Digging this thread up from the dead...
My girlfriend and I both got '09 Superbe Roadsters together and have had them for about a month.
I realize it's probably too late to be helpful to Frankinbiker, but there is precious little googlable info about this bike on the interwebs, so I figured I would contribute since this thread is one of the top google results.
Originally Posted by Frankinbike
I have a question about how the chain guard mounts to the bike. Is there a bracket that slips over the outside of the bottom bracket?
Pictures explain better than words, here you go:
one two three
Also note the eccentric bottom bracket. I didn't realize this about the bike until I got it.
Originally Posted by Frankinbike
Also, how do the cables attach to the down tubes? It looks like there is a plastic part that clips in. Is there a closed metal loop that the plastic fits into?
I'm not sure what the term is but they're the type of mount that seem to be used on disc brake bikes a lot, where full housing is run end to end. They come with little plastic clips, but I replaced some with zip ties so I could fit tail light wiring in there.
Pics of the brake cable holder thingies:
one two three
Originally Posted by Frankinbike
I would like to get a step through frame but I am 6'4" so I will probably have to get a diamond frame.
Since it is a thread less headset is it a problem to ensure that the handle bars are high enough?
My girlfriend got the larger step through (50cm I think), and it feels really small when I ride it, and I'm 5'11". So I doubt it would work very well for a tall guy.
I'm thinking about getting a higher rise stem for myself. I have the larger mens model (57cm) and would like a more upright posture.
Some other thoughts on the bike:
The fenders have actually been totally adequate. All of the water flung from tires is flung in a vertical line down the center of the tire anyway, so I had a feeling they'd be okay, but I was a bit wary. No problems at all. And I ride in Portland.
There are a few things I wish were different about the bike. The biggest one is tire clearance. It comes with 32mm tires and there isn't much room for anything bigger. I love Big Apples and wish I could use them. I also wish it were more upright, but that's personal preference. 36 spokes would be nice (it has 32 on both wheels). A kickstand mount would be nice. A sprung seat would be nice (I put a B66 on myself). And the last minor thing I can think of is that the most natural position for the brake levers (pointing mostly down, not out) makes the shifter indicator impossible to see.
Wait, thought of one more. The toe clips it comes with are annoying. I'm sure fixie riders love them for whatever reason (because they seem to use them a lot), but they seem pointless and incredibly tedious to use. And you can't just remove them, because the pedals naturally swing upside down due to how they're weighted, which is also obnoxious. So we replaced them with platforms. So much easier to use. Jump on and go. That's how I like bikes to be.
All in all though, it's an awesome bike! I looked high and low and there's really nothing that had the same critical features we wanted (steel frame, disc brakes, internal hub preferably Alfine, tasteful appearance, rack mounts, generator hub) without going custom (which would be nice but way too much money).
Here are all of
my pics and
my girlfriend's.
Lastly, I wish there was a good way to convey all this info to Raleigh. Their website contains no useful contact info for feedback. Sadly, I guess this is the price you pay for that mass produced affordability.