I thought that whoever did the "art and color" for the Merida built Raleigh USA lugged steel bikes speced a prettier bike.
Never liked the feel of the first generation Technium bikes with aluminum tubes pressed onto steel lugs.
But the second generation with aluminum lugs and interesting tubing choices are interesting and ride well.
1993 Raleigh USA MT500
Front half of the frame is 7005 double butted aluminum bonded to a Tange Prestige steel rear triangle. Only two bond points!
Have had it for at least 15 years, and built as a SS, 7 speed, and now with a group off a neighbor's cracked Gary Fisher frame.
1993 Raleigh USA Technium RT600 Competition
Reynolds 531 main tubes and fork, and 4130 steel stays
199? Raleigh USA Team 753
Reynolds 753 main tubes and a replacement SR Litage aluminum fork
Really too small for me and pretty beat, but too interesting to pass up.
I'm guessing this was a replacement or a "frame only" - NO sign of a serial number and instead of DuraAce, it has a mess of components from Exage to 600.
