Fifty Plus (50+) - Who says nobody makes practical road bikes anymore?

The Raleigh Sojourn (http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=5&itemid=427) sure looks like a good general purpose road bike. Not the ticket for hanging in a paceline with the hammerheads, but it should be a good comfortable and stylish choice for a commuter, credit card tourer, charity ride, cross-state ride etc.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/sojourn.jpg

Looks like something similar to what I was going for with Uncle Duke.

Looks sensible. And every time I look at it- I see the "OLD" Raleigh trait in it. Good bike for a lifetimes use. Can't see any thing wrong with it for those that would want a good solid tourer.

Glad to see that Raleigh are coming back to the ideals that made their good name.

I like it! I like it! Found some more pix and a mini-review here:

http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/new-test-bike-2008-raleigh-sojourn/

I love the color of the frame and the bar ends...very nice.

What a coincidence...I just ran across this bike last night and was doing some research on it. Apparently it's just reaching bike shops now. You can do a search here at BF and see the commentary on it. The biggest knock I've seen against it is that it has 32-spoke wheels and (apparently) fairly low-end rims. So people interested in a hard-core touring bike would want to upgrade the wheels.

From what I've seen of the frame geometry on the Raleigh site it would be a good bike for commuting, general riding, and touring (if you upgraded a couple of weak points).

Also really interesting that it comes stock with a Brooks saddle...so you don't have to immediately negotiate for an upgrade/swap as you're buying the bike (I wonder how many purchasers of this bike, though, will ask their LBS to *please* get rid of the nasty hard saddle..). And, terrific that it has Brooks bar grips, fenders and a rack -- it would be a great commuter or "rain bike" here in the Northwest.

I think if you were interested in serious touring this is a bike you could buy, and run through the stock wheels while you're getting used to the bike, and then upgrade the wheels before your first big out-of-town trip. Otherwise ride it stock until something breaks.

Could be a worth competitor to other bikes in this class -- the Surly Long Haul Trucker or Cross Check complete (about $950); the REI Novara Randonee ($900); or the Trek 520 (about $1200). A SOMA Smoothie is another nice steel bike you could build up to about this price.

Anybody have any thoughts on disc brakes for a touring bike? I reckon they have good stopping power, but would they be finicky on tour? My limited experience (with an older low-priced) set of disc brakes was not that wonderful.

The bike pictured looks like a commuter; in that case discs make perfect sense as they provide great stopping power in wet conditions. I have them on my commuter. I don't have them on my roadie as they weigh more and I don't take the roadie out in wet weather very much so they (discs) are seldom needed; also I haven't found a disc hub that is the same quality as my roadie hubs are. I find the (mechanical) discs are less "finicky" than rim brakes as they seldom need adjustment and adjustments when needed are quite easy.

Very pretty., but I'd rather skip the discs and add STI instead of the bar ends.

Comes with a bell!

that looks like a really good all round touring bike- I love the discs and the bar end shifters(you can keep your STI). It just needs a hub dynamo and lights and it would be great

Anybody have any thoughts on disc brakes for a touring bike? I reckon they have good stopping power, but would they be finicky on tour? My limited experience (with an older low-priced) set of disc brakes was not that wonderful.

My experience with disc brakes is that they are trouble free. Once set up- You never have to touch them. Only problem is that some work better than others. And some of the others don't work.

I'm with stapfam on disk brakes. My Portland has Avid BB7s and they're great--once you get them set up properly. You can look right down between the pads and the rotor to see if they're aligned properly. Mine weren't, and I had the dealer fix them. After that, they're golden.

In daily use and swapping wheelsets between road and snow tires, the only other thing is that it's easy to bend the rotors so they rub. If you're not swapping wheels all the time or you're more careful than I am, it's probably not an issue. They're just as easy to bend back, BTW.

An unexpected bonus is that when a wheel goes out of true, it doesn't affect braking at all. The downside, though, is that I have to use an actual truing stand to check them.

Comes with a bell!





Well, yes....but it doesn't say what kind. I'm concerned that I would need to upgrade to the ding-dong doorbell type that is my preference lately...;):)

haha I like the "plain" no decal look a lot.

