IcySmooth52

I was wondering which one of these two models would be more on the crit racer side of handling: Raleigh Militis, or Lapierre Xelius?Raleigh Bicycles - Militis 3
http://www.lapierre-bikes.co.uk/2015/bikes-road-race/xelius-efi-400

It's not a question on bike fit, but how it'll handle/ride in comparison. And neither of these models exist within 250 miles of me, so no test rides to answer my question.

dtrain

What are we going to do for thread starters around here once you finally make a decision?

RollCNY

Insufficient data on geometry charts.

rpenmanparker 

You can't really expect ride differences unless head and seat tube angles are really different, fork rake/trail is not adjusted to compensate for the difference, and/or the length of the bike and/or stays are really different. None of that appears to be the case here. As for fit (I know, I know, you said it isn't about that), the sizing is different, but the several of the same or very similar combinations of TT and HT length exist in both bike lines albeit labeled differently. I don't see much to choose between them without explicit reviews of how they ride or your own test rides. There is nothing in those charts to suggest much difference. There is too much information missing from one or both charts. But even if you had more data, only a test ride can really tell you what you want to know.

rpenmanparker 

If information like you are requesting is really important to you, you should limit yourself to brands that you can get locally. There is nothing so special about either of the bikes you have picked out, that you can't be just as happy with something else that you can test ride. They are just those company's entries at the price point and are competing with many other very similar brands/models. By the way, you know both companies are owned by Raleigh, right?

dtrain

Yes, he knows and he gets insider pricing (so he'll come out fine). Just can't really test ride before...

carpediemracing 

I'd look at a few things: HTA + fork rake; BB drop; chainstay length.

Seat tube angle is really only for fit so I don't look at that. You need to figure out what STA you need.

The Raleigh is slightly lower (1mm) in the BB. Head tube angle 73 deg would normally have a 43mm rake fork. The 45mm rake will make the bike a touch less stable. However I've never ridden a 45mm fork on a 73 deg HTA.

Chainstay length is just a touch over the standard 40.5 cm stay. It makes the bike less toss able when out of the saddle (sprinting, climbing) and makes it easier to unweight the rear wheel if you have a more forward position (shorter quads, you are rotated forward around the BB, on the tip of the saddle while hammering, etc).

Finally, although not necessarily a data point, the local CCAP team rides the Militis frame. They do just fine in the Cat 1-2 races and they basically clean up in the Juniors, minus one ultra talented CF rider.

I know the Militis should be fine for most normally proportioned riders.

*disclaimer - I donated money to CCAP this year, I raised money for them, I know a number of the CCAP riders, I worked one day for the folks behind CCAP which is CCNS, I employed one of the CCAP riders plus his parents during the 2014 Bethel Spring Series, and I hosted the CCAP High School races at the 2014 Bethel Spring Series. Obviously I've had more exposure to the Militis than the other frame.

Team Sarcasm

The Xelius EFI 400.....sounds cooler and looks faster (and better)....

IcySmooth52

Actually, this isn't a question on which one. I have decided on a Xelius. It's another question being talked about on FinancesForums.com that'll decide on weather it's a 200 or 400. (Notice it's .com & not .net?) Then I also have to wait for 2015 Lapierre's to arrive in the US.


I'm comparing these two because they're both of Accell's racier bikes. (Accell is the parent company of Lapierre & Raleigh). It fascinates me which one is more of the zesty-sided, because the geometry properties that define such an adjective in a bike's ride are stronger in each!

Examples:
-Miltis has a steeper HT angle
-But the Xelius has less rake. (It doesn't say online, but the Xelius's fork has a 43mm rake)
-The Militis has a slightly longer wheelbase. (More info not online)
-Xelius's stack:reach ratio is a bit more aggressive, because the Militis is about 1-2cm higher in stack.
-Xelius has a higher bottom bracket.
-I'm sure there are more points going both ways that I haven't listed.

rpenmanparker 

Knock yourself out!

bbattle

rpenmanparker 

No picture.

bbattle

I can see it. "Shilladelic Baby! Yeah!"