http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Tag: raleigh pioneer replacement - Recent Topics en Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:29:08 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6357#post-68268 Tue, 01 May 2012 22:16:17 +0000 Greenroofer 68268@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>OK. I've got a <a href="http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/hybrid/product/review-raleigh-pioneer-elite-2-33660">Raleigh Pioneer Elite 2</a>. It's my only bike, and I've not got room for more. I got it through C2W, and it cost about £700.</p> <p><img src="http://www.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/2dd/e65/f31/24190/product_page/raleigh-pioneer-elite-2-2009-hybrid-bike.jpg"></p> <p>A bit like the story of my grandfather's axe, it's not actually the bike I bought any more. To turn it from the pile of junk it was when I got it to my daily commuter bike, it's had...<br /> <ul><li>New saddle</li><li>New handlebars</li><li>New mudguards</li><li>New rack</li><li>New tyres</li><li>New Shimano hydraulic brakes front and rear</li><li>New pedals</li><li>New chain tensioner</li><li>New spokes in the rear wheel</li><li>New bottom bracket</li><br /> </ul></p> <p>If you're not yet bored senseless and are keeping count, you'll realise that's actually quite a lot of the bike.</p> <p>James at Pedals has been politely rude about the quality of the front wheel. The spokes are all seized, and it's not worth repairing. It also needs a new drive train soon.</p> <p>In a couple of months it will have done its three years (and 7,000 miles) and I could get a replacement C2W bike. Alternatively, I could keep it and just get a new front wheel (which I could get a dynamo built into).</p> <p>So, technical question first, what life do you expect out of an aluminium frame. Am I anywhere close to it? How about the Alfine hub?</p> <p>Next, philosophical question. Given that money's not the problem (i.e. I could get another C2W bike) should I do that or keep the current one which is now, finally, sorted? Have you had any bad experiences disposing of a trusty steed and finding its replacement was never quite as good? </p>