I like it! I like it! Found some more pix and a mini-review here:

http://www.dirtragmag.com/blogarific/new-test-bike-2008-raleigh-sojourn/

That is where I first saw it. Dirt Rag is a great magazine, BTW. Much more than just a mountain bike magazine.

Sneaking in (cause you guys have all the cool threads).

More kudos for Raleigh.

That is a great looking ride... all it needs is an internal gear hub and a hub generator mounted to some sweeter wheels to make it perfect.

:D

Sneaking out now.

Re: discs vs. rim brakes.

I've never owned disc brakes, but I've been riding my Trek pretty hard over the winter (commuting) and I've pretty much trashed the rims after about 1800 miles of riding. Part of it was my fault -- the pads were picking up bits of aluminum from the rims, and that really wrecked the rims before I noticed. Part of it is the daily grind of the way I use the brakes -- I have a fair number of steep, sharp descents on my commute and I'm on the brakes a fair amount. (Also, I don't think the stock Bontrager Maverick rims are particularly rugged).

In any case, I now see why some hard-core commuters advocate discs -- I would rather replaces pads than my rims every few thousand miles.

Anybody have any thoughts on disc brakes for a touring bike? I reckon they have good stopping power, but would they be finicky on tour? My limited experience (with an older low-priced) set of disc brakes was not that wonderful.

Jet,
They appear to be Avid BB7s -- very highly rated mechanical discs. I have them on my Trek MTB and love them. Smooth and very reliable stopping power. I don't see why they wouldn't work well on a touring bike set up.

O.S.

They are BB5 road discs according to the Raleigh site. Still a good brakeset, lacking some of the convenient adjustments on the 7s. Discs seem to be very reliable in some rough conditions on MTBs. I would think road duty would be a walk in the park for them.

My wife has disc brakes on her old road bike (Redline Conquest D) and her new road bike (Lemond Poprad) and absolutely loves them. Insists upon them actually.

First tried them in hydraulic form on her mountain bike (Giant XT-C), and quickly went shopping for a road bike with discs. Both of her road bikes have Avid mechanical disc brakes, and both work quite well.

Yes, they are a bit heavier, so I don't think you'll see them in the pro peloton, but for normal road use they work great.

Rick / OCRR

Re: discs vs. rim brakes.

I've never owned disc brakes, but I've been riding my Trek pretty hard over the winter (commuting) and I've pretty much trashed the rims after about 1800 miles of riding. Part of it was my fault -- the pads were picking up bits of aluminum from the rims, and that really wrecked the rims before I noticed. Part of it is the daily grind of the way I use the brakes -- I have a fair number of steep, sharp descents on my commute and I'm on the brakes a fair amount. (Also, I don't think the stock Bontrager Maverick rims are particularly rugged).

In any case, I now see why some hard-core commuters advocate discs -- I would rather replaces pads than my rims every few thousand miles.

I find I wear out rims on V Braked wheels in about 18 months to 2 years on the MtB that is used offroad. By that time the Hubs are on the way out in any case so before they pack up completely- I buy new wheels. XT hubs and Mavic XC rims and the old wheels are passed on to any of my neighbours kids that have poor quality wheels. They seem to get another couple of years use out of them before they cause any problems though.


N.B.---- Haven't worn out any MTB wheels in the last 2 years as I do more road work now- but I estimate the milage to have been about 3,000 miles to a set of wheels- but that is offroad. The Tandem has Disc brakes and other than change the fluid and pads at around 4,000 miles- I never have to touch them.

Glad to see that Raleigh are coming back to the ideals that made their good name.

BTW, this bike is from the American Raleigh, a completely different company from Raleigh in the UK. They bought the rights to use the Raleigh name here in the states back in the 1980s.

Best,
tcs

Hmmm. Do they have one with more upscale components?

That's the bike that would make sense for me to own. The shop that I work at is even a Raleigh dealer so I assume that I could get one at EP (below wholesale) price. Not gonna happen.

My worst nightmere is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was. I'd like to leave them with the material for some more interesting stories than that.

