Raleigh USA Love & Remorse
02-13-22, 07:07 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Raleigh USA Love & Remorse
Sadly, I just learned that Raleigh USA isn't producing/ distributing new bikes, and they don't know why. I desperately want one of their heritage urban bikes since I cannot find a similar bike elsewhere! I wish more American bike manufacturers would design a similar style of bicycle.
02-14-22, 08:46 AM
#2
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
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Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
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THe first 8 years of Accell owning RaleighUSA was really neat. Raleigh came out with some very good products at multiple pricepoints and were really innovative on the gravel side of things. '16 and '17 were awesome for consumers because they had gone consider direct for buying and the prices were unbelievably low. I told the GM of my office to buy a Raleigh for his daughter because for $720 she got a road bike with full 105 drivetrain with Spyre brakes and carbon fork.
But them cutting out dealers really hurt relationships, obviously. Dealers had stock on their floors that cost them more than Raleigh was selling the same bike for online.
Around '19 when Accell sold Diamondback, both Raleigh and Diamondback had largely burned out. The offerings from both were limited and there was no new innovation. They were dead pre-pandemic, so there was clearly no chance of them being relevant once the pandemic shortage started.
In the mid-teens, Raleigh had really great gravel bikes- some super innovative offerings in steel, carbon, and aluminum. They had solid kids bikes too. And their heritage road bikes as well as carbon road bikes were an awesome value.
Sucks, but it isnt surprising. You cant succeed when your prices are dirt low, there is no innovation, and you continually reduce your catalog offerings.
But them cutting out dealers really hurt relationships, obviously. Dealers had stock on their floors that cost them more than Raleigh was selling the same bike for online.
Around '19 when Accell sold Diamondback, both Raleigh and Diamondback had largely burned out. The offerings from both were limited and there was no new innovation. They were dead pre-pandemic, so there was clearly no chance of them being relevant once the pandemic shortage started.
In the mid-teens, Raleigh had really great gravel bikes- some super innovative offerings in steel, carbon, and aluminum. They had solid kids bikes too. And their heritage road bikes as well as carbon road bikes were an awesome value.
Sucks, but it isnt surprising. You cant succeed when your prices are dirt low, there is no innovation, and you continually reduce your catalog offerings.
02-14-22, 10:27 AM
#3
Senior Member
my first road bike, which I got from a co-worker for $100 in 2014, was a Raleigh r600 with 8 speed 105, heck of a deal and I rode that for a few years until I got my Allez, which is also 8 speed and kind of a lateral move, but with better geometry for me. It was a good bike.
My CX bike is Raleigh as well. Got it for $700 brand new a couple of years ago as a closeout, it's canti brake, but is fine for my level, and 11 speed SRAM. I've raced on it for a few years now with no complaints. It's def too bad they're not a thing, especially with CX bikes, they had some great entry level stuff and it's entry level for CX is still really high.
My CX bike is Raleigh as well. Got it for $700 brand new a couple of years ago as a closeout, it's canti brake, but is fine for my level, and 11 speed SRAM. I've raced on it for a few years now with no complaints. It's def too bad they're not a thing, especially with CX bikes, they had some great entry level stuff and it's entry level for CX is still really high.
