Description Carbon construction yields a road frame that is light, incredibly stiff, but still comfortable for the all day ride. The challenges of every frame builder are lugs. Every joint is a potential weak poi...
Favorite Ride: highway 94 out of Colorado Springs and back
Bike Setup: Full Ultegra with Bontrager Race X-lites. Deda stem and handle bars. Leader fork and seat post. Sella Italia Flight saddle. Michelin Pro 2 Race tires, red to match the bike.
Summary: Stunning beauty out of the shipping box. Not extremely fancy but what do you expect for the price. Hot Ferrari red paint job. Extremely light for the price. Weighed under 17 pounds built with full ultegra. Must have been nice seeing as someone stole it last week. I really enjoyed the bike. I was riding an a full aluminum bike before this one so the carbon really softened the ride. Descents were amazing, climbing was good but I don't enjoy the climb as much as the down hill. As I get older I can afford something nicer but have found I don't have as much time to spend on my bike. My only regret is not upgrading the wheels and giving it a go. I am looking at replacing it with a Giant TCR Advanced or Scott Addict or CR1. Right now I am really digging on the BH G4 but have kids I still have to put through college.
Strengths: Weight, price, looks, stiffness. In this price range it is hard to beat this bike. Colorado Cyclist has a Douglass that is very similar. My buddy has one and loves it. Maybe I will look into it as a replacement. Looked good on Saturday morning group rides even among more expensive and fancy bikes.
Weaknesses: Fork wasn't as well balanced as I would have liked. I had to carefully seat wheel to prevent wheel rub.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Allez with 105 groupset
Old School Schwinn with downtube shifters
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Summary: I bought a Leader Aluminum 58 cm for it's components. It was an all Ultegra 9 spd, Rolf vector pros, Easton carbon seat post and bars..Deeda elite etc,etc,etc...the bike also had some cheesy aero bars and a wireless computer(nice) But I was intent on building up a Fetish frame that I had come into from a friend... I only paid 500.00 for the whole rig. when I got it I jumped on it and right away was knocked out by this 3 year old frame, the build the ride... the quality?????? I sold the fetish frame and bought the discontinued 785r for 389.00, they still have a couple left as of the time I'm wring this... re wrapped the bars, threw on my speedplays, and haven't looked back.
I see people saying "for the money" I would put this multi material frame up against any Trek, Cannon, Felt or Specialized...at any price. Very comfortable, very light (2.8lbs) super responsive,..acceleration? not to mention it looks deadly!
unbelievable deal, the nicest people in the world to deal with and a price that leaves me plenty of change for power bars and gummy bears...
is it a Merlin or Pinarello? No of course not.. but at just under 900.00 I have the nicest rain bike of anyone I know..
Keep it Rubber side down
Strengths: Stiff, Comfy, fast
Weaknesses: None , nada ....Zip!
Similar Products Used: Basso full carbon
Merlin, Cervello...
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Bike Setup: 785R frame, carbon seatpost and fork, all from Leader
Ultegra comp.
Bontrager wheelset
Summary: This bike was my first road bike, so I can't properly compare it to other models; however, I have been commuting almost daily in all weather on it for almost 2 years now, and I love this bike. When I manage to get away for a long rec ride, it has allowed me to keep up with my friends who race on their (much) more expensive Treks and Canondales. A very steady, comfortable ride that is extremely responsive to the effort you put into the pedals.
Strengths: Quality of ride
Looks
Price!
Weaknesses: Not enough weekends in the year
Similar Products Used: None
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Bike Setup: Leader fork and seat post
Dura-Ace group
Summary: A few years ago, I decided to get back into cycling. After years away from the sport (I'm a runner who wanted to cross-train), I had the urge to put together an affordable road bike... My wife bought a complete bike from Leader and when I saw the quality, I scrapped the project bike I was building and ordered the Leader 785R the next day! I now have about 5000 miles of training and racing on it. I've done a dozen century rides and around 6 triathlons on it. To prove how thrilled I am with this bike, today I purchased the Leader LD 780TT Tri bike!!!
Strengths: Price... of course!
Welds and paint finish are gorgeous.
A real eye catcher... bike shops are always impressed.
Light and comfortable
Strong climber
Weaknesses: I haven't found one.
Similar Products Used: TREK 5500, Colnago, Ciocc
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Bike Setup: Hodgepodge of components, mostly Ultegra and whatever came off of other frames.
Summary: I'd like to put in a good word for this bike and for this manufacturer. These are great bikes at a great price. The bike accelerates very well, corners well, and is also a very comfortable ride with the carbon seat stays. Perfect combination of attributes. Until I am a sponsored rider with free frames (yeah right) I can't see myself buying anything but Leader bikes.
Strengths: I am 5-11, but I like to ride smaller sized frames because I prefer the way they handle in crits and on fast rides. I bought a 55 cm, or "Medium" size and it fit me very well. The long top tube indicates to me that these guys know a lot about bike racing and what most guys need for a good fit.
Weaknesses: Honestly, I haven't found any yet.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Allez Comp, Trek 2300, Reynolds 531 frames, etc.
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