Road Cycling - Raleigh R700

New to riding for the purpose of fitness and maybe some racing. My budget is $1200 and have been looking at seveal bikes in that range but I keep coming back to the Raleigh R700. Any thoughts on the brand and or that model. Thanks.
http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=5&itemid=84

Why do you come back to the Raleigh?

Rich

The R700 looks to be a great combination of price and components. I like the way it rides, as much as I can tell from test riding other bikes, and it looks good. The reviews I that I have read on different websites all have good things to say. Only complaints seem to be a heavy seat post and wheels. I am new so probably won't know the difference my first season out.

Nothing wrong with a Raleigh, you get a lot of bang for the buck with them. You might also check out Giant's OCR 1 at $1100. It is very similar but has 105 rather than Ultegra. The Fuji Roubaix is also in that area at $1299. Don't get too hung up on the paintjob or slight differences in parts spec. The most important thing in a road bike is great fit. Be sure that the bike shop you deal with sells you a bike that fits properly as fit should be the deciding factor in your bike search. Parts spec and paint are important, but not at the top of the list.

-Ryan

My 2003 Cannondale R600 (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/03/cusa/model-3RR6D.html) with a CAAD5 Frame, Shimano 105/ Tiagra drivetrain was $1199. I love it.

www.bicycledoctor.net - Raleigh R700 - A full Ultegra bike, carbon fork, Shimano R535 wheels for $1099! I'd go for it if I was looking for a new ride!

If you do the above for $1099, you may be able to get them to swap out the wheels for a set of Ksyrium Elites for that extra $100 you will have in your pocket. The R700 looks/sounds like a sweet ride.

I would go for the $ 1,099 deal. I have bought 2 Raleighs in the last 2 years and have had excellent results. I too, have a small budget and buy my bkes based on price/value. I bought a 2000 R800 for $ 1,035 from a ski shop during ski season. And then bought a 2001 R300 from the same shop for $ 349 in the fall of 2002. Both bikes retailed for almost twice as much. The only downside is that the ski shop is not bike service oriented, but I do most of my repairs and maintenance myself and buy most parts and clothes over the internet. I also do a lot of research/homework on frame sizing, components, etc. before I buy anything. I am now looking for a 1970's Raleigh DL-1 3 speed city bike to compliment my collection.

I have a '99 R600. I can't say enough good about it. It is light, quick and stiff. What you put into it is what you get out of it. The only upgrades I've made are better clipless pedals and a carbon fork. The carbon fork is a good thing. The 105 triple has been a dream. Never have had a problem. Raleigh will be my next bike. Unless of course I win the lottery. Then it will be a lightspeed!!! zoom zoom:D

I bought the 2003 replacement model of the R700, the Competition. The weather hasn't cooperated though and I only have 50 miles on it since I took delivery. But I can say this - it's a great ride! For the price vs value I really think it is absolutely one of the best deals out there. I would go for it!

I would suggest against it. Although all the people that have bought an R700 from our shop recommend them, I find them to be rather heavy and haven't been tremendously impressed with the ride. I would suggest looking at offerings from either Specialized or Cannondale-I'd say you get a better frame from them and thus a better platform for future upgrades.

Originally posted by Waldo
I would suggest against it. Although all the people that have bought an R700 from our shop recommend them, I find them to be rather heavy and haven't been tremendously impressed with the ride. I would suggest looking at offerings from either Specialized or Cannondale-I'd say you get a better frame from them and thus a better platform for future upgrades.

HUH?? My Competition weighs only 20 lbs! I don't need a "name" to make me feel good about my bike. Tell me another bike that is close in components, weight, and price. IMHO

Originally posted by wmax67
New to riding for the purpose of fitness and maybe some racing.

...I keep coming back to the Raleigh R700.

The first bike I purchased when I got back into riding in 1999 was a Raleigh R600. My bike shop recommended it over a Fuji and a Jamis. They said I'd get a lot more bang for the buck, including full 105 components.
It's now my trusty commuter.


Go for the Raleigh. :beer:
Be aware that some racers will make "comments" about Raleigh so be prepared. :(

FWIW I got an R600 last July. This winter I haven't been able to ride it much, but I've put over 600 miles on it and I love it.

