Raleigh Sojourn

[dex]

*sigh* The Sojourn is not to be.

I did manage to go in on Tuesday to ride it, and was still almost giddy at the prospect. It is soooo pretty.

But, it's also soooo heavy. Don't get me wrong, the ride is nice and smooth. And those WTB Dirt Drop bars are awesome (and the leather bar tape is pretty awesome, too)--in fact, if WTB releases the dirt drop with an internal diameter that will accommodate barcons, I'm going to have to get some (apparently the version on the Sojourn were a special run made just for Raleigh). But the bike is just so very heavy.

Add to it that I kept getting my feet tangled up in the front fender when trying to do some slow turns...Not so much with the good there.

So I didn't buy it.

But, all is not lost. My quest for a good commuter/light tourer/all-arounder type bike marches on. I test rode a Salsa Casseroll at Free Range Cycles and just about fell in love. We're going to try one size smaller with a longer stem to see if we can find me a touch more standover clearance. I'm running into my usual problem of getting enough length in the top tube on bikes that are short enough for me to stand over. (i.e. By the time a bike is short enough in height for my stumpy legs, it's usually *way* too short in length. <-- The guys at Counterbalance helped me figure out that was why I was so uncomfortable on the Long Haul Trucker that I rode recently.)

[KnottedYet]

Sorry it wasn't a blissful bike for you, Dex.

But those Caserolls sure are purty!

Free Range is my *other* LBS. I took Trek there to try a LHT, and Bikerhen there to buy one. They truly understand steel bike love. (and the chickie who owns Free Range is just plain cool. I keep telling DebW she needs to apply for a job HERE, not out there on the east coast!)

Got my fingers crossed for ya!

ETA: guess I'll stop lusting after the Sojourn, and keep lovin' on my Surly Cross Check.

[Laru]

*sigh* The Sojourn is not to be.

I did manage to go in on Tuesday to ride it, and was still almost giddy at the prospect. It is soooo pretty.

But, it's also soooo heavy. Don't get me wrong, the ride is nice and smooth. And those WTB Dirt Drop bars are awesome (and the leather bar tape is pretty awesome, too)--in fact, if WTB releases the dirt drop with an internal diameter that will accommodate barcons, I'm going to have to get some (apparently the version on the Sojourn were a special run made just for Raleigh). But the bike is just so very heavy.

Add to it that I kept getting my feet tangled up in the front fender when trying to do some slow turns...Not so much with the good there.

So I didn't buy it.

But, all is not lost. My quest for a good commuter/light tourer/all-arounder type bike marches on. I test rode a Salsa Casseroll at Free Range Cycles and just about fell in love. We're going to try one size smaller with a longer stem to see if we can find me a touch more standover clearance. I'm running into my usual problem of getting enough length in the top tube on bikes that are short enough for me to stand over. (i.e. By the time a bike is short enough in height for my stumpy legs, it's usually *way* too short in length. <-- The guys at Counterbalance helped me figure out that was why I was so uncomfortable on the Long Haul Trucker that I rode recently.)

dang, sorry it didn't work for you. I never went and tried one myself. Talked myself down...
That's disappointing about the bars being special made for Raleigh. I wanted to get those bars for my bike! I just put the velo orange "left bank" bars w/ reverse levers on my mixte and, lemme tell ya, I am sooo much more comfortable! I think I can hang with what I have for a while.

Hope the casseroll works out because that is a very nice bike.
: )