The new 2014 RXC Pro Disc: a half pound of weight savings over last year’s model.
“The 2014 Raleigh Cyclocross bikes will continue to build Raleigh’s legacy in the mud.”
With riders like the tattooed Ben Berden and often-outspoken Caroline Mani racing for Raleigh last year, the team quickly began to gain notoriety on the US cyclocross circuit. And with their devotion to singlespeed racing (including the Raleigh Singlespeed Derby at Worlds), it’s clear that the company has committed to ’cross, and to keeping it fun. Raleigh USA is also one of the few companies that has introduced a women-specific model for cyclocross, and has continued to update it year after year.
Readers might remember that at Sea Otter last year, Ben Berden appeared for the first time in a Raleigh jersey, flying in from Belgium for the weekend to take the win at the inaugural Sea Otter cyclocross race. At the show, we got a first look at the 2013 Raleigh cyclocross lineup, including the new RXC Pro Disc bike to be ridden by Ben Berden and Caroline Mani. At the time, pricing and final specs of the lineup were not finalized, but by Dealer Camp that July, the complete Raleigh 2013 cyclocross lineup was unveiled with final specs and pricing. We snapped some photos of the bikes and watched the racing action at the challenging Raleigh Midsummer Night cyclocross course.
We got the sneak peek at the 2014 fleet of new cyclocross bikes, and while we’re looking forward to seeing them in person at Sea Otter in the next few days, we wanted to showcase them early. There are some significant and minor changes to the returning models – all models are at east half a pound lighter than last year’s versions – we’re particularly fans of the two-bolt seatpost change and the switch to wider rims on the top-of-the-line RX Pro Disc and RX Disc. It seems like Raleigh is listening to our feedback and reviews.
As far as the frames are concerned, Raleigh’s carbon offerings are all disc brake models now, with the $5000 RXC Pro Disc and $2700 RXC Disc featuring Raleigh’s Direct Connect High Modulus carbon frame with 1.5″ tapered steerer and a PF30 bottom brackets. The Pro model comes with Ultegra Di2, ENVE’s CX Disc fork, and now features a bright blue color scheme, as seen on Ben Berden’s new bike, while the RXC Disc stays black and comes with Raleigh’s own disc fork. On both bikes, cable routing is made compatible with electrical and mechanical cable systems courtesy of Raleigh’s CDS plates the change the opening of the internal routing ports. The RXC Disc features the same top level frame at a more affordable price point, meaning without Di2 but has Shimano 105 componentry.
For the lower end models, alloy frames are the lightest and highest performance aluminum ’cross frames that Raleigh has made to date. The AL-6061 frames have a 1.5” tapered head tube and a tapered butted seat tube for increased torsional stiffness. Other changes include the new “Flat Oval” double butted and formed down tube in combination with Flat Oval seatstays, which Raleigh claims “increase torsional stiffness while offering great vertical compliance.”
In terms of wheel changes, the RXC Pro Disc and RXC Disc now feature American Classic wheels, while the $1750 RX 2.0 and $1550 RX 1.0 have “new, lighter and stiffer wheels with better hubs” and 4.4mm wider rims. On the RX models, the Impulse on the RX 2.0 is a disc-specific 23mm wide rim and on the RX 1.0, the XP Elite is a canti-specific 23mm wide rim. The switch to wider rims is popular among cyclocrossers, as it increases tire volume, spreads the tread contact patch and will allow riders to run lower tire pressure with less tire roll.
As far as componentry goes, Raleigh has also changed up the forks. While the RXC Pro Disc will keep its ENVE Composites fork, the RXC Disc features an all new Raleigh Carbon monocoque fork with 1.5” taper and Post-Mount tabs. And the lower-end models also have new Raleigh forks. The RX 2.0 has a new Raleigh carbon fork with tapered steerer and Post-Mount tabs, and the RX 1.0 features a new Raleigh carbon fork with tapered steerer. The main difference from previous versions? These forks are lighter.
What got us excited at CXM HQ is the redesigned Raleigh seatpost. The new post has 20mm offset, a huge increase from last year’s 8mm. While that’s interesting, the most notable new feature is that all bikes will have a dual-bolt seatpost, meaning no matter how hard a rider remounts the bike, the saddle will never tilt up or down. One bolt seatpost are our pet peeve, and Raleigh has listened.
Check out below for specs and pictures of each bike, and stay tuned while we check out their new offerings at Sea Otter this week.
