Raleigh Propaganda

Hi,

My first post here. I'm a keen road cyclist but keen to get a single speed for local trips and to accompany my young daughter - she is wanting to start riding short sportives and I'd like to add some extra interest to the rides for myself when doing them at a lighter pace than usual.

I've been researching for some time, including reading some extensive threads on here (wow - Foffa!) but I'm struggling to conclude much more than 'you get what you pay for'.

I have tried searching but have not found any reference to the Raleigh Propaganda, even though it has been around for a few years now. There's something nice about the heritage of Raleigh and the spec, to my admittedly inexperienced eye, seems OK.

Would anyone be able to share their experience and wisdom on this for me? It is currently available at a hefty discount on the usual RRP and I wondered if it is as good a deal as it initially appears?

http://www.raleigh.co.uk/ProductType/ProductRange/Product/Default.aspx?pc=1&pt=14&pg=12223

Thank you very much.

I like the description: "Speed through the city; laugh at the traffic locked in their friendless metal boxes, enjoy your commute."

If you look at the brakes and bars, you can see a small problem - when you are climbing up a hill (presume), you might need to reduce speed/stop quickly and when you reach for the brake, you will lose balance as you release the "bullhorn."

Yeah I've never quite got that brake-lever mounting position.

I think it's OK for £350. You could take a look at this (slightly outdated) list of other OTP offerings and compare https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/135682/.

I'd always advise you to get something second-hand off here. £350 would go further.

Thank you very much for the suggestions. I'll check out that thread and also look at second hand options.

I'm struggling to conclude much more than 'you get what you pay for'.

I wondered if it is as good a deal as it initially appears?

I think you've answered your own question there :)

That Raleigh has "sweet fixie bro" written all over it: from the faux-retro saddle and tape, to the bullhorns and cross-tops.

The frameset is as basic as it gets and it looks to have threaded forks, but a threadless stem: so obviously using a convertor, which is pretty poor for a factory bike.

The components are all what you'd expect for the money: unlikely to kill you, but nothing you'd actually buy if you had the choice.

I suppose it does draw on Raleigh's heritage, in that for every SBDU they crafted, they churned out thousands of BSO...

If all you want is something cheap and cheerful, then a Charge Plug 0 would be better: the 2017 model is £400, but a quick search suggest you could get a 2016 model for £350.

But the 2016 Charge Plug 1 (the 2017 version has disc brakes and is £550) is readily available for the same money: eg Wiggle or Cycle Store. A distinct step-up from either of the above.

However, I can't recommend a Genesis Flyer enough: a really well thought out bike, with your money being spent where it counts.

Although the components are the usual Far East budget choices, you get carbon forks and good tyres which will give you a ride that pisses all over the above bikes. You also get horizontal dropouts (rather than track ends) which mean that in the event of a puncture, the excellent mudguards won't give you a hard time.

I recommended it to a friend: he uses it for the commute, pub/shops, wet club runs and for pootling about with his ten year old. It turns out there are half a dozen others in his club, including a couple of the staff at the LBS and they all rate it highly.

He paid £490 from Freeborn: "good comms, quick dispatch, as described" etc.

NB Earlier models differ considerably, so make sure you're comparing like-for-like if you're considering second-hand.

Not as practical and likely too sporty for your needs, but a good example of what you need to spend to see good quality, branded components is the Eastway Esaki.

TL/DR
It's shit. Buy a Flyer.

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond so extensively. By coincidence, you reminded me that I have a colleague who a few months ago said he had a Genesis Flyer that he doesn't use enough and may sell one day. I'll have a chat...

You're welcome!

The earlier models weren't as sorted, which isn't to say they're no good, so do bear that in mind: eg horizontal dropouts are new for 2016, some don't have mudguard mounts and whilst the earliest forks were carbon, they were then steel before switching back to carbon.

But they've always been decent quality and I'd still take one over that Raleigh, especially at second-hand, mate's rates.

I run with that lever position on my Single Speed.

I mainly use the bars as flats, but like that I can stretch out if I want to. I've never found that switching back to the flats from the horns is an issue.