Price: $443
Weight: 5lbs. (frame)
Components: Shimano Acera shifters/derailleurs, Acera cranks, ProMax
brakes, Wellgo pedals
Frame & Fork: Raleigh cromoly, Omni 156 P fork
Geometry: 70° head tube, 73° seat tube, 55.8cm top tube
Sizes: 15″, 17″(tested), 19″
Comments: “A good solid ride.”
www.raleigh-canada.com
Canadian Pride: Some Raleigh bicycles are completely made in Canada and
some are designed and assembled in Canada. The Tarantula is designed and
assembled in Canada.
All right, I’ll be the first to admit that most of the time I get to ride
some pretty high-end bikes. Both from the team I race for and as a bike
reviewer for Pedal, I’m privileged to test some pretty sweet bikes.
That being said, I was very curious to try out the Raleigh Tarantula, a
budget bike for someone who wants a nice rig without the fat price tag. I
knew that lower-end bikes were a far cry from a decade ago, when
less-expensive bikes had a lifespan equivalent to that of a ladybug, and
components would work sometimes, and sometimes not.
But all that has changed due to the tremendous trickle-down effect.
Thankfully, the innovations from all of the major frame and component
makers first seen on higher-end bikes often find themselves on beginner
bikes a few years later.
Lookswise, the shiny blue and gray Raleigh Tarantula has all the makings of
a very sharp bike. An aggressive geometry, a suspension fork, and some
nice riser bars tell me that this bike is going to be a blast. And it is.
I took it out on quite a blustery day, and I immediately felt comfortable
on the rugged machine.
after riding it, I realized that its weight might actually have some
benefit: it goes over anything. It’s like a tank that can just roll on once
it gets moving, and for a city rider or recreational rider, that’s
important. The bike’s set-up is aimed at people who want a snazzy-looking
bike, but want to feel solid on the bike while riding. The Tarantula
provides a nice comfy position, with generic riser bars that make you feel
as relaxed as you would be sitting in an easy chair.
The aforementioned trickle-down effect is seen in the Shimano Acera
shifting-21 speeds, and each of them were as crisp as those on most of the
high-end bikes I test and ride. Likewise, the V-Brake-style brakes had me
stopping on a dime. I didn’t exactly love the cushy wide Selle Stratos
saddle, but that might be because it is aimed at the beginner rider, not
silly five-hour-a-day, narrow-saddle-sitting prostate killers like myself.
I have often wondered why recreational riders or commuters would want to
ride a mountain bike. After riding the Tarantula, with its hybrid-style
slick/knobby Duro Tires, I think I see why. Riding a mountain bike that’s
sturdy is fun. It’s the SUV of bikes. As long as the tires aren’t that
knobby, the speed is not compromised at all. I’d love to take the Tarantula
ripping around Toronto’s downtown streets, as it is a solid, fun machine.
The weight, of course, is the biggest compromise, so going up hills is not
easy, and I can certainly admit to using the 26×28 top gear sometimes. It
does take a bit to get the bike going, but like a diesel Mercedes, once the
thing is rolling, it’s a blast. The handling presents a similar scenario:
it doesn’t handle like a shopping cart, but it’s no Ferrari either. Once
you get used to it, it’s fine. I really enjoyed jamming around on the
Tarantula.
The Omni 156P “RST” fork is a lightweight shock for easy trails and bumps,
more for show than substance-but hey, a front shock is cool. I’ve always
wanted a bike like this, and the only things I might change would be the
saddle and pedals. The pedals are the generic platform style-the kind with
the reflector on the back and plastic black casing. But apart from that,
the bike is a lot of fun, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone
looking for an inexpensive fun ride.