Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nosmallplans]

i didn't even know raleigh made folders. is this like a raleighnotusa thing?

[OneWayTraffic]

Raleigh is actually a British company. I don't know where this bike can be found.

Took it for a ride today. First impressions:
It folds down nicely, though the litmus test will be on the bus. (Next week for that.)
It's not as stiff as my beater. No suprises there. The diamond frame has been around forever for good reason.

It rides well. No major issues getting where I want to go, but again a full sized bike is just better-of course I've spent hundreds of hours on larger bikes compared to 15mins on this.

20 inch tires ride noticably harsher than 26. Again no suprises, but I'm not going off rod.

I just love the internal gears. I changed up by acident while going uphill. One quick twist while easing off the pedals and I'm in low. The 3 gears are widely spaced, giving a range of 180%. Enough for Seoul city.

The low stepover is great for kids. My daughter can get on and off the back alone. Couldn't do that on a MTB.

[jkamphof]

Raleigh is originally British in name but a long time ago is broke off into regional parts and now the US company is seperate as is the Canadian version as well from the rest.

The US and American brands are still good names and make quility frames, the Canadian version is the bane of a mechanic's existance (part and parcel with Department store bikes). I hate Raleigh Canada.....

[nosmallplans]

yeah i knew raleigh is british but i've only really had experience with raleigh usa, well that and a few vintage road bikes but thats a different story.

[OneWayTraffic]

Well I took mine for a 10km round trip commute today. It was very solid. Not an outstanding ride, but nice and easy to ride and maneuveur around pavement obstacles. It was as fast as the subway or bus.

Nosmallplans: What's the beef with hybrids? Just curious, as I was considering one quite seriously; the chainguards, fenders and internal gears decided me in the end.

[nosmallplans]

[OneWayTraffic]

Gotchya.

A good bicycle should last for years. The frame should last a lifetime, except the overengineered competition bikes.

Unfortunately many aren't willing to pay money for quality, and so they get what they pay for.

I hope to keep this bike for a while. I can pass it on to the kids when they're ready, or take it along on camping trips, all folded up in the boot.

[jkamphof]

I agree on the quality issue. I've been in bike shops most my life before teaching in Korea and seeing the way consumers buy and treat their bikes (actually almost everything) is horrendous. The disposable, cheap products that consumers look for today is appalling especially when there is quality in front of their faces for a decent investment more. I consider this the Walmart Legacy. Buy cheap, throw it away then buy it again. Many N.A bike manufacturers revel in this, as the cost of repairs, bike parts and bike replacements by consumers means buckets of money in sales. Many bike shops too love this, that's why many shops have repair areas bigger than the sales floor.

I actually like the Hybrid concept and more my riding style it fits me fine. I've had a few before I went to European versions and all my North American brands (Fisher, Marin, Trek) faired well but cost bucket in annual maintenance. I love my bikes and I treat them well. But god they got expensive for just the basics. However, I loved all the above....

But going European with well built solid frames (alloys or Aluminum made locally in country) internal gearing, simply designs and no gear redundancy means I will never go back to the replaceable N.A brands, no matter my love for past bikes of these names.

A bike should last a lifetime as someone above mentioned. And I agree, it's the best form of transportation

[jkamphof]

I agree on the quality issue. I've been in bike shops most my life before teaching in Korea and seeing the way consumers buy and treat their bikes (actually almost everything) is horrendous. The disposable, cheap products that consumers look for today is appalling especially when there is quality in front of their faces for a decent investment more. I consider this the Walmart Legacy. Buy cheap, throw it away then buy it again. Many N.A bike manufacturers revel in this, as the cost of repairs, bike parts and bike replacements by consumers means buckets of money in sales. Many bike shops too love this, that's why many shops have repair areas bigger than the sales floor.

I actually like the Hybrid concept and more my riding style it fits me fine. I've had a few before I went to European versions and all my North American brands (Fisher, Marin, Trek) faired well but cost bucket in annual maintenance. I love my bikes and I treat them well. But god they got expensive for just the basics. However, I loved all the above....

But going European with well built solid frames (alloys or Aluminum made locally in country) internal gearing, simply designs and no gear redundancy means I will never go back to the replaceable N.A brands, no matter my love for past bikes of these names.

A bike should last a lifetime as someone above mentioned. And I agree, it's the best form of transportation