Raleigh USA Bicycle Company 1999 R700

Price Paid:  $200.00 at Dedham Bike & Leathe

Favorite Ride:
A roomy road for sprinting :)

Bike Setup:
56cm color changing frame, Time Stiletto aero fork. Full Dura Ace bar Tiagra front derallieur (I had it sitting around) and Campy Mirage brakes (similar story), Titec 7075AL seatpost (not recommended), Selle Italia Oktavia Gel (helps with the vibrations), Coda stem (was using a Profile, switched it to smaller Coda), Profile DB Merckx bend bars, black Cinelli cork bartape, SRAM PC69 chain, Velomax Circuit Comps (great, great wheels), Michelin Pro Races (great, great tires), Sigma BC600 computer, old purple LOOK pedals

Summary:
I bought this frame as soon as I saw it in the corner at the bike shop. I race on it, and train on it, but I prefer doing long (70+ mile) rides on my steel Bianchi. This thing is an amazing sprinter, as other people have mentioned, and it climbs well too. I am willing to take the more vibrating ride in exchange for this sort of sprinting performance, though I wonder if the bent seatstays (added in 2000) maintain the out-of-the-saddle stiffness. It seems quite aero with that fat downtube too, but putting 2 bottle cages in is a bit awkward, as there is some overlap. This seems like a plain design oversight, though Elite Bajiji or Tacx Tao cages may help matters. Also, the aero toptube (don't ask me why it's there...) meets directly with the downtube, making it near impossible to put on a normal frame pump. Overall though, a great racing frame, unfotunately overlooked often because the name. I recommend it to others.

Also, I have the colour changing paint, which looks very cool.

Strengths:
frame stiffness, spiffy paint. I just built up frame, so can't say much more.

Weaknesses:
Frame stiffness could be problem for those with bad backs. Small issues like inability to hold 2 bottles or a full size frame pump.

Similar Products Used:
Bianchi Sport SX Ultegra
Shogun 400
Centurion Comp T/A

Price Paid:  $1199.00 at Western Reserve Cycle Sport

Favorite Ride:
Ironman Hawaii

Bike Setup:
56cm Frame
Ultegra Front & Rear Derailer (STI tech)
I have Mavic Cosmic Elite wheels on it
Specialized Triax Saddle
LOOK pp226 pedals
Michelin Bi-synergic tires
Profile aerobars
Cateye mity2 computer

Summary:
This bike is, hands down, one of the finest bicycles I have owned, and it is built right here, in USA.

Strengths:
This frame is a dream-
stiff on the climbs, yet fluent on the descents-
the kinesis fork hands the corners at high speeds with absolutely NO sweat.
the ULTEGRA groupo is perfect for this bicycle, b/c they are upper-end components, yet they don't hold the price tag of dura-ace or campy. the frame is ideal for the kinesiology of a triathlete.

Weaknesses:
the wheels are not spectacular-they are heavy. Raliegh should have gone with Rolf Vectors or Mavic Cosmic Elites, rather than the Mavic Cxp's
Also, Raliegh should have gone with a threadless headset.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale R600, Trek 1220

Price Paid:  $1506.00 at Bicycle Land

Favorite Ride:
up hill, down hill, flat it don't matter

Bike Setup:
Full Ultegra, Shimano 535 hubset, and 535 spokes, shimano black alloy with machined 16 side. Michelin Axial Pro 700 X 23C Tires (Amazing performance) Wellgo WPD-R4 Alloy Clipless Pedals, ITM Super 330 6061 26.0 HB Clamp Handlebar, ITM Alu Tig 1 Stem, 3D Forged Alloy, Morco-Adjust Seatpost (great to have), Sella Italia Oktavia w/FeC Rails (comfortable), 7005 OS Butted Aluminum w/Smooth Welds (very fine work) Frame, Bonded Carbon/CAluminum Fork and 1-1/8" Tange OS Ahead Alloy Black Headset.

Summary:
Most bang for the buck. No other maker comes close to the quality of components and craftsman ship of this bike at this price. Hurry up and get since it is the last year this AMERICAN Made Frame with High End Japaneese and Italian component bike is going to be made here.

Strengths:
This is the latest R 700 2001 model. Truly a Beautiful Bike, great components including wheels. Very stiff and very fast and stable on straight line and turns. Comfortable too. YELLOW and BLACK great PAINT JOB

Weaknesses:
Hard to get it up the hill. I think a triple chain ring would be a great addition to the Ultegra group for this bike.

Similar Products Used:
Looked at Specialized Alliz Comp, Trek 2300, 5200, Fuji, Schween

Price Paid:  $950.00 at Michaels (Indianapolis)

Favorite Ride:
anywhere flat

Bike Setup:
Swapped out seat for Cosmos; Look pedals; narrower handlebar; adjustable stem; suspension seat post.

Summary:
Great value. The white frame with black and yellow lettering is very clean and sharp. Nice frame detail, though welds aren't the prettiest out there. Ultegra shifters can rattle until one adds crazy glue under the shrouds.

Strengths:
Lots of bang for the buck: good looks, stiff and sturdy, Ultegra components; nice carbon fork; a very nice road bike.

Weaknesses:
Mavic P21 wheels are a bit week over time. I'm a big rider and I keep breaking spokes.

Similar Products Used:
Looked at Cannondales, Treks, and Kleins. The R700 is a bargain by comparison

Favorite Ride:
pch

Bike Setup:
kinesis 2 carbon fork, rolf vector pro wheels, selle italia gel ti flite saddle, ultegra grouppo w/ flight deck, axial pro tires

Summary:
looks better than bikes costing twice as much and is incredibly responsive in the climbs and sprints. i ride 200+ miles/week and regularly kick the ass of guys on lightspeeds and kleins. of course, the rider is important also. i could have bought any bike on the market, but this one was the best value i found. it is lightweight and built for speed.

Strengths:
very good power transfer, extremely responsive, good looking paint job, very durable, lightweight

Weaknesses:
poor looking welds

Similar Products Used:
trek 2500, trek 5200