Raleigh USA Bicycle Company Route 24

Price Paid:  $485.00 at Ray & Son Cycle

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
to work

Bike Setup:
Stome stock, just the way I recieved it from the dealer.

Summary:
After 2 years of riding this bike (approx. 15 mi. each way) I've been transfered to a new location and a new ride to work. It's a little shorter in length, but considerably more hills.

Strengths:
Reliability and brakes are Wonderful! I've had NO problems wth anything. The brakes are great all weather disks and will stop on a dime. It is a comfortable unit. I'm 5'6", 175 180 lbs. I can ride for hours at a time with no real discomfort.

Weaknesses:
It is HEAVY! Climbing steep hills will wear you out in a hurry.

Price Paid:  $638.00 at Mud, Sweat and Grear

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
40 mile loop to Deleon

Summary:
One year ago I bought a Raleigh Route 24. In that time I have ridden 8400 miles. The over all experience with this bike is very good. Raliegh has stood behind the product and my local bike shop has been very good to excellent with service, questions, adjustments and general support. I am what has been called a Clydesdale rider. I weigh about 230 pounds and ride about 180-220 miles a week. The Route 24 has been easy to own and has adjustments for the stem/handle bar positions that have made it easy to continue to change my riding position to lean over more over the year. The flatbar is like riding on the hoods, yet I feel more control and brake controls are there without a hand position change.

I will be 55 in July and hope to ride 9600 miles in 2007. Maybe some in Europe. I'm now wondering things like how many miles should a bottom braket give? This bike is for fitness and recreational riders.

Strengths:
Adjstable stem/handle bars
great disc brakes (I will never go back)
Great manufactorer support to remedy the weaknesses.

Great Local Bike shop

Weaknesses:
Three sets of wheels fell apart in the first month. Two with broken spokes and one the rims failed.(Great set now not stock ones)
pedals failed in two months. The breaings could not handle the stress. Replace the pedal with spd pedals for mtb.

Tires seem to last about 1200 miles on the rear wheel. I may look into other non stock tires, but they are tough and resist flats well.

I did replace the cassette and chain recently because I wore them out. But maybe that's not a weakness, just the effect of being hammered by a clydesdale on a daily basis. Upgraded Cassette and Chain.

Similar Products Used:
I shopped around but no bike had the combination of features at the price.