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| The 2012 Raleigh Roper. Credit: Raleigh USA |
Some people look at Raleigh's new-for-2012 offerings - the Roper and the Furley (what's up with the Three's Company references?) - and conclude that Raleigh is getting serious about cyclocross. I look at them and see bikes for the rest of us.
They're steel, take wide tires, have fender and rack mounts, and disc brakes. The components are high quality - the Roper has FSA cranks and Shimano 105 derailers. I love what Urban Velo had to say about the Roper: "The Roper is a bike that I'd expect to see from a much smaller operation than Raleigh; it is more similar to the bikes you see bike geeks build up for themselves from some obscure frame maker than that offered by a major manufacturer."
Ha! Bike geeks... they're so weird.
Here are the Roper specs:
Sizes: 50cm XS, 53cm SM, 55cm SM/MD, 57cm MD/LG, 59cm LG
Frame: Seamless Butted Chromoly, Integrated Headtube w/BB30
Fork: 4130 Chromoly Cross w/Disc Tabs
Cranks: FSA Gossamer Pro BB30 34/50t
BB: FSA BB30
F.Derail: Shimano 105
R.Derail: Shimano 105
Shifter: Shimano 105 10spd STI
Br.Levers: Shimano 105/Tektro RL721
Brakes: Shimano R505 Disc, 160mm Rotors
Gear: Shimano 105 (11-28t)
Rims:Weinmann DP30 Double Wall
Tires: Kenda K1083A Happy Medium 700cx32c
Pedals: Road Pedals w/Clips and Straps
Handlebar: Avenir 200 Series 31.8 Short Drop
Stem: Avenir 200 Series, 3D Forged, 31.8
Seatpost: Avenir 200 Series 27.2x350mm
Seat: Avenir Classic Road
Headset: FSA Integrated Cartridge Bearings
Colors: Charcoal
Chain: KMC X10
Hubset: (F) Joytech Alloy Disc QR 32h (R) Joytech Alloy Disc Cassette QR 32h
Spokes: 14g Stainless MAC w/Alloy Nipples
Grips: Gel Tape
Extras: Water Bottle Mounts, Fender and Rack Mounts, Cateye Reflector Set, Clear Coat, Owner’s Manual.
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| The 2012 Raleigh Furley. Credit: Raleigh USA |
The Furley is a single-speed with a little different set-up, but same general idea. It goes for $820 at Revolution Cycles. Like the Roper, the Furley has fender and rack mounts and space for wide tires. You know what a bike geek might do with this baby? Swap the drops for mustache bars and add an 8-speed internal gear hub for a really cool all-arounder.
I'm guessing. Who knows what bike geeks are thinking? Weirdos.
Here's the (stock) specs for the Furley:
Sizes: 50cm XS, 53cm SM, 55cm SM/MD, 57cm MD/LG, 59cm LGIf you own a Roper or Furley, please comment and let us know how you like it. Bike geeks can comment, too.
Frame: Seamless Butted Chromoly, Integrated Headtube w/BB30
Fork: 4130 Chromoly Cross w/Disc Tabs
Cranks: Shimano Alfine 39t
BB: FSA BB30 Eccentric w/Sealed Bearings
Br.Levers: Tektro RL-340/Tektro RL721
Brakes: Promax 720RA Disc, 160mm Rotors
Gear: 18t w/Single Speed Spacer Kit
Rims: Weinmann DP30 Double Wall
Tires: Kenda K1083A Happy Medium 700cx32c
Pedals: Road Pedals w/Clips and Straps
Handlebar: Avenir 200 Series 31.8 Short Drop
Stem: Avenir 200 Series, 3D Forged, 31.8
Seatpost: Avenir 200 Series 27.2x350mm
Seat: Avenir Classic Road
Headset: FSA Integrated Cartridge Bearings
Colors: Orange
Chain: KMC Z99
Hubset: (F) Joytech Alloy Disc QR 32h (R) Joytech Alloy Disc Cassette QR 32h
Spokes: 14g Stainless MAC w/Alloy Nipples
Grips: Gel Tape
Extras: Water Bottle Mounts, Fender and Rack Mounts, Cateye Reflector Set, Clear Coat, Owner’s Manual
6 comments:
Got the Roper about a month ago from REI. Swapped out the saddle for a new Brooks B17 in black, added a rack and fenders, front fender tricky to mount due to clearance issue with brake caliper position. Changed the pedals to Grip Kings from Riv.
Today was the second time I've ridden the 14 miles into work fully laden. I like it so far for getting around Seattle's northern suburbs, lowest gear is still not quite enough while trying to shake off winter's negative fitness.
How can you claim a company is "not getting serious" about cyclocross when you focus on their low end CX rigs, which are more obviously geared towards commuters. I bet if you hopped on the RCX pro this would have been a completely different blog post. Either way, I think the Furley is money and would love to build one of those up.
Anon 8:42 - This blog is not about cyclocross. Read the "About this blog" page.
Got a roper a month ago and can say that i love the thing. most fun bike i own. probably because its like a tank in durability. ride quality is very comfortable but you can still lay the hammer. my only complaint is the brakes. too mushy for my liking but good in poor weather conditions.
The "Three's Company" series has been expanded by one model, the "Tripper" for 2013. It is specced similarly to a Furley, but with a nexus 3 speed and a flat handlebar.
I bought a Roper in November and have commuted for ten months straight including one of Boston's worst winters. I added fenders and a rack, and typically ride with at least one pannier bag. After destroying a previous aluminum road bike and then an aluminum CX bike (both frames cracked) and ground down and/or pretzeled multiple wheelsets, I finally decided I needed a steel frame with disc brakes and heavy duty wheels. So yes, it is heavy, but my ride is flat. I ride hard and fast 18 miles a day, jump curbs, jam through ice and snow and endless potholes, and frankly I find this bike offers a fair trade-off - weight for stability and a solid feel. This thing just feels like riding on rails, in the greater Boston area's absolutely sorry-ass craptastic roads and paths. I have taken it on 40 milers on country roads and it is a l a joy to ride (i used skinny 25 mm tires until the snow came. I even set 9 PRs on -1% grade segments relative to my road bike, just because it felt that great to put the hammer down.
In terms of value for money, I looked at a lot of bikes in this configuration - steel, disc brakes, drop bars - and no other brand came with a Shimano 105 drive train or equivalent at the $1450 price I paid for the 2013 model with PF30 BB. Treat the frame with JP Wiegel and this thing will last forever.
If you really want to shave pounds, you could swap the fork for carbon and get a wheelset that weighs a lot less - in combination that could save as much as 4 pounds. But what would be the point? There is no shortage of 25 lb aluminum CX and commuters out there.
And that is the key take-away about this bike. It is not meant for CX and frankly not meant for extended touring (no rack attachments on the front fork, no triple ring in front), it is your suburban/urban/dirt road fun tank.
On the brakes - I had the shop build it without the top bar levers, and swapped the pads for organic wet weather option, and they are fine. Not as good as the Avid BB7s on my mountain bike, but a heck of a lot better than typical CX cantis, especially in the snow. And yes, all disk brakes shriek like a scalded monkey in the snow, until they warm up a bit.
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