The Jamis Eden 26+ Sport Will Help You Start Riding Trails
Price: $999
Weight: 31 lb. (claimed, 16-in.)
Type: Entry-level, women’s hardtail
Material: Aluminum
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 1x10-speed
Wheel size: 26-in.
Travel: 120mm
The right bike for: Female mountain bikers who want to comfortably ride most singletrack
Mountain biking is technical from a gear perspective and a terrain perspective. Fear of the latter is one thing that keeps some would-be riders on the roads or, even worse, at home. The Eden 26+ Sport, a female-specific model from Jamis, was made for the off-roading newbie who wants an affordable bike that can roll over most trail obstacles and make up for not-yet-developed handling skills. This is primarily achieved by way of burly 3-inch WTB tires on tubeless 26-inch wheels with thru-axles. But a wide gear range (32t crank and 11-42t cassette) and a reliable, blended Shimano 1x10-speed groupset will also help keep you upright and moving forward on challenging sections of trail. Add in an extra-large 180mm front brake rotor for added stopping power and, as a result, more riding confidence, and you’ve got an all-trail mountain bike that is ready for all the dirt you can find.
Bigger Tires to Take on Bigger Obstacles
Although it’s certainly not a fat bike, the Eden 26+ Sport’s 3-inch tires and an RST Alpha TNL fork will offer you benefits like those bikes, minus the excess tire size and cargo capacity. A non-rigid fork and 3-inch tires allow you to float over minor roots and rocks (you may not even realize they’re there on easier sections of trail), and the added traction from the tires will be more forgiving as you develop handling skills than would more standard tire sizes. This setup will allow you to enjoy some of the benefits and feel without the added weight, or potential complications, of a full-suspension model. In short, this bike will make it easier for you to stay upright and enjoy trail riding than other bikes in this price range may.
Honorable mentions: This model is equipped with a WTB Deva Comp saddle designed for female riders. Another bonus is the internal cable routing and internal dropper post routing (although a dropper post would have to be purchased as an upgrade).
Blended Shimano Groupset
The Eden 26+ Sport rolls on 26 x 3-inch WTB Ranger tires (arguably the best part of this bike) and WTB Scraper i40 TCS tubeless 26-inch rims. An RST Alpha TNL 27.5/26+ fork with 120mm of travel adds to the cushioned ride. But, before you can get rolling you have to start pedaling. This bike has a blended Shimano 1x groupset that includes Shimano Deore, 1x10 shift levers, a Shimano Deore Shadows Plus rear derailleur, and a 32t SR Suntour Zeron crankset. Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, a 180mm front rotor, and a 160mm rear rotor give this bike its stopping power.
The Eden Bike Family
The Eden is the women’s version of Jamis’s Komodo series of mountain bikes. However, the Eden line has only two options compared with four Komodo builds. The lower end of the two-bike Eden line is the 26+ Sport (reviewed here), and the higher end is the 26+ Expert, which is available for $1,699.
The most noteworthy upgrades you would get with the 26+ Expert model include a KS eTen Integra dropper seatpost, a full SRAM NX 1x11 groupset, and a RockShox Recon Silver RL 27.5/26+ fork. There is undoubted value in this $700 upgrade, but if you are a beginner with little-to-no experience riding trails, then you should be plenty happy with the 26+ Sport model and its components.
Geometry
The Eden 26+ Sport comes in three sizes: 14-, 16-, and 18-inch-that are aimed to fit female riders ranging in height from 5 feet to 5-foot-10. The frame has a noticeably steep top tube, which provides a lower standover height that makes it easier to get on and off the bike. This is especially helpful when you’re learning to ride on trails and you hesitate-or have to bail-on technical sections.
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