Raleigh‘s flagship RXC Pro Disc ‘cross racer gets minor refinements for 2014 – namely cleaner internal cable routing on the chain stay and a move to wider-profile American Classic Hurricane Disc wheels for a bigger tire contact patch. Retail price is US$5,000 and claimed weight is 8.57kg (18.9lb, 55cm) as pictured
Raleigh equips the RXC Pro Disc flagship with an Enve Composites fork – plus fantastic eye-catching graphics
The resultant 36mm actual width on the Clement Crusade PDX tire-and-American Classic Hurricane wheel combination may not fly for UCI-sanctioned races but that won’t be a concern for most of the people buying this bike
Raleigh’s RXC Disc uses the same carbon fiber frame as on the RXC Pro Disc flagship but with a heavier build kit. Raleigh has switched to wide-profile TCX Disc wheels to give amateur racers better grip. Claimed weight is 8.85kg (19.5lb, 55cm) and retail price is US$2,700
Raleigh has moved the exit port on carbon ‘cross frames’ internally routed rear derailleur cable to the top of the chain stay for a cleaner line
The Clement Crusade PDX clinchers are labeled as 33mm-wide but when mounted to the stock wide-profile American Classic wheels on the updated Raleigh RXC Pro Disc and RXC Disc, they measure closer to 36mm across
Raleigh’s aluminum ‘cross range gets all-new frames for 2014 that not only trim weight but supposedly provide a smoother ride quality that nearly matches the carbon models
The chain stays and seat stays are both flattened to help smooth out the ride on the new Raleigh aluminum CX frames
The curved top tube provides a little more room to reach your arm through for run-ups while the flattened surface should be a little less painful on your shoulder
Raleigh’s new RX 2.0 aluminum ‘cross bike may only be US$1,750 but it’s a reasonable weight at 10.12kg (22.3lb, 56cm) and looks far more expensive than it is
The new alloy frames get tapered seat tubes and slimmer 27.2mm-diameter seatposts
PressFit30 bottom brackets with machined shells are used across the board on Raleigh’s new aluminum ‘cross bikes for 2014
The Raleigh RX 2.0 gets a new tapered carbon fork with post mount disc tabs to replace last year’s IS alloy fork
The revamped RX 1.0 is now Raleigh’s top rim brake-equipped ‘cross bike for 2014. Claimed weight is 9.75kg (21.5lb, 55cm) and like other bikes in the range, the graphics scheme looks much richer than the US$1,550 price tag would normally suggest
Alloy frames get new tapered head tubes across the board
Raleigh has done a great job with the detail work on the new ‘cross bikes with lots of colored-to-match componentry
The paint will be more cleanly masked off on production bikes but note the color coordinated hubs and rims
The women’s-specific Raleigh RX 1.0 features a dedicated geometry with a shorter reach and more standover clearance than the standard version. Retail price is US$1,550 and claimed weight is 9.66kg (21.3lb) for a 52cm size
For the coming cyclocross season, Raleigh USA made subtle refinements to its carbon bikes but completed a wholesale redesign of its alloy range. Not only are the frames supposedly lighter and more efficient but also more comfortable – and new wheel specs across the board will greatly increase traction, too.
Advertisement
Alloy frames have been thoroughly modernized for the coming season with a new hydroformed and double-butted 6061 aluminum tubeset. The down tube has a more pronounced ovalized shape, the seat tube gains a tapered profile with a softer-riding 27.2mm seatpost, chain stays and seat stays are flattened for comfort, and Raleigh has ditched last year’s straight 1 1/8-inch head tube for a 1 1/8-to-1 ½-inch tapered one.
Raleigh equips the rxc pro disc flagship with an enve composites fork – plus fantastic eye-catching graphics: raleigh equips the rxc pro disc flagship with an enve composites fork – plus fantastic eye-catching graphicsJames Huang/BikeRadar
The top-end RXC Pro Disc gets an ENVE fork — and killer graphics
Accompanying the newly tapered front end are lighter-weight carbon forks, too, while the geometry has been adjusted to better suit US-style courses with lower bottom brackets to provide a more stable feel through corners.
Changes to the RXC carbon frames aren’t quite as dramatic. The internal and convertible rear derailleur routing now exits on top of the chain stay instead of underneath it for a cleaner run while the new RXC Disc model gets an all-new monocoque carbon fiber fork with post mount tabs.
Raleigh’s aluminum ‘cross range gets all-new frames for 2014 that not only trim weight but supposedly provide a smoother ride quality that nearly matches the carbon models: raleigh’s aluminum ‘cross range gets all-new frames for 2014 that not only trim weight but supposedly provide a smoother ride quality that nearly matches the carbon modelsJames Huang/BikeRadar
The aluminum line is all-new for 2014
All of the bikes get significant improvements in spec, however, particularly in terms of wheelsets. Raleigh now equips the top-end RXC Pro Disc and RXC Disc with wide-profile, tubeless-compatible, aluminum clinchers from American Classic, while other bikes get house-brand rims with far more generous 18mm internal widths – a massive improvement over the strangely narrow 12.4mm-wide ones we noted in our review of last year’s RXC Pro Disc.
Advertisement
The wider footprints that result may not always make the UCI happy – Raleigh’s Brian Fornes says the stock Clement tires on the RXC models end up close to 36mm wide – but just about everyone else should appreciate the increased grip, reduced chance of pinch flats, and lower operating pressures.
The resultant 36mm actual width on the clement crusade pdx tire-and-american classic hurricane wheel combination may not fly for uci-sanctioned races but that won’t be a concern for most of the people buying this bike: the resultant 36mm actual width on the clement crusade pdx tire-and-american classic hurricane wheel combination may not fly for uci-sanctioned races but that won’t be a concern for most of the people buying this bikeJames Huang/BikeRadar
New, wider rims result in a nice, plump tire that’s nearly 36mm wide
