Raleigh Cadent 3 Lightweight Hybrid Bike Review
Wouldn’t it be great if we introduce you to a great city bike that offers you a unique experience of riding? The Raleigh Cadent 3 hybrid bike brings you that extra-ordinary combination of performing a lightweight, agile road bike and a sturdy, stable mountain bike.
This versatile bike brings for you the comfort of flat bars with the efficiency of a road bike. This Raleigh urban series offers you to discover a new craze of riding a bicycle.
So let’s start exploring this awesome city commuter with this content.
Overview of Raleigh Bikes Cadent 3 Urban Hybrid Bike
| Speed | 16 speeds |
| Brakes | Hydraulic disc brake |
| Pros | 85% assembled, Lightweight, Quality components |
| Cons | Does not comes with a kickstand & water bottle mount, need to replace the saddle for better cushion. |
| Summary | All-round hybrid bike perfect for entry level rider. |
| Brand | Raleigh Bicycles |
| Price? | Check Latest Price On Amazon |
Who is this bike designed for?
- This bike will be ideal if this is your first triathlon
- The best option for group riding in weekend leisure.
- For casually riding around the town, getting exercise or hanging out with friends- this bike can be a good component.
- Perfect for moving with speed and smoothness on the city pavement and for climbing up hills; this bike is just a superb choice
- This fitness bike is designed for city people. Its lightweight, smooth tires and multiple gears make this bike perfect for the urban citizens.
What We Like & What We Don’t
What We Like
- Comes with reliable brakes
- This bike needs effortless assembly
- Easily absorbs road vibrations with its carbon fiber fork
- Well built good quality bike with excellent components
- Tires of this bike are very smooth and fast on pavement
- Upgraded grips give pleasant experience without causing discomfort or numbness
- Makes you feel the hills like a breeze due to its very lightweight and gearing system
What We Don’t Like
- Though saddle is not much good; they can be easily changeable if you want.
- This bike doesn’t comes with a water bottle holder. You to get one by yourself.
What features makes Raleigh Cadent 3 hybrid bike best
Frame Construction
What kind of riding do you plan with your bike? For you envision of commuting in the city with friends or any occasional outings on the highway, you would need an easily maintainable and lightweight bike. This Cadent 3 bike is the correct choice for that. This bike is one of the budget hybrid bike below $500
It is said that the frame is the main part of any bicycle. The durable aluminum frame ensures lightweight and at the same time provides strength at the joints.
You will enjoy corrosion or rust-resistant super ride with this type of bike frame. This urban bike’s frame construction is handy for you when you are about to climb or sprint uphill.
Gear & Shifter
What do you expect from your urban fitness bike? Of course, any rider would want a variety range of riding bike.
This hybrid bike exactly offers you that. With its Shimano Acera Rapid fire Plus shifters that offer 16-speed gears, you will enjoy cycling on light bike trails to having a ride around the city.
You can quickly downshift from fifth gear to second gear with its shifters which provides you two-way release function. You can shift the normal way. Otherwise, by pushing with your thumb or pulling with your index finger, you can easily do that while riding.
Tires & Rims
What makes you float over bumps or rugged terrains? The answer is- tires with standard width.
This city bike’s 700c tires and large XTB26 double wall rims provide more stability and traction for which the riders don’t feel vibrant of road. You can have acceleration and climb very quickly with these lighter tires.
And they can roll smoothly on the pavement. Whether you are on city roads or dirt paths, these Clement X’Plor USH tires allow you good grips while cycling.
Also, its riser bar with short stem helps you to reach faster speed, have better standing position and riding uphill as well.
Powerful Brakes
You would need good brakes to ensure super stopping power in all weather conditions and low maintenance as well. The Raleigh Cadent hybrid bike comes with hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors to offer the rider maximum braking control in both descents as well as muddy situations.
Working Suspension
Why is suspension a vital part of looking for?
This common feature that you would find in most of the comfort bikes has a significant role to play. Absorbing impacts from obstacles, cracks, bumps, and ruts – is the main contribution of this part. This covers you from the thrust and provides a comfortable and smoother riding.
Its carbon disc suspension fork with alloy steer also makes sure that you have the total control even when over unstable surfaces.
