Source
r/bicycling•
icemopper

Just test-rode a carbon bike for the first time: Raleigh Revenio 4.0

After months of riding an old steel frame bike that has really done well, this was just beyond anything I could have imagined. It was lighter than I ever thought possible, more responsive, and the electronic shifters were insane.

This was at the Roanoke Go Fest in Virginia, and I'm familiar with some of the hills nearby so I went up one of my favorite steep hills. This got me up so much faster and with so much more ease. It was pure euphoria.

I don't mean to sound like a rep for Raleigh, I'm sure there are many carbon bikes that would be just as good or better, but wow. And the sad thing is, I won't feel that way again until I can save up $4,500.

It was an incredible experience, and I just had to share with some people who would understand.

Posted Oct 20, 2012, 6:34 PM UTC

1422
jugglistFuji SST, FM058•

This is how it was going from a hybrid to my current aluminum road bike.

I'm pretty sure I'm just not going to even try one of those until I have the $4.5k to spare :)

2
FaptainAwesome2012 Cervelo R3 & 2012 Cannondale CAADX Tiagra•

Going from anything to carbon is amazing. I just bought a Cervelo R3 after test riding offerings from Look, Cannondale, Pinarello, Bianchi... You get the picture. But then you find one... THE ONE. And it's exactly what you want. Exactly what you need. There's always ONE that just. Speaks to you. Gets you. Understands you. That you understand. And that, my friend, is the ONE that is worth saving for months on end (in my case, 6 months) to get.

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icemopperOP2014 Felt Z5•

Sounds amazing, lucky you!

1
bakaken2011 Trek 1.1•

I was looking at Carbon bikes, and the trek 3.1 is only $2000, well under the $4,500 for the Raleigh... I intend to try it out sometime soon.

2
CuriousCurator'12 Trek 7.1 FX, '12 Raleigh Revenio 3.0, '14 Raleigh Tamland 1•

Keep in mind that Ultegra Di2 is at least $1,200, and that's just the electronic parts.

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icemopperOP2014 Felt Z5•

Hmm, I'll have to look at that too!

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Mesquite_Skeet_Skeet•

Yeah, much of the high $4,500 price tag is due to the expensive electronic shifting. Without that, carbon road bikes start around $2,000.

2
Skunge•

I've yet to ride a on a bike with a carbon frame, but when I first picked one up I almost threw it into the ceiling XD they're insanely light.

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icemopperOP2014 Felt Z5•

Insane indeed. I thought for sure I was only picking up a cardboard fake. So light.

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jim100402010 Windsor Falkirk FC•

Yeah, going from a steel frame (Univega Gran Turismo for me) to carbon (Windsor Falkirk FC) is a HUGE change. The weight, upgrades in components, is just amazing.

1
Taskete•

I work in a big bike shop and are able to buy bikes for half the price and I don't have to pay right away. I bought a 6000$ worth all-carbon bike with Shimano di2 and wow is it fun to ride compared to my steelbike. The wheels are very important when you buy a new bike!

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BicycleOfLifeLHT 2011 •

I don't get the need to have a light bike, do you race competitively? Why do you need to get up the hills faster, if you are trying to ride to get in or stay in shape who cares how fast you go, a heavier bike will work you harder. If you are commuting, a carbon bike will get stolen faster. It probably feels nice, but that's probably because you we're using a heavier bike, you will just get used to using the lighter bike, and then you will just be in less shape. Also a carbon bike fails catastrophically if you crash even just a little crash could ruin the frame.

-4
bikerooKHS Flite 100, Specialized Langster•

It's like asking a non-chef why they would bother owning Shun knives or an amateur photographer why they want a full-frame DSLR. People want nice things. You don't need to race competitively to have a nice bike.

Also the whole carbon thing exploding from a crash is anecdotal folly.

9
BicycleOfLifeLHT 2011 •

I had a carbon fork I had to replace after a crash. So it's for fun, to go fast up hills and stuff.

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bikerooKHS Flite 100, Specialized Langster•

and I had a steel fork I had to replace after hopping a curb.

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BicycleOfLifeLHT 2011 •

What! That must have been some curb. Were you successful in hopping it?

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icemopperOP2014 Felt Z5•

Oh don't worry, I'm not in the market for a carbon bike. I don't have anywhere close to the money for it. It was just a really fun day, beautiful weather, and an amazing bike to try. I do commute, but we have bike parking in our office. I don't race, but I want to get into that for fun. I like staying in shape, and we pretty much only have hills in the area.

All of those point to me not really wanting a carbon bike as my regular ride, so don't worry, I'm not making any rash decisions any time soon.

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Cream2sugars•

Keep an eye on craigslist and slowtwitch. My fist bike was full carbon with shimano wheels and 105/ultegra components for just under $1000. The price of entry isn't really that high and you won't lose much if you want to resell it later.

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BicycleOfLifeLHT 2011 •

I was on a rant though, sorry about that. I'm not worried, I want you to be happy. :)

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icemopperOP2014 Felt Z5•

Haha no worries at all! I am happy!

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Taskete•

Have you ever ridden a carbon bike? The carbon structure absorbs all vibrations making the ride very comfortable. It's not that simple that a steel bike give you better training, you want to ride on good stuff!

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BicycleOfLifeLHT 2011 •

steel is the most comfort i have experienced. and yes I have ridden a carbon bike.

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