New Bike Day - Ragley Big Al. First impressions/review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- So anyone who has seen my very early videos will know I used to own a Cube LTD from 2011 to 2015. This was my last hardtail bike...until now!
My bike history started in 1992 with a second hand fully rigid Marin Pailisades Trail that gave me the initial buzz. So much so that I got a better bike a few months later . I stuck with Marin for my next one with an Eldridge Grade. I think that this really helped me to become a better rider (I didn't say good) and its fair to say i enjoyed riding it, even racing it! I also spent plenty on it turning it into a Hardtail with my first suspension in the form of some pretty top tier Manitou 3 forks.
My Cube was the first aluminium bike and it clearly showed the benefits and drawbacks of the material. Snappy acceleration and light weight but so bone-shakingly stiff that when I took out the Anthem Full suss on demo, I was instantly won over with the plush ride.
So with plenty of other riders re-discovering the joy of a Hardtail bike (none more so than regular ride buddies....you know who you are) I thought it was time I invested in the theory of N+1. Now having a second bike may, to many, seem an indulgence (especially to my wife), after all you can only ride one bike at a time. However it makes a great deal of sense. Perfect for the bad winter conditions, great for if a part goes "bang" on one, you can still get out or swap parts, but also it can be a case of horses for courses.
Some places you visit are simply less fun on a Full Susser (or at least more fun on a Hardtail). Take Sherwood Pines, it is much better on a lighter weight, lively, agile HT than a heavier enduro bike with masses of travel. Also why you see so many e-bikes there I cannot understand as it really doesn't require a motor. The hills are really insignificant.
Now I am not knocking e-bikes, they make a good deal of sense in winch and plummet locations like Wharncliffe. They are infectious when racing up steep techy inclines that would normally have your lungs and legs burning.... but not Sherwood Pines. Ok I am being snobbish.... as I guess many of the people riding them at the Pines may be new to MTB and who am I to say what people should ride. But Honestly I would urge anyone currently doing this to try and get riding a HT there, build fitness and you'll enjoy the trail so much more. If your aim is to get the fastest time at the Pines though....definitely use a gravel bike combined with fitness....you'll absolutely fly around.
Anyway.....the video....Not a review:
So I got the bike delivered from Chain Reaction Cycles on the 21st of December and put it together that night. I couldn't ride it until Saturday morning and only on a very short local loop. The first part of the video shows how awful the conditions were for that maiden journey. This didn't inform me of too much other than it was all working and it gave me a very good first impression.
A few set up tweaks (nothing dramatic just saddle, handlebar and brake lever angles) were made before heading out for what I was hoping would be a dry run on Boxing day for a much longer and more useful "test" of the bike. Thankfully both proved correct unbelievably slop free and I came away feeling very impressed with the bike.
I paid £599 for this bike, it should retail at £1399. Part of me feels guilty about picking up a bike at what must be non-profit making money. I know CRC are struggling but do I help them by not buying it? I know other bike companies are facing very difficult times for cash flow etc. Then again so are the customers in the cost of living crisis. In an ideal world I would have liked to have bought a Cotic BFe (or Solaris), a Stanton, a Pace or an Orange as all they make some stunning HT frames. However my budget is very stretched and so I went with the Ragley. Great, compliant, alu framed bike at a truly astonishingly cheap price.
Hopefully this is the start of a re-kindled love affair with the simple joys of a Hardtail mountain bike. Certainly looking forward to doing more on it in the coming months as I aim to use it exclusively for the winter.
Details of the bike available here:
www.ragleybike...
Great video Jonathan, and a lovely bike, it's about time though 🤣👍 the ht group ride is getting closer 😀
Ready whenever you are 🤣👍
What a bike for the money mate!! Be great hearing how you get on with it further down the line, dropper included by then. You hardly mentioned that 🙈🤣
Not tried Sunrace before either, interesting to hear you found them good. Maybe a budget friendly alternative for the future.
Great video, and congrats again on new bike day 🔥
Ha ha.... Funny how you get to rely on a dropper. Really want to get out on some rockier stuff and see how the budget fork copes
Great stuff mate, lots of fun on the hardtail. Looks like an absolute steal!
