Steel: Raleigh Record Ace, Masi Gran Criterium, or Jamis Quest???
 

Hello road bike pros!

So I am interested in getting a road bike for the first time! (I have always only had one gear...)
I really enjoy steel.
I have been looking through the inter-web and concluded that the three bikes listed above are probably my best options.
My question to you guys is...
Which one is the best for the $$$ and overall ride?
If you have any other recommendations please share!

Thank you!

I had a Quest and thought it rode well and was a good value. I'm not sure Masi is a "real" bike company any longer, may just be an internet decal job. Raleigh, of course, is not the Raleigh of old but they sell them at REI so I expect they have a decent product and support.

Your list of possibilities covers some range of price so it is hard to know where you really want to be. I realize you may not be up to having a bike built to spec for you from a frame, but I highly recommend the Ritchey Logic frame set. Ritchey makes wonderful riding, very light frames. I have his Break-Away take apart travel frame and it is the best riding bicycle I have ever owned. At 3.9 lb (frame only) the Logic is crazy light (for steel) and comes with the excellent, also very light Ritchey Logic Carbon fork and a Ritchey headset. The frame is $1,299 from Ritchey, but you may be able to get it with some discount as part of a built up package from a pro level bike shop. It is a shame these don't come a built bikes.

Gunnar

The rights to the Masi name in North America are owned by the BMX company Haro, who sources their frames from Asia. Apparently they are designed in-house, though, and made to spec in Asia.

When I was looking at each of the bikes they all sat in the same relative price range (about 2000) with the nearly all the same 105 components.
The only real differences are the types of Reynolds steel used for the frame.

That logic looks awesome! I agree, it would be great if they had a built up option.

As far as name goes... I don't really care.
As long as the frame is solid and fits me right I am a happy camper.

May I ask why? They look like fun!

Bianchi Vigorelli or Imola are my votes. I really enjoy those.

I would sapre money and get this http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/stee...ernational-13/ because of the 853 tubeset and the dura ace equipment

I've always liked the look of the 2007 mens Quest (trad geo). White with red.
The latest WSD Quest is also white with red.

Nice.

If i had an extra 4 grand to drop I would get the International without a second thought but... :innocent:

I think the Bianchi Vegorelli is nice but isn't Sram Apex a lower quality than the Shimano 105 stuff?