You will also love its excellent feature of Alloy Micro Adjust Suspension Seatpost. This helps to absorb vibrations from pothole covered as well as rough terrains roads to make you experienced with smooth riding.
Riding Comfortably
What makes your hybrid bike riding comfortably? Certain things make your city bike riding more efficient and comfortable.
Lightweight and robust frame design, front and rear derailleur, handlebar, hydraulic disc brakes, shifters and gears, wide tires, seat, and grips- all these together makes your bike comfortable to ride in.
The Raleigh Cadent is excellently designed with all these useful features. This bike is made with all ergonomics and perfect materials that make this bike supportive, versatile, and comfortable. Its carbon forks help to feel less bumpy.
A fast and smooth ride is assured with its Clement X’Plor USH tires. And you can easily climb on hills with this lightweight bike due to its multiple gears that can be shifted smoothly as the situation requires.
Quality Components
Is good quality your top priority? Then the Cadent 3 is just what you are looking for. Its manufacturing quality is comparatively good.
While pedaling, your maximum force goes to the rear wheel as the frame design is light. This bike is designed with sturdiness, so that makes it able to absorb shock except being on rough roads.
This bike is made with useful components, and all those work just fine in both short and long trips.
The total control and excellent stopping power are at your hand with its hydraulic brakes. Moreover, your hands stay numb-free with the comfortable upgraded grips.
Key Features at a Glance
- This bike is designed with custom formed AL-6061 heat-treated alloy tubing frame to maintain lightweight.
- It is equipped with a carbon fork along with U28 double wall disc rims that allow the bike to reduce road buzz.
- Its 700x35c Clement X’Plor USH tires ensure rolling smoothly.
- To provide you with faster speed, a better position for standing up and riding uphill, there is riser bar with Raleigh Series shorter stem.
- This bike is capable of accommodating with a greater range of cycling style due to its 16-speed gears.
- By using the Shimano Acera Rapid Fire Plus trigger shifter, you can decelerate the fifth gear to the second one.
- This city bike ensures your comfort with its Raleigh Fitness Series with Chromoly Rails seat.
- The rider is assured with powerful stopping capability with its Tektro Hydraulic Disc brakes.
FAQ & Answers
- Question: What is the specialty of this bike?
Answer: This is a great city commute comfortable bike. It can absorb almost all obstacles, shifts nicely, and cruiser-friendly.
- Question: Where can I get directions on bike tuning or bike assembly?
Answer: You can have necessary videos on the assembly as well as tuning on Youtube tutorial
- Question: What delivery options do they provide to their customers?
Answer: Standard home delivery, Powered by Beeline home delivery service and pick up from local participating cycle shop. But to remember that not all these three categories are available for all purchase types and zip codes.
- Question: How can I purchase replacement parts if needed for my bike?
Answer: Though Raleigh sells only complete bikes, still non-OEM-specific to Raleigh replacement parts can be purchased from many local bike shops.
- Question: For what period does Raleigh allows warranty for bikes?
Answer: For more information on Raleigh bike warranty you can visit Raleigh website. Also, you can have support from our customer care unit with online live.
Buying Advice
The Cadent 3 arrives about 85% assembled, and you can make other adjustments of components and installation of parts within one or two hours. For further help, there is also an assembly video to assist you in it. Please keep your basic tools prepare, as this bike doesn’t come up with tools. Also be sure to check our guide on hybrid bike sizes to get the perfect for you.
Final Verdict
Whether you are going to weekend leisure rides, or just going for a city commuting; the Raleigh Cadent 3 hybrid bike is an excellent choice that worth the price. Though there are few downsides,
overall, this bike perfectly serves its purpose. This urban bike will win your heart with its efficiency, stability, comfort, and quality.
We hope you find this hybrid bike review useful that encourage you to buy yourself the pleasure of city commuting bike. So, why wasting time? Let’s experience the new level of this city bike and lean into the contour.
About the Author Zachary Anderson
Hi, I am Zach who is behind Bikefeatures.com I am a fitness geek. I love to ride bicycle regularly to be fit everyday. In winter when riding is impossible in cold then I love to workout at home using indoor exercise equipment. I also love to write in blog to share my knowledge in cycling & workout segment. I hope my articles will help you to be fit in any weather. Thanks!