RXC Pro Disc
Frame: Carbon Direct Connect, Disc Mount, Tapered Headtube, Electrical or Mechanical routing, PF30 BB
Fork: Enve Carbon Monocoque 1.125″ to 1.5″Taper, Post-Mount Disc
Brakes: Shimano CX75 Disc Brakes
Shifting: Shimano Ultegra Di2, CX75 Cranks, 46x36t Chainrings
Cockpit: FSA SLK bar and stem
Bartape: CX Specific BarTape, all condition grip and increased shock absorption
Wheels: American Classic Hurricane Disc with custom graphics, 22mm wide rims
Tires: Clement Crusade PDX, 700x33c, 120tpi, Folding
Post/Saddle: Raleigh 2014 Alloy Dual Bolt, 20mm Offset, Prologo Nago Evo
MSRP: $5000
Sizes: 50, 53, 55, 57, 59
RXC Disc
Frame: Carbon Direct Connect, Disc Mount,Tapered Headtube, Electrical or Mechanical routing, PF30 BB
Fork: Raleigh Carbon Monocoque 1.125″ to 1.5″Taper, Post-Mount Disc
Brakes: Hayes CX5 Disc Brakes
Shifting: Shimano 105, FSA Gossamer Cranks, 46x36t Chainrings
Cockpit: Raleigh Butted Short Reach Bar, Raleigh 3D Forged Stem
Bartape: CX Specific BarTape, all condition grip and increased shock absorption
Wheels: American ClassicTCX Disc with custom graphics, 26mm wide rims
Tires: Clement Crusade PDX, 700x33c, 120tpi, Folding
Post/Saddle: Raleigh 2014 Alloy Dual Bolt, 20mm Offset, Prologo Nago Evo X8
MSRP: $2700
Sizes: 50, 53, 55, 57, 59
RX 2.0
Frame: 6061 Double Butted Alloy, Disc Mount, Tapered Headtube & Seattube, Flat Oval Downtube & Seatstay, PF30 BB
Fork: Raleigh Carbon 1.125″ to 1.5″ Taper, Post-Mount Disc
Brakes: Hayes CX5 Disc Brakes
Shifting: Shimano 105, FSA Gossamer Cranks, 46x36t Chainrings
Cockpit: Raleigh Butted Short Reach Bar, Raleigh 3D Forged Stem
Bartape: CX Specific BarTape, all condition grip and increased shock absorption
Wheels: Novatec Sealed Bearing Hubs, Weinmann 23mm wide Impulse rims
Tires: Schwalbe Racing Ralph Performance, 700x33c, Folding
Post/Saddle: Raleigh 2014 Alloy Dual Bolt, 20mm Offset, Raleigh CX Saddle
MSRP: $1750
Sizes: 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62
RX 1.0 Women’s Specific
Frame: 6061 Double Butted Alloy, Tapered Headtube & Seattube, Flat Oval Downtube & Seatstay, PF30 BB
Fork: Raleigh Carbon 1.125″ to 1.5″ Taper, Canti-Bosses
Brakes: Tektro CR710 Canti Brakes
Shifting: Sram Apex, FSA Gossamer, 46x36t Chainrings
Cockpit: Raleigh Short Reach Bar, Raleigh 3D Forged Stem
Bartape: CX Specific BarTape, all condition grip and increased shock absorption
Wheels: Formula Smooth Bearing Hubs, Weinmann 23mm wide XP Elite rims
Tires: Schwalbe Racing Ralph Performance, 700x33c, Folding
Post/Saddle: Raleigh 2014 Alloy Dual Bolt, 20mm Offset, Raleigh CX Saddle
MSRP: $1550
Sizes: 48, 50, 52, 54, 56
RX 1.0
Frame: 6061 Double Butted Alloy, Tapered Headtube & Seattube, Flat Oval Downtube & Seatstay, PF30 BB
Fork: Raleigh Carbon 1.125″ to 1.5″ Taper, Canti-Bosses
Brakes: Tektro CR710 Canti Brakes
Shifting: Sram Apex, FSA Gossamer, 46x36t Chainrings
Cockpit: Raleigh Short Reach Bar, Raleigh 3D Forged Stem
Bartape: CX Specific BarTape, all condition grip and increased shock absorption
Wheels: Formula Smooth Bearing Hubs, Weinmann 23mm wide XP Elite rims
Tires: Schwalbe Racing Ralph Performance, 700x33c, Folding
Post/Saddle: Raleigh 2014 Alloy Dual Bolt, 20mm Offset, Raleigh CX Saddle
MSRP: $1550
Sizes: 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62