Originally posted by wyobiker
HUH?? My Competition weighs only 20 lbs! I don't need a "name" to make me feel good about my bike. Tell me another bike that is close in components, weight, and price. IMHO
Whoa, easy killer. Didn't mean to get you all riled up there, and it's got nothing to do with the name-I work at a Raleigh dealer, remember?
Only 20 lbs? You say that like that's a good thing. The R700 had a straight gauge alu frame which is a fair amount heavier than the butted frames other manufacturers offer. The house-brand carbon fork with alloy steerer is not the lightest around either (though not much worse than others in this price range)Component-wise, you get great value. Frame-wise, not so much. As you can always upgrade components, we try to urge our customers to go with the nicest frame they can afford. That's all I'm saying. For me, it wouldn't be the choice; for others it is a great choice.

Originally posted by Waldo

Only 20 lbs? You say that like that's a good thing.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the "comparable" Cannondale (2000?) weighs in at appriximately the same weight. At least that is what the dealer told my son when he was looking. I have, so far, been successful in convincing him (my son) to look beyond the "name" and consider other bikes.

While you are looking at upgrading components on a frame, I look at it another way. Worse case is to replace the frame with my components. Break out the components and their associated costs and it really looks like Raleigh is just throwing in the frame. IMHO

The comparable Cannondale would be the R600 (in price; if you want an Ultegra bike it would be the $2300 R2000 which will weigh significantly less as it features their CAAD7 frame and other nice components). The frame itself (back to the R600) will be a fair amount lighter, though the wheels are tanks. It should be around 18 pounds (in a comparable size, of course). I'll have one weighed at our shop and find out. Yes, you basically get the frame on the Raleigh for free, and like I said it's a good value from that persepctive.

Forget about what components the bike comes with - it really isn't that important. I doubt having 105 or Ultegra will really make a difference...and the line is especially blurred when you start mixing and matching.

The frame is indeed the most important...and there's a reason sometimes why a 'name' is preferred and why some people are willing to pay for the 'name' - not just because they're snobby cyclists and like to show off, but because that name had to earn its distinction somewhere and has had to keep it.

Similarly with Raleigh, there's a reason why 'snobby' cyclists would look down on them - the company decided to go really low end for some of their x-mart bikes and it doesn't reflect well on their better offerings - consequently, there's a stigma of it being crap.

Originally posted by KennethToronto
Forget about what components the bike comes with - it really isn't that important. The frame is indeed the most important

So let me understand this ... you'd take a Cannondale CAAD frame with Sora over a Raleigh with Durace? I respect your opinion and that would be your choice, but myself I'd take the better components any day.

Wyobiker, you might want to check your price points. The Cannondale R400 (mostly Sora with Tiagra rear derailleur) retails at $849. If I could get a Raleigh with Dura Ace at that price I would be downright afraid of the frame and other components on it. All I am saying (and I believe Kenneth agrees with me on this one) is that at a given price point, you can get a nicer frame from other manufacturers. Along with this, we'd rather upgrade components in the future as it is cheaper and easier.

Originally posted by Waldo
Wyobiker, you might want to check your price points. The Cannondale R400 (mostly Sora with Tiagra rear derailleur) retails at $849. If I could get a Raleigh with Dura Ace at that price I would be downright afraid of the frame and other components on it. All I am saying (and I believe Kenneth agrees with me on this one) is that at a given price point, you can get a nicer frame from other manufacturers. Along with this, we'd rather upgrade components in the future as it is cheaper and easier.

Obviously your not researching the components Raleigh is using. I think you are blinded (IMO) by the "name" thing. I didn't say that the Raleigh with Durace is $849. I was trying to point while I think frame does have a bearing it is the blending of the parts that make the bike. Both Cannondale and Raleigh are Alum and I think if Raleigh was to push their marketing on their frame the way Cannondale does, they would be viewed differently.