Here's the Raleigh One Way, too!

http://raleighcommutes.blogspot.com/2007/08/ss_2713.html

Here's the Raleigh One Way, too!

http://raleighcommutes.blogspot.com/2007/08/ss_2713.html

Other than the disk brakes and deep-section rims, it looks like something I'd buy. And an awful lot of the people for whom it'd make perfect sens won't buy it 'cause it doesn't look like what Lance rides.

Scott P
Bend, OR

Saw this beautiful bike - a Masi Special CX - at a Portland bike shop yesterday. It's just under $1,000. Looks great, nicely equipped; beautiful all-round steel bike. It looked to me like this was a very good deal for what you get.

http://www.masibikes.com/cycles/speciale_cx.php

Saw this beautiful bike - a Masi Special CX - at a Portland bike shop yesterday. It's just under $1,000. Looks great, nicefully outfitted; beautiful all-round steel bike.

http://www.masibikes.com/cycles/speciale_cx.php

That's the bike I was asking about a few weeks ago when I couldn't think of it's name. I saw one in an LBS I don't usually frequent. Beautiful bike!

One more bike that I saw in a bike shop Friday for the first time -- this really caught my eye. Steel, with stainless lugs...Ultegra components...price was just under $2,000. Apparently this is new for 2008.

http://www.konaworld.com/08_kapu_w.htm

More of a racing-style bike than the others in this thread.

I have BB5's on my Coda and they are superb. To the point that I have to wonder why all bikes don't have them. No fade, reliable, very positive, no futzing around required to remove wheel, no wear and tear on rim, mechanically simple. What's not to like?

Saw this beautiful bike - a Masi Special CX - at a Portland bike shop yesterday. It's just under $1,000. Looks great, nicely equipped; beautiful all-round steel bike. It looked to me like this was a very good deal for what you get.

http://www.masibikes.com/cycles/speciale_cx.php

Sweet bike! It is a shame Masi dropped the Speciale Carbon fromt their lineup. The "new" Masi gets no love over on the road fourm but I think they offer alot for the money.

I saw, handled, and rode (briefly) a Raleigh Sojourn today. Very pretty bike. Smooth rider too. Love the colors and the Brooks saddle & handlebar tape is a nice touch. First time I've ridden a bike with handlebars like this, where the drops flare out. A real eye-catcher.

It is also the heaviest bike I've ever picked up - outside of some recumbents and trikes. Felt like it was up around 34-35 pounds. My Trek 7600 hybrid is close to 30 pounds and the Sojourn felt several pounds heavier. Of course weight isn't as big a deal on touring bikes.

The Raleigh Sojourn (http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=5&itemid=427) sure looks like a good general purpose road bike. Not the ticket for hanging in a paceline with the hammerheads, but it should be a good comfortable and stylish choice for a commuter, credit card tourer, charity ride, cross-state ride etc.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/sojourn.jpg

Looks like something similar to what I was going for with Uncle Duke.

Oh, a white bike. Do tell. ;)

It's a light beige, they call it sand. The fenders are an aluminum'ish metal tone.

Very pretty. Beige isn't my favorite color, but I like it on the bike with the coordinating saddle and bar tape. One of the guys who rode with us in the memorial ride (roadfix) has a nice fixie in the same color scheme and I admired its simplicity and beauty. I admired the flashy bikes too but, in this case, less was definitely more.

I saw the Specialized Langster Seattle fixie today too. Green bike, green accent on the rims, woodgrain fenders, and nice little umbrellas painted along the top tube.

http://www.whittiercyclery.net/images/seallte_2hu6.jpg

I saw, handled, and rode (briefly) a Raleigh Sojourn today. Very pretty bike. Smooth rider too. Love the colors and the Brooks saddle & handlebar tape is a nice touch. First time I've ridden a bike with handlebars like this, where the drops flare out. A real eye-catcher.

It is also the heaviest bike I've ever picked up - outside of some recumbents and trikes. Felt like it was up around 34-35 pounds. My Trek 7600 hybrid is close to 30 pounds and the Sojourn felt several pounds heavier. Of course weight isn't as big a deal on touring bikes.

