Jamis Hudson 3

Jamis Hudson 3 - M

Jamis Bicycles has been featured previously for their popular Commuter series, which have a "fast hybrid" look. This bike is a little more relaxed, aimed at a recreational or around-town audience.

Similar to the Raleigh Circa or the Electra Townie, the Jamis Hudson 3 is a comfort or "hybrid" bike with an 7-speed internal gear hub, upright riding position and relaxed frame geometry, for about $600. Like the Raleigh bikes, it lacks fenders, but has fender and rear rack attachment points. It also appears to lack a kick-stand. However, the front chainring and chainguard are well designed and should keep your pants clean. 

The choice of straight handlebars on a comfort-oriented bike of this type is odd; Electra does the same thing with the Townie, and it feels strange there as well.  The quick-release wheels and seatpost clamps are fine for a recreational or rural rider, but a poor choice in the city. But, at this price, one could afford a few modifications. Fenders, LED lights, a change of handlebars, and a rear rack would still leave the price below $700 for a fully equipped bike for the rest of us.

SPECIFICATIONS

Frame	6061 TIG-welded aluminum, Hudson laid-back design with low ride height,
Fork	SR Suntour NEX4600-V2 suspension fork, alloy crown and sliders, 63mm travel
Headset	Internal cup, threaded, 1 1/8”
Wheels/Hubs	Shimano Nexus-7 rear and Formula alloy front QR hubs, Alex C1000 alloy rims, 36H, 14g stainless steel spokes
Tires	Jamis Sport Comfort, 26 x 1.95”, skinwall
Shifter	Shimano Nexus RevoShift SL-7S10, 7-speed
Chain	KMC Z51
Cog	Shimano Nexus, 20T
Crankset	Forged alloy crank, single 42T chainring, 170mm, with full length chainguard
BB Set	Sealed cartridge, 68 x 122.5mm
Pedals	Classic block-style
Brakes	Tektro forged alloy direct pull brakes with Tektro alloy comfort levers
Handlebar	Hi-rise comfort, 15º sweep x 80mm rise x 640mm wide
Stem	Jamis alloy, 180mm quill x 80mm extension
Grips	Kraton comfort
Seat Post	Alloy micro-adjust, 31.6 x 350mm, with alloy QR clamp
Saddle	Jamis Comfort with memory foam, synthetic suede top, bumper springs
Sizes	M: S (13”), M (15)”, L (18”), XL (21”) F: S (14”), M (17”)
Color	M: Blue Slate or Pearl White F: Seafoam or Pearl White

Jamis Hudson 3 - W - Step-thru

Geometry

Unlike the Electra Townie, with its "crank-forward" design, the Hudson achieves a far-back, low seat the old-fashioned way, with a slack, 67 degree seat tube angle. This really is superior, since the bottom bracket is at the place where the tubes meet, providing greater strength and better looks, and the angle between the pedals and the seat is the same no matter how high your raise the seat. The shallow seat tube angle puts your legs farther forward in relation to your hips, allowing the gluteus muscles to be better used while sitting in an upright position, compared to a hybrid or comfort bike with a steep (say 74 degree) seat tube angle. It also makes it easy to put a foot down at a red light without leaving the saddle.

Specifications for the Jamis Hudson:

SIZE	SEAT TUBE	TOP TUBE	HT ANGLE	ST ANGLE	CHAIN-STAY	WHEEL-BASE	FORK RAKE	BB HEIGHT	HEAD-TUBE
S	313	570	70˚	67˚	485	1057	45	265	120
M	362	587	70˚	67˚	485	1073	45	265	140
L	400	614	70˚	67˚	485	1099	45	265	175
XL	479	638	70˚	67˚	485	1120	45	265	210
S-W	160	574	70˚	67˚	485	1057	45	265	165
M-W	190	601	70˚	67˚	485	1085	45	265	165

The Hudson is also available with a derailleur, and without a suspension fork, for $400, comparable to many hybrid or comfort bikes. This frame has a nicer sweep to it, due to the normal front fork, and front suspension doesn't do much on an upright bike like this, where most of the rider's weight will be over the rear tire. Jamis would do better to give the Hudson 3 a regular steel fork, while adding a suspension seatpost, or to go with wider tires, like the Schwalbe Big Apples or Fat Franks. But if you like its looks currently, it's a good buy.

Jamis Hudson 1 - Pearl Black