Need help with new purchase. I'm suffering analysis paralysis! (Rove vs Roper)
I'm going to buy either the Kona Rove or Raleigh Roper.
Here's a chart of the main features which I want to discuss.
I won't be racing, this is the bike I'll travel with, ride on Dakota gravel roads, light singletrack, and on pavement when home.
This will also likely be the bike I do grouprides with.
This will be my first (new) bike in 20 years. I own lots of bikes but this will be a step up.
This will be my first bike with integrated shifters. I don't care either way Apex vs 105 - I trust them both and can live with either shift style.
This will be my first bike with disc brakes. I'm a bit nervous about the 140mm rotors on the Rove and the Hayes calipers, and do not want to upgrade the brakes anytime soon - the $250 price differential is pushing my budget to the limit.
The Roper is at a bike shop waay across town. The Rove is at my preferred BS.
The Roper's Weinmann DP30 rims appear to be nothing more than wide versions of their cheap fixie favorite the DP18. I own DP18's. They're heavy and sturdy, but not exactly the pinnacle of engineering excellence.
The Rove has "Formula Disc" hubs and rotors. I don't know what that means. No experience with those unnamed ones.
I very much like the idea of the PF30 BB. Big spindle and narrow shell means you can run anything with an adapter and spacers. Though a threaded external bearing setup will have parts availability forever.
Raleigh seems to have really come out with some innovative bikes lately, but the Furley (the Roper frame but single speed) has lots of reports of "soft paint". 1 year warranty.
Kona = warranty forever.
If I buy the Roper I'll save enough to get a Garmin Edge 500.
I don't know which way to go!
Posted Apr 13, 2013, 11:14 PM UTC