Raleigh USA Bicycle Company Super Course

Price Paid:  $700.00 at Helen's cycles

Favorite Ride:
Portugese Bend,

Summary:
I was saving up for a more expensive bicycle like a giant tcr last summer when i saw this bike on sale at a local Helen's cycles. It's a great deal for the money. The Shimano 105 components are just fine for anyone that isn't racing for money. A friend of mine has a trek 5200 with ultegra components and my bike shifts smoother than his does, so the biggest factor must be tuning. I bike around local hills and average 18-19mph, and 22-24mph during longer flat 100 mile runs, top speed i've reached on this thing is 47mph on local downhill. My only complaint that might be specific to my particular case is the alex wheels have had 4 broken spokes before I even raked up 400 miles(I weigh about 175-180lbs). But Helen's cycles replaced the rear rim under warranty without hassles and even offered to re-lace them with better spokes under warranty should it happen again. Now the front spokes are breaking too so I took it as an excuse to buy Bontrager Race X lite wheels instead :) So bottom line, for a training bicycle where weight isn't much of an issue this bike is great, especially for the price range.

Strengths:
One of the best values around. Good shimano 105 components, smooth shifts.

Weaknesses:
Cheap wheelset in my experience.

Similar Products Used:
None, previous was a super heavy 60 dollar huffy hand-me-down

Price Paid:  $800.00 at Dick Sonne Bicycles

Favorite Ride:
12 mile loop near home

Bike Setup:
The Raleigh SuperCourse falls in between an entry road racer and sport touring. Triple chainring adds useful flexibility and the longer fork rake provides a more comfortable ride.

Summary:
The Raleigh SuperCourse is a lot of bike for the money. Excellent Shimano 105 black components throughout. Solid and responsive enough for entry racing or light touring.

Strengths:
High level components throughout, well above the recreational margin, yet reasonable priced. Excellent framework, fitings and finish. Terrific paint and color group.

Weaknesses:
Weighs in at 21 lbs.-a bit heavy. You will need pedals.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 2000

Price Paid:  $850.00 at Holy Moses bike shop

Favorite Ride:
Anything hilly

Bike Setup:
all stock

Summary:
this is an amzing bike, so fast. Everythin is top quality, nothing can beat this bike. I got it for $850 with pedals and bottle cage, so i couldnt beat it.

Strengths:
105 component group is awesome, indestructable.
breaks are tight and fast
wheels are really really strong

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
??

Price Paid:  $999.00 at Fritz's Bike Shop, W

Favorite Ride:
East Bay Bike Path, Providence, RI

Bike Setup:
My "LBS" took care of everything! Fritz's Bike Shop, Rte 12 in Worcester, MA was great. Fritz spent a long time with me going over different features and how to thing's. He put my new bike on his trainer and hooked it up to the computer. Now that in itself was good in the middle of winter. Fritz (and Jack)were both as good as the Raleigh bike, which is simply super!

Summary:
At 57 yrs old, I was looking for a road bike priced around $1,000.00. After looking at some of the big names, like, Trek, Bianchi, Giant, Fuji, Lemond and Specialized, I settled in on the Raleigh. It was really tough to decide between the Raleigh and the Specialized Sequoia-it really amounted to a coin toss-I settled on the Raleigh Super Course cause I thought and still do I got a lot for my money. Having had numerous bikes in the past from a Raleigh three speed in '62 to a Huffy ten speed ten years ago, a Giant Mtn., a Trek Hybird 7300(great bike that I still have and like a lot-a daily rider)My Trek 7300 is the one I take when my wife and I bike together on the weekends.
This new Raleigh 2003 Super Course is one fast, super light, very responsive bike. It blows up hill and screams on the straight flat roads. Yesterday, I mounted a Specialized Elite computer on this new Raleigh to track time, cadence, speed, trips, etc. and it really shows what me and this new Raleigh can do. I keep it at work and weather permitting, I ride it everyday at lunch for as long as my lunch time permitts. I Generally get a 12-16 mile ride, depends on traffic. I also try to squeeze in a 10 mile ride after work before the sun goes down. This time of year it's really tough and a big struggle at noon with all the Christmas shopppers. But This Bike Cranks! The aluminum frame is fine, (good and light) with me and not a rough ride. Great job Raleigh! Thanks.

Strengths:
price and super value - This bike was equipped with quality stuff!

Weaknesses:
none yet.

Similar Products Used:
Trek and Specialized