I had my Fuji World touring bike in the shop a couple weeks ago and they had brand new Sojourn on the floor. When I picked it up I about got a hernia! So for giggles we put it on the scale - 34.9lbs. Then we weighed my Fuji...with rack, fenders, Brooks B17 and leather tape - 28lbs.

I saw the Specialized Langster Seattle fixie today too....nice little umbrellas painted along the top tube.

That whole rain thing is a myth...keeps the population down.

It's a light beige, they call it sand. The fenders are an aluminum'ish metal tone.

"Sand", "beige", "ivory", "eggshell" = euphemisms for white.

Where's DG? He knows all about standing up for the white bike.

"Sand", "beige", "ivory", "eggshell" = euphemisms for white.

Where's DG? He knows all about standing up for the white bike.

No, white is white. It's not eggshell, or beige, or ivory. It's pure white. All the others have the extra weight of color pigments. Not that they're not almost pretty attractive, but let's not confuse them with white. White's white.

No, white is white. It's not eggshell, or beige, or ivory. It's pure white. All the others have the extra weight of color pigments. Not that they're not almost pretty attractive, but let's not confuse them with white. White's white.

:rolleyes:

Sigh.

WhatEVer.

They're all shades of white to me.

I had my Fuji World touring bike in the shop a couple weeks ago and they had brand new Sojourn on the floor. When I picked it up I about got a hernia! So for giggles we put it on the scale - 34.9lbs. Then we weighed my Fuji...with rack, fenders, Brooks B17 and leather tape - 28lbs.

Ah, so my "arm scale" was very accurate in estimating 34-35 pounds. It caught me off-guard too, I almost lost my balance when I picked it up.

Too bad it's such a tank. The frame tubing and wheels must really be heavy. It shouldn't make much difference for casual riding, but lighter would be better.

No, white is white. It's not eggshell, or beige, or ivory. It's pure white. All the others have the extra weight of color pigments. Not that they're not almost pretty attractive, but let's not confuse them with white. White's white.

Could we at least make some concession for "pearl" white or maybe white with a little sparkle in it.

I remember being in the Navy.....when we painted white on an overhead, we added some blue to it so it would look white, not dirty.

Too bad it's such a tank. The frame tubing and wheels must really be heavy. It shouldn't make much difference for casual riding, but lighter would be better.

It was one of the bikes I was considering for a tourer until I saw the weight:( It's a great looking bike but I'm afraid the weight is just a tad too much for me.

Why do people always complain about heavy bikes? Doesn't pushing all that weight around give you a good workout?

Why do people always complain about heavy bikes? Doesn't pushing all that weight around give you a good workout?

Good point..........Placed right there with accelerating back up to speed after slowing for walkers on the MUP...........:)

Light bikes are why people lust after sports cars, not pinto's. Or camera's with more buttons than one person can remember how to use. Or stoves with +/_ 1deg accuracies in the oven. Or my favorite..........a scale that will allow me to weigh 200+ lbs to the nearest 10th.

Could we at least make some concession for "pearl" white or maybe white with a little sparkle in it.

What do they call that creamy pearl color on the Cadillac Escalades? That'd look great on a bike frame.

Why do people always complain about heavy bikes? Doesn't pushing all that weight around give you a good workout?

There you go using that "W" word. "Work" Some of us are more into words that start with "F" - like "fun".


I don't train. I don't workout. I don't even exercise. I play. Fun is good!

Sneaking in (cause you guys have all the cool threads).



Sneaking out now.

I checked out your bikes, you don't have to sneak in here....:D

Could we at least make some concession for "pearl" white or maybe white with a little sparkle in it.

I remember being in the Navy.....when we painted white on an overhead, we added some blue to it so it would look white, not dirty.

Pearl white is acceptable. It's dangerously close to crossing the line, but it's acceptable. :D

If you're thinking about buying this bike as a loaded tourer I suggest you do a search on the touring board. People there had some reservations about it, though as I recall most admitted it's a step in a good direction.