IN THIS ISSUE OF ROAD

Jan-Feb 2008 Issue

Page 026.

We sent Neil@ROAD a 2007 Supercourse last year and he decided to make it a "project" bike. In this issue of ROAD "Raleigh Revisited Part-II" is a short write-up of how Neil upgrades his Supercourse - which wears the same carbon frame as our TEAM, Prestige, and Competition road bikes - only it comes in at a wallet friendly price point of $1525.

Back in Sept. we invited Neil out to participate in our local MS150 ride - we put him on a 2008 Prestige for a good two days of riding (1st day 100 mi. 2nd 75mi. - click here and here for the full story)...so he went back to sunny California and got inspired to upgrade his Supercourse.

"After several good climbing surges, it became apparent that the bike's classic geometry and unfaltering gruppo were designed for riders who like to go hard..."

"...at speed, the A.C.E. Evolution carbon fiber frame smoothly rolled with minimal power being wasted."

Spec. Update:
Wheels set: Mavic R-SYS
Tires: Continental Grand Prix 4000
Brake Levers: Shimano Ultegra SL
Brakes: Shimano Ultegra SL
Handlebars: FSA K-Force Monocoque
Headset: FSA
Saddle: fizi:k Arione
Seatpost: FSA K-Force
Shifters: Shimano Ultegra SL
Stem: FSA OS-099
Drivetrain: Full Shimano Ultegra SL

Page 036.

An article titled, "Unique Needs of Novice Racers" explores and breakdown the world of novice racing and its relation to professional racing; from season scheduling, to peaks for riders, to tactics, and so on. On the second page of the article is and awesome photograph of a Raleigh - First Rate Mortgage rider Kenny Williams claiming victory on a Team frame at this years Interbike Industry Cup.


Page 005-006.

On the first opening pages we also placed this beautiful ad for our ACE Evolution/Direct Connect carbon Team frame/set.

{images carey}

Time: 5am
Bikes: Team Frame, Prestige, & Competition
Location: Hurricane Ridge Olympic National Park

{CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE}

{one of the coolest pictures taken thus far}

{Brian track standing with the moon}

{Kyle & Paul taken a break in the sun}

{Brian taken a break and entertaining us - I think my stomach developed a nice little six pack due to hysterical laughing fits that were instigated by Brian}

{I brought my bike to play on, but it ended up just getting photographed}

Enjoy!

Photo shoot continued. Of course, I won't give you the best shots (smile), but here is a taste of yesterday morning's shoot.

Time: 5am
Location: Ediz Hook - Port Angles, WA
Bikes: Team Frames & 2008 Prestige (the red one)

{warming up - it was 5am and incredibly chilly due to a fog that rolled in}

Enjoy!

A VISUAL PLAY WITH CARBON

THUMBS UP!

Whew! It has been a pretty busy couple of weeks. First the Raleigh crew was part of the Brad Lewis Memorial Criterium the weekend of April 7th and 8th, and then we were right off to the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California, on the 11th for five days of wind, cold, rain, and bicycle racing!

The Sea Otter Classic has become more than just a bicycle race; it is a real gathering of bicycle racers and enthusiasts along with the bicycle industry and press. Bicycling magazine, in addition to being a major sponsor of the Sea Otter Classic, uses the event to host its Editor’s Choice Awards and VIP Barbeque. Raleigh has been honored to have bicycles nominated in several categories each of the last three years, but we have always gone home with out a “blue square” – that’s industry slang for the Editor’s Choice Award (see the photo to understand why). This year the 2007 Raleigh Competition was nominated in the Recreational Road Bike category, and WE WON! It is a great honor and thrill to have the technical staff from Bicycling recognize the Competition as a category leader, and from everyone here at Raleigh to all the hard-working members of the Bicycling team – thanks!

The 2007 Raleigh Competition features the totally redesigned Raleigh A.C.E. (Advanced Carbon Engineering) Evolution frame with our proprietary Direct Connect Carbon Technology, combined with our race-proven geometry. Direct Connect Carbon Technology is an assembly process that eliminates the need for lugs, overlapping joints, or expensive fixed molds. By using precisely mitered multi-shaped tubes, joined directly to each other, our design and engineering team is able to add material only where it is most needed, minimizing voids and creating a very light (57cm frame weighs less than 1 kilo), exceptionally strong frame. The Raleigh A.C.E. Evolution frame is also available on the 2007 Raleigh Supercourse and Prestige model bicycles, and as a Team frame and fork.

While every member of the Raleigh team deserves credit for this award, special congratulations should go to Kyle Casteel for a great frame design and product spec, Dorik Downing for the beautiful color and graphics, and finally Toby Webster and Carey Schleicher-Haselhorst for their great work with Bicycling.

For a little more on this year’s Sea Otter event and our adventures down in “sunny” California – take a look at our sister blog www.diamondbackbicycles.blogspot.com.

We are excited to introduce the totally redesigned 2007 Raleigh A.C.E. Evolution/Direct Connect carbon road frames. By using the most advance technologies available in carbon design, our product development group and engineers have created a frame that is feather light. Weighing in at 1 kilo (960g for a 57cm) – our 2007 road frame holds a unique stiffness: weight ratio making this frame the lightest and most durable frame Raleigh as ever made. So, here is a bit of information to familiarize you with our new carbon technology.

Q: Why does the carbon on my A.C.E. Evolution/Direct Connect frame seems to have inconsistencies?