A cracker definitely a steal but didn't tell the police 🤫
good choice for winter less to clean ,lightweight to get out the gloop impressive spec for the cash enjoy it youll be right on that cheers sam
Cheers. It's definitely a proper MTB 👍
@@MTB_Derbyshire I prefer more than full suss ain’t got the nerve to use full suss ,but I favour the feel of fs on the rocks it is demanding I’ll admit but less to maintain clean break and curbs going too mad so for a old timer bang on glad your enjoying it your right proper bike that 👍sam
Great vid mate. Given the weather we've been having, i bet it didn't stay clean for long. Fast and fun, great
Thanks Jon. It's been a 💩 show weather wise recently hasn't it. Unbelievably dry at Sherwood pines though (main reason I went really 😜). Really enjoying the new bike but definitely got caked in the Derbyshire Dales last weekend 🤣
Nice looking ride! I hope you'll enjoy it!😀
Thanks....I already am 😎👍
Great video, great purchase.
Double thanks due here! 😎👍 Very pleased with it so far. Proper bike....silly money!
Hey by the way don't be so down on yourself, calling yourself Toxic .....it seems a bit self loathing, hopefully everything is well. Unless it's in reference to others who are perceived as toxic. In which case it's weirdly passive aggressive 🤣 Either way I appreciate your non toxic comment 👍
@@MTB_Derbyshire ,
It's in mockery of those who use such a term. And yes, it's passive aggressive.
I recently bought a Ragley Mmmbop frame and just finished building it. Tomorrow is the first ride.
@@toxicmale1744 ah ok 😎 enjoy the bike it'll be a belter I reckon 👍
Great video Jonathan and sweet looking bike, I never took you as an ebike hater though mate
Not a hater at all, they're just not fit me....read my video description. They have a place no doubt. I've had a go on Christians and it's great fun on a climb. It's just Sherwood pines really isn't a place I'd say requires any assistance unless it's a physical issue. I appreciate that you have and I'm not knocking it. Ultimately it's all bike fun 😎.
@@MTB_Derbyshire I'll beg your pardon Jonathan, I watched this video on my smart telly and didn't have access to your description mate, I stand corrected, I have an e-bike as I came into the sport late in life (55) and with health issues but I did have every intension to buy a non bike but I quickly realised I was just kidding myself I could do the same things I could do 30 years ago, anyway I will say sorry for not watching this on my pc and not reading the description first pal 👍🙏
@@yorkneytrailrider1751 no problem....like I said all bikes are cool 😎 unless it's a Sur-ron obviously 🤣
great video !
Lovely comment Dave.....no messin', simple and to the point ❤️👍
Nice one mate, we can finally stop pestering you to buy a hardtail. Great video too, update coming when you get a dropper post on it? 😃👍
Did I mention I wanted a dropper post 🤔 🤣 Cheers Jason. I've wanted one for ages your influence was only additional to my own desire. The CRC sale made it possible......for my wife to approve the purchase 🤣
@@MTB_Derbyshireits always better to ask for forgiveness than permission! I find I get things a lot sooner this way 😂😂😂
Hi, great buy! I've just ordered the same. A few questions: do you have any idea about the weight of the bike /its a Large size I think/, is it with Shimano Deore or Race face cranks and how do you find the frame color?
Hi Toni. I don't know the weight as I don't have a good way to weight it. All I can say is...it's a good deal lighter than my steel framed full suspension. Though it's not xc race light but then again that's not it's remit. I'd also say weight really isn't a problem on this bike. It is a large size and I'm 6ft tall. Mine has deore cranks which work fine ...have them on my Cotic. Only issue that I've found is the paint rubs off them quickly but that could be my natural feet position. The colour was initially a put off for me as I wanted the higher spec raspberry one (but stock level and pockets didn't allow). However now I have it I actually love it. The Graphite looks black but it's a really subtle metallic grey and the splash or mango/orange is sweet. I do like orange ...see my other bike 🤣. I can promise you, you'll love it, if it fits. It will take upgrades as the frame is really amazing. I do need to get it out into the peak District though and point it at some rocks. Hope you like yours when it arrives. Let me know 😎👍
Great vid mate and what a bargain that bike was! You bought a dropper yet? 👍🤙
Not yet but I have swapped mine over from the Cotic. Typically However the lever clamp isn't SRAM compatible..... typical 🙄. I think I'll just get a secondhand one when I see one up locally. Also gone tubeless now. 😎
@@MTB_Derbyshire I keep finding that myself when swapping about bike bits! Wish they all just had a standard across brands! It’s very annoying!
@chunkyantmtb and unnecessary expenditure too.
Dropper?
If you're asking that not sure you're into mountain bikes 🤣
Unfit? Behave…I would not say that.
Well I'm just going on how I feel. I suppose I'm not too bad for an old bloke 😜