DISCOUNT TICKETThink of the Competition as a two-wheeled iMac: Pros may want more, but if you’re looking for a worry-free performance machine, clip on in. Raleigh is coming on strong for ’05 by combining cutting-edge frames with styling that harks back to the brand’s late-seventies/early-eighties heyday. Carbon tubing, aluminum lugs, and an Ultegra drivetrain make this a do-anything racer.
Bonus: Truvativ chainrings and forgiving compact gearing took the sting out of the climbs on our test ride through the Rocky Mountain foothills.
Bummer: It’s prone to rattling—common on all-aluminum bikes.