A: Carbon fiber material is made up of exactly that – fibers. These carbon fibers come in a variety of thicknesses and individually have unique characteristics. When these individual fibers are combined to create a larger strand – undulations, ripples, bends, etc. occur (Fig. 1). This is one reason why the fibers on our A.C.E. Evolution carbon frames appear to have “rough or inconsistent spots.” The other reason is we have decided to eliminate what is called the cosmetic/aesthetic weave finish which reduces the weight of our carbon without sacrificing the strength or stiffness (Fig.2).

Q: It looks like there is a seam on the top tube/rear stays; does this compromise the structure of the frame?

A: Our ACE Evolution carbon frames are made up of Uni-Directional sheets that are oriented in the same direction. Various uni-directional sheets are then stacked together (layed-up) at different angles until the desired mix of layers and fibers is achieved for the appropriate area of the frame. The sheets are then cut to a specific dimension, wrapped around a deflated air bladder, inserted into a two-sided mold where the carbon and bladder are heated. When heated the bladder expands pushing the carbon material against the mold interior to shape the tube and insure optimal fiber compaction. So, what appears to be a “seam” is actually an indention from the mold and will not compromise the strength, performance or integrity of your ACE Evolution carbon frame.

Q: The carbon tubes seem to flex when I squeeze the tubes in my hand, why is this?

A: Through our A.C.E. Evolution/Direct Connect technology we are able to create thinner tubes without sacrificing the strength or stiffness. Naturally a thinner carbon tube will flex more than a thicker tube - but we have also tactically placed stronger/thicker carbon fiber material in areas on the frame that are load bearing hot spots to make the frame stiffer, stronger, and more responsive where appropriate (Fig 3).





Example on the left is our Cadent Carbon fork raw. The fork on the right is the same fork finished with a clear coat that is applied to all of our A.C.E. Evolution/Direct Connect carbon frames. Note the clear coat glorifies and accentuates the naturally sophisticated pattern of the carbon fibers and lay-up process.

Our Direct Connect has gone through more intensive testing than any other frame we have ever produced. Using both factory testing as well as independent testing – we were able to test every size of both the Team and Cadent frames. In both cases these frames exceeded all international standards– and proved themselves to have more integrity than any road frame we currently produce. In many cases even after 250000 cycles we were unable to compromise the frame. We are extremely proud of these results.

Check out Bicycling magazines rave review of our 2007 Prestige - this bicycle is our top of the line ACE Evolution/Direct Connect complete carbon bike.

{click on cover & review to enlarge}

A rave review of the 2007 Prestige graces page 95 of Bicycling magazine's MARCH issue. "Value Priced Carbon Bikes" is the theme of the article and the Prestige came in as the lightest and most peppy of the five bikes tested, which included Felt, Giant, Jamis, and Schwinn. “THE FACT THAT WE EVEN COMPARE THE PRESTIGE TO HIGH-DOLLAR RACE/DREAM BIKES SHOULD TELL YOU SOMETHING – IT’S NOT IN THE SAME LEAGUE, BUT IT’S CLOSER THAN THE PRICE TAG SUGGESTS,” commented Ron Koch, the product tester. With an outstanding review and a feature cover under its seat, the Prestige is "lightly" brushing up interest. Why not play on an intelligently designed machine that only costs $2,625?

technology

DIRECT CONNECT TECHNOLOGY
By using the most advance technologies available in carbon design, our product development group and engineers have created a frame that is feather light. Weighing in at 1 kilo (960g for a 57cm) – our 2007 road frame wears a unique stiffness:weight ratio making this frame the lightest and most durable frame Raleigh as ever made.


SO WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
{1} Each tube starts as sheets of High Modulus carbon fiber that are laid-up for specific tube shape and function requirements. Creating our Advanced Carbon Engineering Evolution Tube sets. {2} After a carefully controlled cooling process the tubes are miter cut to very specific lengths for assembly into a frame. {3} Each tube is bonded to another tube while being held in place in a frame jig ensuring exact alignment. {4} The joints are then over-wrapped with a series of high Modulus carbon fiber strips to reinforce the joint. Then the entire frame (still mounted in the frame jig to ensure exact alignment) compresses each joint using proprietary methodology and tooling. Then is re-heated so the resin of the wrapping strips bonds with the tubes creating a very strong and sculpted joint.

THE ADVANTAGES
We are able to produce a frame that eliminates the use of lugs and overlapping joints, which reduces weight significantly. Another advantage to constructing frames with the Direct Connect Technology is the ability to individually give each tube their own specific carbon lay-up (known as our A.C.E. Evolution {scroll down to see this story}). Lastly, this technology gives us flexibility in engineering geometry that is race-ready.

2007 BICYCLES UTILIZING THE DIRECT CONNECT/A.C.E. EVOLUTION FRAME:
Team Frame/set
Prestige
Competition
Supercourse
Cadent Carbon


A.C.E (Advanced Carbon Engineering) EVOLUTION
A.C.E Evolution is the designation used to describe our High Modulus Carbon that is used to create the carbon tubes used in the Direct Connect Carbon frames. It is made up of Uni-Directional carbon layers that are specifically laid up to create a unique profile for each carbon tube.

The Evolution of A.C.E reduces the weight of carbon without sacrificing the strength or stiffness. We have eliminated the cosmetic/aesthetic weave finish to further shave grams and designed the tubing to compliment our Direct Connect process. The result – a frame that is so intelligent it will respond without hesitation to your every move.

Enjoy the Ride!

2007 PRESTIGE ON THE COVER OF BICYCLING

Our 2007 Raleigh Prestige is featured on the cover of Bicycling magazine's JAN/FEB issue. The Prestige is showcased for the cover article: "The Year I Did Everything Right." The Prestige is also featured on the table of contents and title pages. Look for a review in the March/April issue, otherwise swing down to one of your local dealers and test ride one today.