Originally posted by wyobiker
Obviously your not researching the components Raleigh is using. I think you are blinded (IMO) by the "name" thing.
I'll pass on researching the components on the Raleigh. I've been selling them for a while and know firsthand how it builds up, how it rides, and I get a good deal of feedback from our customers.
Obviously you are failing to grasp what I am saying. First of all, you brought up the Raleigh with D/A vs. a Cannondale with Sora. How is that a fair comparison when the Raleigh is about twice as expensive? Let's look at two bikes at the SAME price point before we get too carried away here.
As far as the name thing, as I said before our shop carries Specialized, Litespeed, Cannondale, and Raleigh as our primary road brands. We can rule out the Litespeeds because even the Vela is a little more expensive than the bikes previously under consideration. I've ridden the Raleigh, Cannondale, and Specialized offerings in this price range and would have to say I preferred the ride of the Cannondale and Specialized to that of the Raleigh (not even considering the weight penalty incurred with the Raleigh). I could care less about names. I ride Yetis because they're good guys building frames in the USA and practically no one else around here rides 'em. I get paid to sell bikes, not any one brand in particular. I sold a fair amount of R700's last year, all of which have gotten good reviews. From my perspective I just think there's better ways to go if it is a bike for the long-term.
The frame is the heart of the bike-you can change subtle things about it by changing the rake of your fork, along with other subtle changes in stem/bar/post/wheels/tires etc. that will have a slight affect on the feel of the bike. However, its intrinsic ride characteristics-how it handles turns, how stable it is on a fast descent, how harsh the ride is, how it reacts in a sprint, etc. are all determined by the frame. This is why I look at the frame first and go from there.
I doubt this will help you to see my point any better, but I thought I'd give it one more shot. I'm glad you are happy with your purchase, I just have a difference of opinion.

Originally posted by wyobiker
So let me understand this ... you'd take a Cannondale CAAD frame with Sora over a Raleigh with Durace? I respect your opinion and that would be your choice, but myself I'd take the better components any day.

If it was a CAAD7 frame...yes I probably would :D

They're just components after all...I could swap our a rear derailleur here, a crankset there...and before you know it, I have the same bike that the pros are riding :D

Personally, I don't care much about the components. I ride a mix of Ultegra/105 stuff...it could be all 105 or all Ultegra, I doubt I'd be able to tell. However, working at a bike shop last summer, I got the opportunity to test out a ton of road bikes - Litespeeds, Cdales, Bianchis, Giants - and each of them had different geometries that greatly impacted the 'feel' of the ride. To me, some frames were definitively better yet I found it hard to tell the difference between a 105 or Ultegra or Dura Ace rear derailleur or the differences in component specs.

Basically, my point is that I rarely let the components guide my decision...sure, maybe the "name" brands do advertise their bikes more, but if Raleigh's frames were really as good as the 'name' brands, I think most people would see through the commercial hype (unless you assume we're all idiots who are easily swayed by pr bs) and start riding Raleigh frames (I don't see many Raleigh frames...in fact, I've yet to see a single one show up in the shop..and we work on a LOT of bikes).

I got full 105's plus on my felt SR71 for $899.Bang for the buck?

I am ridding a R600 2001 model. The frame is identical to the R700 2001. I managed to upgrade the components to Dura Ace. The bike weights in about 18.5 lb. The frame with the headset isn't all that light. 3.5lb. I have no compliant. This bike serves me well over 6000 miles and I climb short, rolling hills with a 53 x 18 gear ratio. The frame stands up well. :D It was my first expensive, serious road bike. Last week I bought an Orbea Carbon Force frame (with megatube down and top tubes and carbon seat stay) from Ebay. Fork+frame+shipping around $730. Brand new with Orbea warranty. I thought that I really want a race frame with an standout brand new.

In my book it goes:
Frame
Wheelset
Components

The frame, no matter who makes it, is primary. A frame that delivers a ride you personally don't like just plain stinks!

The biggest difference I noticed was upgrading my wheelset.

Components (if you start with a decent groupo), are what you "upgrade" when you need a new piece of eye candy on your ride :D

Oh yeah, throw a nice seat in the mix somewhere as well.

