General Cycling Discussion - Raleigh Hybrid Bikes?

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CalAaron
04-21-08, 08:18 PM
Hi all,
I'm in the market for an upgrade (currently riding a Gary Fisher hybrid I bought a few years ago for $400) and met a real nice guy at a local bike shop that stocks Raleigh. I'm looking to spend in the neighborhood of $1,500 (actually, my biker boss is buying it for me as a bonus!) and he suggested this - http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/performance-hybrid/cadent-fc/. He said it's basically a road bike with the more upright seating, which I do really like about my hybrid. I'm a bit of a dummy when it comes to components and don't get much out of comparing specs...can anyone please let me know if this looks like a good deal or if I should be looking a different direction? I also don't know much about Raleigh, so if people have good/bad experiences, I'd really appreciate passing any word along.

Mostly I use the bike for commuting (about 9 miles each way on decently paved bike path), but I'll also do the occasional 50-75 mile ride and am riding SF to LA this summer (although at a leisurely pace with my girlfriend).

Thanks for any advice!!

Happy Riding,
Aaron

Saintly Loser
04-22-08, 09:35 AM
Mostly I use the bike for commuting (about 9 miles each way on decently paved bike path), but I'll also do the occasional 50-75 mile ride and am riding SF to LA this summer (although at a leisurely pace with my girlfriend).

Strictly my opinion, of course, and others may differ for quite good reasons, but I don't think this is the bike for you.

First, the frame is carbon. Nothing wrong with that (except for the risk of fatal crash damage) but it doesn't appear to have fittings for rack mounting (specs say there are fender mounts, presumably at the dropouts, but nothing about mounts on the seatstays). For longer rides, like SF to LA, you're going to have to carry stuff.

Second, I think for the kind of riding you describe you'd be better off with a triple crank than the Sora compact that comes with this bike.

Speaking of Sora, you could, for the same $1,500, get an aluminum bike with nicer components.