Wow - eighteen months since my last newsletter!

On the plus side there is lots to talk about. I've been busy and things are working out ok. The partnership with Merlin is looking like a good thing for me, Merlin and riders wanting a Jones. I've been able to work through a few ideas and ride some bikes. I'm enjoying it and I've got a few projects that are really beginning to take shape...

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Merlin-built Jones
The first run of VCLS bikes and frames have sold out and will start arriving at my shop next week. I've been receiving requests for more so I'm planning another run. This time there will most likely be other sizes. Delivery for the next run should still be about 12 weeks from the time I get the order to Merlin. Contact me if you are interested.

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First impressions

Graham, from the UK, sent me some thoughts on his Jones...

"I took the bike out for a decent ride this weekend and I was very impressed with what I found. I rode a local course as I know it well and know how it rides with other bikes I have owned or ridden. It is a benchmark course, not too technical or scary but enough for you to start to know how the bike you are riding is going to perform. It was a very wet weekend and around one third of the course was very muddy. The other sections are well drained as the underlying rock is mainly well sorted river bed gravel.

The first thing I noticed is how well it climbs, I think the lack of big suspension movement, short chainstays and your body position over the rear wheel when seated climbing gives excellent traction. I was also impressed by it's nimble handling at slow speeds. On the downhills I made sure that I kept reminding myself that I was riding a rigid bike so my line choice was smarter and less lazy than normal. I was very pleased to say that the more I rode the bike downhill the more I enjoyed it and the more I began to push it a bit faster. I stopped half way round the circuit and had to remind myself that the bike was rigid, this was quite a bizarre moment as I realised that I had been riding well on a rigid bike. My perception of a full suspension bike and it's merits took a real kicking as I realised that this was bike was every bit as capable.

It is a very easy bike to ride and gives you the confidence to push it further. Early days yet but very promising."

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Fat front bike
I built myself this bike to try out some ideas I've been working on. The bike can be fitted up front with either a 26" wheel with big Surly Endomorph tire or a 29" wheel since the wheels are almost the same height. The big front tire is like having a suspension fork but with more cush and traction in a way. But it's not like a suspension fork in that the bike does not bob when standing or dive when braking. This big front wheel just rolls over loose rocks and sand like it's smooth trail and swallows up bigger rocks and roots. It has incredible traction on most of the terrain I've been riding. The front end is noticeably heavier and a little slower to respond but it also has a certain stability - as if there is a steering damper making it feel very 'safe' on loose and rocky trails. The big tire makes more technical lines possible and has been allowing me to ride faster and looser on the sketchy downhills.

I'm still searching for the limits of this tire and bike. The rolling resistance is not bad at all. In fact on trails where it's constantly bumpy if feels faster than my 29x2.5" wheel and no slower on smooth trails either. It's just heavier. It's much, much more comfortable and easier on my hands and upper body (than a 29x2.5"). I only run about 10psi and it absorbs trail shock and vibration far better than a normal wheel. It absorbs smaller bumps better and faster than a 26x2.5" wheel with a suspension fork. The big front tire packs down snow and the rear tire just follows in its track. It's looks a little strange but it is a a blast to ride. I'm having fun with it!



Frame: Compact double diamond. Front triangle is stiff from larger tubes. Chain and seat stays are horizontally ovalized for vertical compliance and lateral stiffness. This along with the short seat tube with long seat post provide noticeable vertical compliance. Although not as much as with the VCLS 1 Space Frame design.


Fork: This truss fork has large clearance for a Surly Endomorph but can also be used with a 29" wheel when such a big tire isn't needed. With a 29" wheel mud clearance is huge.

Handlebar: I have develped this one-piece bar. It is lighter and stiffer than an H-bar and Thomson X4 combination and can use any shifters. It is currently being stressed tested. I have being riding it a lot and I like it.

Some geometry: This bike has a similar geometry to my other bikes with more rake in the fork and slacker angles. The wheelbase is a short 42". It's big wheel and rigid specific geometry. This is not 'NORBA' or normal 'twentyniner' geometry. Depending on where the seat is and how you measure the seat tube angle and top tube length, the bike has a 71 degree seat tube angle with a 23.5" effective top tube length (set-back seat post and seat slid back) or it has a 74.5 degree seat tube angle with a 21.9" effective top tube length (straight post with seat forward) - this geometry is the same as my Merlin-built bikes.

Drive train: 6 speed Modified 18-34t XTR cassette on a single speed King hub. XTR cranks with 34t Jericho SS ring with bash guard/chain guide. The frame has no derailleur guides so full housing is zip tied to the seat stay and the stainless steel tube for the rear brake under the TT. Shifter is an old XT rapid fire pod and the derailleur is a short cage XTR. The chain line is very good in all gears. Chain is tighter and doesn't bounce around and much. N-jump stop with Jericho chain guide keeps chain on. This all allows for a stronger, dish less, equally tensioned rear wheel with a drive train that is tight, simple, reliable and with enough gear range for me.


Note: I have Merlin building a sample diamond frame with the same geometry and fork as the first run of bikes. The only alteration is that the seat stays and top tube will be different making it a diamond frame. It will not be as vertically compliant as the VCLS SpaceFrame design but it will still be laterally stiff from the large tubes. It will weigh less and will cost less too. I'll have the first one here soon. Contact me if you are interested.

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Jones testing
Here are three bikes I had laid out one day to ride and compare back to back. I was focusing mainly on the front end of the bikes. It was very interesting. They were all different and all good in their own way. 

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The Wait List - closed
The wait list was started after I stopped taking definite orders for custom bikes. With so many wanting a bike I couldn't give out accurate delivery dates and I didn't want to mislead people with false expectations. Hoping it would help I started a wait list to be on the build list. The wait list is now closed too. The simple truth is that I can't possibly build enough bikes to meet the demand - a wait list won't change that and hasn't helped ease people's frustrations. Sorry. I just have a mailing list now. A newsletter, much like this one, will let people know when I am taking orders again. I'm still building custom bikes and the limited production runs with Merlin are a brilliant alternative - it's not the end of the world

 

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I'll try and get another newsletter out before the year's out. Thanks again for the support and I hope you're getting some good rides in. I'm looking forward to SSWC ’07 - might see some of you there.

Jeff
Jeff Jones Custom Bicycles
www.jonesbikes.com

I try to answer all the email I get quickly but sometimes it may take a few days for me to get back to you. Sometimes it's easier for me to answer a question with a quick phone call. If possible include a phone number (and a good time for me to call) in your email.