opened his account of 2019 victories yet.

The only undefeated champ is Father Time, and world-class top-end speed indeed has a shelf life.

I suspect that Cav is now past his expiration date.

Uptight Luddite said...

I think I might could be a saint.. if I lived in paradise, just saying, after four(4) White Russians.

Cuthbert said...

It's summer in the city.

GET THAT KID A CREWCUT!