Raleigh Rx1

I didn't know I wanted a cyclocross bike! What I did know was the a road bike would not go off road and a mountain bike is way to heavy for touring. With this in mind I went to my LBS and told them my dilemma. After considering a Trek FX fitness bike which was the only bike even remotely close to what I need, the salesman told me about the Specialized Tricross a woman had ordered that just came in. When he rolled this bike out of the back room I knew that whatever this bike was, with it's drop bars, 700 wheels, skinny but not to skinny tires and racing geometry and paint, that this is what I've been looking for. My first thought was "why the hell is this the first I'm hearing about this style of bike". For 1. I don't think half the people buying their first mtb are getting what they need. They want a bike that works well on semi ruff trails but most the time they will be riding around the neighborhood or on local roads. 2. This bike doesn't really have a designated name. You could call it a touring bike as they have rack mounts or a ATB but they are know as a Cyclo-Cross bike that is race specific. SOO...unless you've ever heard Cyclocross, you would generally be looking for a road, mt, or touring bike.

Unfortunately major companies are only designing 2-3 cross bikes per year but on the bright side their are more quality bike manufactuers than ever. I will put it bluntly "I am Broke", as many of us are. As much as I would like the newest Cannondale TJ or Ridley X-Night, spending $5000 starting out isn't practical especially if I eventually want a road or mt. specific bike. I want to tell you how I decided on the Rx1 to help you get the most bang for your buck.

I first went through every catalog my LBS carries. Prices will very from dealer to dealer and 09 models were way above my budget i.e. what I consider even asking my wife for permission for. Then I thought I will go to Ebay to find a great deal. The problem with Ebay is 1. Quality bikes hold there value even after a 1-2 years of hard cross racing. 2. A great deal on a full Dura-Ace bike has the potential of either the rim or frame being bent or it was stolen and I don't trust thieves. Craigslist will have bikes in your area that you can see before you buy but they may still cost just under retail. What I found is that there are 4 price ranges starting at $650 for a Motobecane from Bikesdirect.com to the Scott Addict around $5000. My price range I decided would be the $1400 range since anything under $100o came with the Shimano Sora group or less, like the Shimano Triple sti shifters. Here is what I came up with-

Surley- Long Haul Trucker- $1000-$1100
Cross-Check -$300-$1300
Redline sport $900
conquest $1700
Trek XO 2 $1550
Cannondale xr7- $1650
Ridley Crosswind-$1300-$1900
Giant TCX- $1250
Raleigh Rx1-$1350
Specialized Tricross sport $1450-$1600

OK, you can do your own research as I'm sure you will but this is how I broke it down.

Surley LHT is for touring
crosscheck will work but no carbon fork
redline conquest sport sub par group, frame, fork to the pro

trek XO I found for a steal at a certified trek store for $950 closeout but no layaway on closeouts...DAMB I trust the technology on the frame but retail 09 price went up

Cannondale- They seem to have the best aluminum frame considering the smooth flawlessly butted joints but the x7 doesn't have the same fork or 105 shimano

Ridley- winner of all the recent giro podiums, on the low end the crosswind is nothing like those that stand on the first place bucket

Giant TCX - Actually, if you can find the TCX 2 08 model on closeout with 105 and tiagra- GO FOR IT

Specialized Tricross sport- Because you can only afford the sport, they charge an arm and a leg for a carbon fork they make themselves- It has some weight to it, sub par parts.

That was a lot to write out for a blog but you are worth it

Soooooo..........Why the Raleigh??????!!?
1. its yellow. I don't wear yellow, don't even like it but on my bike it works i.e. Lance's New Livestrong

2.The Easton EC90 carbon fork is the same as the cannondale TJ WTF plus Raleigh has the exclusive white color. Cannondale knows what raleigh knows about this fork.

3. Raleigh usa knows how to make an aluminum frame, do some research, they know what they're doing!

4. 105 rear de and tiagra sti shifters- Try finding a bike with this fork and quality frame with these decent components...Dare Ya

5. PRICE- this could be 1.2.and 3. but lets face it color is important and RX1 comes in red, blue and yellow. $1350 for the 09 BUT WAIT... you are not going to buy the 09... not until the 2010 comes out then you will be able to get the 09 for about $2-350 less.

THE FORK ON THIS BIKE RETAILS FOR $450
I PAID $900.................. how did I do this????????

Here you go.. A BIG tip...
Your state is big with alot of small bike shops.
If you have a favorite bike. Since LBS can't legally ship out of state, Google every single local bike shop in your state and ask them what they have in stock, on sale, or closeout. You will find your bike, maybe not your size at first but find your size then find your price then- GO BUY IT.