At Sea Otter 2012, we gave you a first look at the 2013 Raleigh cyclocross lineup, including the new RXC Pro Disc bike to be ridden by Ben Berden and Caroline Mani. At the time, pricing and final specs of the lineup were not finalized, but in Deer Valley the complete Raleigh 2013 cyclocross lineup was unveiled with final specs and pricing. We snapped some photos of the bikes and even took some not-so-hot laps on the challenging Raleigh Midsummer Night cyclocross course, and have a brief overview of the aluminum and carbon cyclocross bikes for you today (we’ll bring you more details and pictures soon).
Raleigh 2013 RXC Pro Disc cyclocross bike, to be ridden by Ben Berden and Caroline Mani. © Cyclocross Magazine
Raleigh’s flagship RXC carbon line has expanded to three models, with the RXC Pro Disc, the RXC Pro, and the RXC.
The $6000 RXC Pro Disc shows Raleigh’s commitment to cyclocross, and is the company’s third most expensive bike. The rig comes complete with Ultegra Di2, a CX70 cyclocross crankset and Cole carbon C38 clincher wheels. The bike we saw at Sea Otter was showing off Shimano’s BR505 mechanical disc brakes, as the new mechanical CX75 brakes (first covered by CXM at NAHBS) were not ready for that expo. Turns out the CX75 won’t make the initial production run, and thus Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes will handle the stopping needs. The RXC Pro Disc frameset offers multiple cabling options for Di2, standard cables or singlespeed use via different internal cable routing hole fittings. It is the only carbon RXC frame to come with 135mm rear spacing.
The $2500 carbon Raleigh 2013 RXC Cross Bike with SRAM Rival and Apex looks a lot like the Pro Disc but costs $3500 less. © Cyclocross Magazine
The RXC Pro cantilever brake model returns for 2013, with a SRAM Red and Rival drivetrain, Avid Shorty Ultimate Cantilevers, an ENVE fork and the Cole C38 carbon clincher wheelset, and sells for $5000.
The RXC might be one of the more affordable carbon cyclocross bikes out there at $2500, and comes with a mix of SRAM Apex and Rival along with Weinmann wheels, but loses the ENVE fork for a Raleigh carbon fork.
All of the RXC frames have PF30 bottom brackets.
The other new addition for the 2013 line is the aluminum disc-brake equipped RX 2.0. The $1550 bike features Avid BB5 mechanical disc brakes (pictured below with Hayes), Shimano 105 components (except for a CX70 front derailleur) and an FSA Gossamer cyclocross crankset for the PF30 bottom bracket shell. The RX 2.0 has an aluminum disc brake-compatible fork.
The Raleigh 2013 RX 2.0 features Shimano 105 and CX70 components and Avid BB7 disc brakes. © Cyclocross Magazine
The RX 1.0 returns with different graphics but largely the same componentry as the 2012 model (and the RXC) with a SRAM Apex/Rival component mix, Tektro CR710 cantilever brakes, at the exact same $1550 price level as the RX 2.0. There’s also a women’s specific RX 1.0 that comes with the same components as the men’s model, but with a customized geometry. Both RX 1.0 models feature the Kenda Happy Medium cyclocross tire, one of our favorite file tread patterns.
The $1550 Raleigh 2013 Men's RX 1.0 Cross Bike brings SRAM Apex and Rival to a highly visible aluminum frame. © Cyclocross Magazine
At the entry-level price point, Raleigh continues the RX model, which will retail for $1100 and offers the updated Shimano Sora 9-speed components and levers, a carbon fork with an aluminum steerer, and the same Weinmann DP18 wheels, Tektro CR710 brakes, and Kenda tires as the RX 1.0 model. There are both men’s and women’s models in the RX.
Raleigh 2013 $1100 RX Women's Cross Bike gives women an affordable way to try cyclocross. © Cyclocross Magazine
Overall, it’s an impressive, extensive lineup that offers a bike for almost everyone, from Ben Berden to the occasional racer or commuter, with a wide range of price, component, graphics and geometry choices. We’ve got just a few nitpicks from our time inspecting and photographing the bikes, and while they’re found on all the models, they’re easily solvable. We wish Raleigh would use two-bolt seatposts for ultimate security on remounts, and would prefer the 34c and 35c options of their Vittoria and Kenda clincher tires, respectively. Not many owners of these bikes will be racing the stock wheels and tires in a UCI race, and thus the higher volume rubber will owners to use lower pressure and race faster. However, that being said, tires wear out and are a personal choice; seatposts are easily replaceable, and Raleigh’s Brian Fornes has told us that seatposts will be different in 2014.
Stay tuned for more photos and information on the popular steel “Landlord series” bikes: The Tripper, Roper and Furley cyclocross / commuter bikes.
2013 Raleigh Cyclocross Bike Photo Gallery:
