Raleigh USA Bicycle Company Professional

Price Paid:  $1200.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
Seattle to Portland

Bike Setup:
Proton wheels. Campy chorus crank and drivetrain. Brooks Pro saddle

Summary:
Bought this Bike used. His loss was my gain! Stable and secure feeling at any speed. Great components and frame for a bargain price. Several other quality bikes but I always come back to this one.

Strengths:
Good stiff steel frame with no discernible flex when its 240lb rider pushes. Great road feel. Looks good.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Bianchi Veloce/campy veloce drivetrain; Indy Fab steel/w record drivetrain

Price Paid:  $1400.00

Favorite Ride:
fort lee to piermont

Summary:
i got this frame from an unbelievably arrogant and cheap company after ithe frame on my r500 cracked in the headtube..but they gave me the swap with fork for 375.00 I buikt it up with a new ultegra 9 and shimano 540 wheels...if i like the frame as much as i think i will, except that the tt is too long by 1 inch, i may do campy chorus and ksyrium or neutrons and find another compact frame (my 500 was a worker). i added an easton seatpost w selle flite gel saddle and as a hats off to campy, chorus pedals. i have about 1400 in the bike and if it rides as good as it looks varooooom.

Strengths:
good looking frame at a bargain price, goes well with either campy or shimano,twice the bike as any of my past treks, excepting a steel 360

Weaknesses:
would like replaceble dropout for rear der
and taiwan sticker will go......can't wait for spring, bout 19 lbs @50cm

Similar Products Used:
r500 road, trek, trek, trek

Price Paid:  $1700.00 at Spokes Etc, Arlingto

Bike Setup:
Stock

Summary:
Outstanding road bike. I thought long and hard about a bike that would replace my retiring 12 year old Fuji Ace (more so since I thoroughly enjoyed blowing away new, top line bikes ridden by so-so riders). I settled on steel almost immediately after testing several alums. I was 99 percent ready to buy a Lemond Zurich but the rep at the store suggested the Professional. What a bike. The finish is incredible, the ride smooth, and set up ideal. I agree with the earlier reviews on the fantastic value. The bike looks different which turns the heads, however, I love this bike for the agility, speed, and comfort. Campy Chorus are a pure pleasure to shift, the stock seat comfortable on long, hard rides (unusual in most bikes). The only item I would upgrade are the wheels - Mavics or similiar. Good form riders will find that this bikes allows you to ride comfortably yet never to the point of losing a feel for the road. Uphill sprints is where this bike shines - my riding companion (owns a Ti bike) was left behind on every ride as soon as we hit the hills. I can't recommend this bike enough!

Strengths:
Stock set up - including the seat. Agility. Hill speed.

Weaknesses:
None worth mentioning

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Westchester Cyclery

Favorite Ride:
www.fitnesscycles.com

Bike Setup:
record triple drivetrain Mavic open pro w/ Chorus hubs Chorus shifters Centaur brakes

Summary:
Steel is real! I'm a recreational rider that turns in 400-500 miles a month in the summer& 200 to 300 in the winter. I purchased the "Pro" as an upgrade( replacement) to to my Raleigh R600,workhorse ride. The Bike is stiff to a sprint yet compliant and enough that you are not jarred to death on checked & cracked roadways. The long top tube and comfortable seat is appreciated on rides over 50 miles.

I went triple and Record as an upgrade. I also opted for Mavic open Pro's. Low spoke count wheels look cool but are not worth a darn with 200lb man monted sailing over potholes amd manhole covers etc. 32 spokes is as low as I wanted to go. Great workhorse,go anywhere, climb anything all day every day!

www.fitnesscycles.com

Strengths:
Columbus steel frame, Old school good looks and long distance friendly geometry
Doe's not require extrarordinary pampering

Weaknesses:
The Made in Taiwan sticker on the head tube.( comes off with turtle wax, yea!) The cheap seatpost will eventually become a challenge. It works for the moment. The weakest component is still the rider

Similar Products Used:
Raleigh R600, Colnago MXL

Price Paid:  $1349.00 at The Bicycle Stop

Favorite Ride:
Any

Bike Setup:
Stock with Speedplay pedals

Summary:
This bike is very SMOOTH!! The carbon fork and columbus tubing and carbon railed saddle makes for a very resilent ride. Even with the smooth ride the bike still accelerates very quickly. The Campy Chorus is top notch. The 10 speed cassette shifts smoothly and very rapidly. It will take some getting used to the Campy shifters, but the learning curve should not be to bad. I really love the ride of this bike.

Strengths:
Campy Chorus Components, Nice wheelset (even though it is not a big name brand) very smooth cart. bearings in the hubs, Sweet steel frame, Welds and finish on the bike are beautiful! Saddle is very cool.

Weaknesses:
The seatpost, That is all I will upgrade.

Similar Products Used:
GT ZR 4.0 Giant OCR