Raleigh USA Bicycle Company C30

Price Paid:  $250.00 at Bicycle One

Favorite Ride:
local bike trail

Bike Setup:
Handle bars are as high as I can get them. Extra water bottle holder.

Summary:
I ride for fitness and pleasure. I did my workouts inside much of the time since I stopped running and found that the intensity wasn’t enough. So I decided to ride for my fitness workouts. I had a Raleigh C30 that I used to ride with family on the local bike trail so I just used that for my bike. That was five years ago. I now ride for fitness and the love of riding. I average 100-120 miles a week for nine months of the year and manage only about 50 miles a week during the winter. The Raleigh is a work-horse. It is heavy, sturdy and comfortable. My steady pace is about 16 mph and I can climb the few hills that I encounter in central Ohio. I also take it on the road to Virginia and Maine and I manage the real mountains there will remarkable ease. The bike is starting to creak and no amount tightening and lubricating can eliminate the rattle. But I have learned to love the noise. I continue to ride the Raleigh even though its past its prime for these reasons: when I wipe out I have always been able to ride it home, it always works and never breaks down completely, I ride for fitness so I rather like the extra weight, and the wider tires allows me to ride all winter over the ice and snow as well as in the rain. I have the handlebars set a bit high because I disc problems in my lower back and my shoulders cannot handle leaning on low handle bars for any length of time. When I do finally upgrade I plan to get another heavy duty Raleigh and I’ll keep my old rattle-trap to use for my winter riding.

Strengths:
It is heavy duty and can withstand a wipe out and let you ride home.

Weaknesses:
Heavy and after 12,000 miles it starts to rattle and creak.

Similar Products Used:
None