Raleigh Cadent 3 vs BikesDirect Windsor Rapide
11-01-18, 03:52 PM
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Raleigh Cadent 3 vs BikesDirect Windsor Rapide
The Windsor is $250, the Cadent is $440 with a discount code.
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...atbar-road.htm
https://www.raleighusa.com/cadent-3-142
Mostly will be used for exercise and some transportation.
Which do y'all think is the better bike and the better value?
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...atbar-road.htm
https://www.raleighusa.com/cadent-3-142
Mostly will be used for exercise and some transportation.
Which do y'all think is the better bike and the better value?
11-01-18, 09:28 PM
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I'd much rather have the Cadent. I think it's a nicer looking bike, and I prefer the gearing. 9-speed vs 8-speed, and the gear range suits me better. I can't imagine ever needing the 52x11 high gear on a hybrid such as the Windsor, but I could see myself using the 26x34 low of the Cadent. Hydraulic disc brakes on the Cadent wins versus rim brakes on the Windsor especially if you ever ride in the rain.
11-05-18, 02:18 PM
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I don't trust half of the spec list for the Cadent. The pictured clearly show a double crank, with what looks like a Claris groupset. Which would also mean it's a 8-speed cassette, not a 9. I went through all this with Raleigh when I ordered the Alysa 3 (https://www.raleighusa.com/alysa-3-142) for my wife. It should be here tomorrow, and I still don't know if half of the specs are right on it.
11-08-18, 01:54 AM
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I don't trust half of the spec list for the Cadent. The pictured clearly show a double crank, with what looks like a Claris groupset. Which would also mean it's a 8-speed cassette, not a 9. I went through all this with Raleigh when I ordered the Alysa 3 (https://www.raleighusa.com/alysa-3-142) for my wife. It should be here tomorrow, and I still don't know if half of the specs are right on it.
So, did the Alysa arrive with the parts listed in the spec or something else?
11-08-18, 07:34 AM
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Something else.
Samox 48/32 double crankset
Claris R2000 FD
Shimano CS-HG50-8 11-32 Cassette
Claris R2000-GS RD
Shimano CN-HG40 Chain
Promax Solve St Hydraulic Brakes
Donnely X'Plor USH 35X700 Tires
Bike weighs 25.25 lbs in the XS size
Pretty sure the Cadent 3 has most of those same parts, based on the photos
I was worried the rear shifting would feel horrible compared to the 105/Ultegra on my Tamland, but it shifts pretty good out of the box, no thanks to the people who boxed the bike up for shipping:
Samox 48/32 double crankset
Claris R2000 FD
Shimano CS-HG50-8 11-32 Cassette
Claris R2000-GS RD
Shimano CN-HG40 Chain
Promax Solve St Hydraulic Brakes
Donnely X'Plor USH 35X700 Tires
Bike weighs 25.25 lbs in the XS size
Pretty sure the Cadent 3 has most of those same parts, based on the photos
I was worried the rear shifting would feel horrible compared to the 105/Ultegra on my Tamland, but it shifts pretty good out of the box, no thanks to the people who boxed the bike up for shipping:
Last edited by woodardhsd; 11-08-18 at 07:42 AM.
11-08-18, 07:59 AM
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I don't know who makes the Bikes Direct Windsor bike, but Raleigh is an Accell brand (and the frames are made by Kinesis to my understanding). I own two Accell-branded bikes now (a Raleigh Alysa 1 and a Redline Zander MTB, which is really a Diamondback Overdrive). I've been impressed with the frame quality on both bikes -- the paint finish is very nice, the graphics are applied correctly, the clearcoating is above the graphics which makes for a high quality appearance, and the lusture/gloss of the paint is bright and consistent. Both of mine have metallic paint and the flake is pretty deep on both.
We bought the Raleigh at a local bike shop and the factory DMP Epoch freewheel failed within the first year. The bike shop replaced it with a Shimano freewheel under warranty and there have been no other issues with it. We bought the Redline online and it's been great since day one. I've upgraded a lot of the components, so much of it is non-stock now, but the frames and construction on both are very good.
I would buy an Accell family bike without hesitation.
We bought the Raleigh at a local bike shop and the factory DMP Epoch freewheel failed within the first year. The bike shop replaced it with a Shimano freewheel under warranty and there have been no other issues with it. We bought the Redline online and it's been great since day one. I've upgraded a lot of the components, so much of it is non-stock now, but the frames and construction on both are very good.
I would buy an Accell family bike without hesitation.
11-08-18, 08:09 AM
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I have a raleigh myself, the cadent i8 which is basically a internal hub + belt drive version of the bike you're considering. I've had a good experience with it, and the cadent has hydraulic disc brakes, which I think makes it a better buy over the windsor. Is it worth the extra $190? Given the low maintenance requirements on disc brakes, and greater stopping power, I'd say it is in the long run.
