Sea Otter 2012: Raleigh go with disc brakes for the 2013 RXC Pro
Raleigh say the new RXC Pro disc-equipped carbon ‘cross bike will be available around July or August. Cost is still to be determined but will likely be in the neighborhood of US$6,000 complete with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 group, Cole Products carbon wheels and an ENVE Composites carbon cockpit
Svelte seatstays offer at least the suggestion of a smooth ride
The slightly curved top tube is flattened on the underside for less painful shouldering
The PressFit 30 bottom bracket is not only light but also allows the bike to be converted to a singlespeed with the appropriate adapter
The rear disc brake caliper is neatly tucked away inside the rear triangle. The Shimano disc caliper pictured here is just a placeholder – the production bike will come with a nicer unit
The ENVE Composites fork is perhaps the best disc-compatible ‘cross fork we’ve ridden
The internally run cables make a brief appearance at the bottom bracket for easier routing
The convertible routing setup can be used with either electronic or cable actuated drivetrains
Raleigh could have tucked the Di2 battery down beneath the down tube or chainstay but opted to leave it in the standard position where it’s most protected
The Raleigh RXC Pro will come standard with an ENVE Composites handlebar, stem, fork and seatpost
Cole Products wheels are built with unique pivoting spoke anchors that supposedly allow for better alignment and more tension
The rear derailleur mounts to a replaceable hanger
Still doubt the wave is coming? Raleigh Bicycles in the US will make the bold move into the disc brake arena on their top-end cyclo-cross bike, the RXC Pro, and according to “marketing guy” Brian Fornes, it’ll be available for sale well in time for the start of the 2012-13 season.
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The rear Shimano CX70 cable actuated disc caliper is tucked inside the rear triangle and bolted to post-mount-style tabs on the chunky chainstays. Rear spacing is set at 135mm – the de facto standard for disc-equipped road and ‘cross frames. The front caliper is bolted to ENVE Composites’ awesome disc-compatible carbon ‘cross fork.
Other changes to Raleigh’s top-end carbon fiber ‘cross frame include a newly tapered head tube, tubular looped stays, and a clever internal/external convertible routing system compatible with either electronic wires or conventional cables. Adding further to its versatility is the PressFit 30 bottom bracket shell, which not only reduces weight but also allows for an easy singlespeed conversion with the correct adapter fitted.
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The complete bike will come with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 group and Cole C38 Lite carbon clincher wheels. Fornes told BikeRadarthat final pricing is still to be determined but he estimates it will be somewhere around US$6,000. Raleigh UK tell us they’re likely to bring in the RXC Pro as a frameset only, with pricing to be confirmed.
The pressfit 30 bottom bracket is not only light but also allows the bike to be converted to a singlespeed with the appropriate adapter: the pressfit 30 bottom bracket is not only light but also allows the bike to be converted to a singlespeed with the appropriate adapterJames Huang/BikeRadar