If it rides to your liking, then your good to go!
Good luck on your purchase. :beer:

I went with the R700 and am very happy with it after putting in an easy 40mi ride this past weekend. My LBS gave me a great deal and they were very helpful comparing different bikes. Thanks for all the feedback. :D

Originally posted by wmax67
I went with the R700 and am very happy with it after putting in an easy 40mi ride this past weekend. My LBS gave me a great deal and they were very helpful comparing different bikes. Thanks for all the feedback. :D

Good for you! Congratulations on your new ride.:beer:

Here's wishing you many miles of riding enjoyment.

i have this exact bike- put a pair of ksyrium ssc sl's on it. love it- zero complaints- go for it!

New to riding for the purpose of fitness and maybe some racing. My budget is $1200 and have been looking at seveal bikes in that range but I keep coming back to the Raleigh R700. Any thoughts on the brand and or that model. Thanks.
http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=5&itemid=84

For the purpose that you describe you CAN'T get a better bang for bucks bike. I bought a 01 R700 a few months ago, it is the best bike I've ever had or probably ever have the need for. It was in PERFECT condition with higher end bars and steering stem for 800 dollers.You can't beat that. ;) :D

It's a damn good looking bike too. And avery review I read about it is very good.

It's a damn good looking bike too. And avery review I read about it is very good.
The 02 came with Shimmano wheels.

I bought the '02 R700 after shopping around. I wanted the most bang for the buck, and I believe I got that in terms of components in comparison to a similar Specialized allez. However, the frame is lacking when compared to the Specialized. I wasn't buying it with racing in mind, except for maybe a triathlon one day.

6,800 miles and one year later on this frame and its a completely different story. The frame has major disadvantages. Vertical compliance is lacking, and the frame seems to transmit all vibrations directly to the rider. Specialized bar phat has cured the hand vibration. I have not ventured to purchase a carbon post to smooth the roads out, nor will i in the interest of keeping weight. Lateral stiffness on the other hand, doesn't seem to be there either. A hard effort on the pedals will flex the bottom bracket. Durability of the frame is good, I have been hard on the frame, and there are no dents or cracks (6'1" and 180 pounds on pot-holed roads). Some lesser models of Raleighs in my local area have had cracking headtube welds. The lack of butting in the tubing adds weight. In my case, this isnt a bad thing, as I have dedicated this bike to being the training work-horse. The short top tube that is common on these frames makes for some slow corners. This was not evident until I got serious about bike racing and bought an '03 S-Works frame to race on.

I will likely hold onto this frame until I find a heavy frame that has more vertical compliance for long training rides, steel or titanium. The weight on this frame is a great training tool in sprints or hill climbs, forcing me to put in a little extra effort when compared to my friends on their R3000 Cannondales and Mayo Orbeas.

Tiger,

I had a similar experience when I bought my Klein frameset. After 8 years and around 10 miles, I was told my frame had used up it's fatigue life. Apparently, aluminum frames loose their shock absorbing quality (if any) after so many years and would ride really harsh after some time. So, beware when you purchase another bike with aluminum frame.

FYI, I also purchased a Raleigh, a Professional, which was part of their Road Heritage series in 2002-2003. The frame is Columbus Zona steel with a carbon fork and Campy Chorus equipment. I've been a much comfortable cyclist ever since. Good luck on your search for that perfect bike (for you).

Luis

I'll say this. I had a 2002 Raleigh R500. It's a decent bike for the price I paid. Tiagra/105 components.. paid $600. However, I soon discovered that it's more important to get a FRAME you can build on than components. The Raleigh frame was heavy and didn't transfer power well.

Most important? FIT and how the bike feels to YOU! Forget the components at this level. If you're 105 or above, go with the bike with the best frame and the best feel for you personally. If that's still the Raleigh, by all means.. buy it! But don't buy it for the component set. It's the wrong reason.

Try them all in the price range, one should really stand out to you... Buy that bike!

NOTE: I'm looking on the Raleigh site, and it indicates that the R700 hasn't been made since 2002. There is no record of a 2003 or 2004 model. The models that they DO list show an Ultegra group with a 105 BB and what I would call a 535 wheelset. That being said, it's got decent components. The achilles heal of this bike IS the frame.