M
macnkitty2002
Guest
I will be buying a road bike soon and have found that I like the Fuji Newest 3.0 and the '08 Raleigh Grand Sport. Not spending more than $700. The Fuji is $500 and the Raleigh $699 at my bike shop. I like both equally but certain features distinguish the two and I need help deciding. I am new to road bikes/cyling, have always ridden a MTB and want to get into road cycling for fitness/commuting around my college campus. I don't plan on doing any rides longer than 10 miles once a week for the first year, with 1-2 shorter rides during the week. I am 6'1" and around 200lb.
Fuji Newest 3.0:
Pros:
-price
-seat felt comfortable
-felt lighter than Raleigh
-liked the dual brake lever setup, one pair on the bottom rack and one pair on the top rack
-shifting setup was ergonomic and easy to use
-triple gear set up front, do I need that though?
-electric blue paintjob looks kicka$$
Cons:
-rougher ride than the Raleigh
-shifting was not as smooth as Raleigh, difficult shifting uphill
-chain noise/rubbing
-felt faster than the Raleigh
-brakes felt spongy, can be adjusted tho
-flimsy wheels? (so I've heard) may be a problem for my rough roads
'08 Raleigh Grand Sport:
Pros:
-very smooth ride, noticeably smoother than the Fuji
-shifting and general pedaling was ultra smooth, probably because it has better components
-integrated shifting/brake mechanism, faster reaction in case you need to brake while shifting
-durable wheels
Cons:
-seat was a little wide for my tastes, can be switched out tho
-downshifting mechanism felt awkward, thumb couldn't reach switch, can be fixed with a change of hand position
-lack of brake levers on top rack
-fewer gears to choose from, only double gear set up front
-felt heavier than Fuji
Any suggestions about what I should choose? Or other bikes I should consider? Much appreciated!
Fuji Newest 3.0:
Pros:
-price
-seat felt comfortable
-felt lighter than Raleigh
-liked the dual brake lever setup, one pair on the bottom rack and one pair on the top rack
-shifting setup was ergonomic and easy to use
-triple gear set up front, do I need that though?
-electric blue paintjob looks kicka$$
Cons:
-rougher ride than the Raleigh
-shifting was not as smooth as Raleigh, difficult shifting uphill
-chain noise/rubbing
-felt faster than the Raleigh
-brakes felt spongy, can be adjusted tho
-flimsy wheels? (so I've heard) may be a problem for my rough roads
'08 Raleigh Grand Sport:
Pros:
-very smooth ride, noticeably smoother than the Fuji
-shifting and general pedaling was ultra smooth, probably because it has better components
-integrated shifting/brake mechanism, faster reaction in case you need to brake while shifting
-durable wheels
Cons:
-seat was a little wide for my tastes, can be switched out tho
-downshifting mechanism felt awkward, thumb couldn't reach switch, can be fixed with a change of hand position
-lack of brake levers on top rack
-fewer gears to choose from, only double gear set up front
-felt heavier than Fuji
Any suggestions about what I should choose? Or other bikes I should consider? Much appreciated!