Raleigh Sojourn

[dex]

Found one! In my size!! Yay!!!

Ok, so I haven't ridden it yet because it's still boxed up in a warehouse, BUT after the shop fetches it in the morning and builds it up, I have first dibs. w00t! I sooo excited. No, really. Way excited.

I test rode a Surly Long Haul Trucker and a Kona Sutra today. I have to say I liked the Sutra more than the LHT, which was weird because when I rode the LHT last summer I absolutely loved it but I wasn't feeling that love today.

But, I kept glancing longingly at the (too big) Raleigh Sojourn sitting on the floor. The (very helpful) guy answering my questions and helping me spend my money mentioned that he thought they might have one in my size in the warehouse. This came as a surprise because the last time I was in that particular shop they emphatically told me they only had a few, and they were all 55cm and up. So, he looked it up and...ta-da! Indeed, a 53cm was sitting in the warehouse just waiting to be freed from its box.

It should be ready for me to test ride on Tuesday. If it lives up to its looks...I'm taking it home.

(My opinion of Recycled Cycles was raised many, many notches today when I went in and actually had my questions answered and was shown many, many bikes...and when they found a 53cm Sojourn in their warehouse for me to try out.)

There was also a really pretty older Terry Classic on the floor, and if I were shorter and able to comfortably ride WSD bikes, I probably would have been all over it.

[KnottedYet]

Oh! Oh! Oh!

You MUST write a review, even if you don't buy it!

Yeah, I saw that Terry yesterday too. It's been there a while. I can't believe no-one has snapped it up yet. Was the red Burley tandem still there? Only $600. I was *this* close to buying it... but "someone" stopped me. I have no self-restraint.

[dex]

The tandem was still there. It's only $600? Good thing I don't have anyone to ride a tandem with, or I might have been tempted. I think we may have similar self-control issues. Heh.

Actually, they had several nice used bikes out today, including a 49cm Cannondale touring bike for less than $400. Too small for me, but very pretty.

A review will definitely be forthcoming. I've been wanting to try the Sojourn for months now. Did I mention that I'm excited??

[Beane]

the last time I was at yellow jersey (http://www.yellowjersey.org/) they had one, but I don't know what size it was. since they sell stuff on ebay and are very knowledgeable and helpful (usually) I'm sure they'd be willing to ship it...

[withm]

nice looking bike...

But what's with the bar end shifters? Not sure I could ever get used to those and having to actually move my hands so far to shift.

[Zen]

oh, I don't know about that.
if I can manage bar end shifters, you definitely can

That Raleigh reminds me of the Trek Portland.

[dex]

But what's with the bar end shifters? Not sure I could ever get used to those and having to actually move my hands so far to shift.

The barcons definitely take some getting used to, but it's a pretty shallow learning curve. The first few blocks of test ride felt a little wobbly, but by the time I'd shifted a few times, I was feeling perfectly fine/stable/comfortable <-- this is saying quite a lot for clumsy, uncoordinated me.
I'm told the biggest advantage of these over STI shifters is ease of maintenance/repair when out in the middle of nowhere.

That Raleigh reminds me of the Trek Portland.

It's a very similar bike, but in steel and about $600 less. Add in the Brooks saddle (which I already ride and love on my other bikes), full fenders and rear rack and I'll probably squeal with glee if the fit works for me.

(still excited, despite the food poisoning that found me last night...)

[Zen]

(still excited, despite the food poisoning that found me last night...)

Brief hijack but an important one.
you didn't by chance have raw tomatoes, did you?

[7rider]

It's a very similar bike, but in steel and about $600 less. Add in the Brooks saddle (which I already ride and love on my other bikes), full fenders and rear rack and I'll probably squeal with glee if the fit works for me.

$600?? All I get is "$$$$$" for the price info on the Raleigh site, and no price info comes up.
The Portland is spec'ed oodles better than the Sojourn - a nice mix of 105 and Ultegra and the BB7's are primo.
Can't speak for the ride of either...but my LBS is a Trek AND a Raleigh dealer. Hmmmm....