Ragley Mmmbop

[Pebble]

Must be getting to used to the looks of fluid formed varieties these days then! Funny how I tend to assume skinny looking bikes are cromo!

[Rexy]

Ah so it is just the bit of plastic sitting in there that I can see in the photo then.

I saw the one-five headtube, then I thought anything could be possible...

When shall it be built?

[rossmic]

Ah so it is just the bit of plastic sitting in there that I can see in the photo then.

I saw the one-five headtube, then I thought anything could be possible...

When shall it be built?

Hopefully within about 3 weeks. I've just gotta get cranks, derailleurs, headset and tyres.

[rossmic]

Finished it today. I'll post up pictures tomorrow when my broadband stops being 'shaped' (feelgood word the internet companies use; means: 'freakin slow 'cos you downloaded too much crap')

Maiden ride was on the footpath in the pouring rain. My first impressions:

 - Feels like your weight is really far forward, probably because of the steep seat tube angle. Almost impossible to manual.
 - Didn't really notice the slack head angle.
 - Manitou... So plush, but the dials don't appear to be connected to anything.
 - XT brakes... So good, even without the pads bedded in.
 - At about 12.5kg the bike is light by my standards, maybe not by XC standards.
 - Forks dive like mad when you get on the brakes. No way am I gonna run the recomended 40mm sag.
 - Dual control levers ( oooh controversial) and Rapid Rise derailleur didn't feel weird like I thought it would.

I'm looking forward to my first proper offroad ride at Turner Hill this weekend.

[TayL]

Sounds great! Looking forward to some pics =)

[Jagman]

Are you racing at Turner Hill Mike?

That's at least 4 HTFers now.

[rossmic]

Are you racing at Turner Hill Mike?

That's at least 4 HTFers now.

Sure am. I'm looking forward to my first ever XC race.

[rossmic]

Pics up

[Tony]

Whats the deal with the XT's they look different, all choddus like.

[M.C. Death]

Dual control Sparkie

[Rexy]

Looks rather cool for an XC bike really, I still love that colour.

Dual control is worse than aids though.

[Jagman]

The bike certainly went well at Turner Hill, Mike came in second, after shooting away from the line. The bike looks good in the flesh, but I haven't quite gotten my head around the dual control levers yet. They aren't like on the cheaper bikes, with these, you can change gears by moving the brake lever backwards and forwards, like you would with new road bikes.

[Tony]

John for someone that seems to know a heap of stuff about everything, you never cease to amaze me at what you don't know lol.

Dual control levers have been around for ages lol.

[Jagman]

John for someone that seems to know a heap of stuff about everything, you never cease to amaze me at what you don't know lol.

Dual control levers have been around for ages lol.

I wasn't born fully formed knowing everything Tony (did everyone know Tony was born two years ago the same size as he is now holding an empty export can?)

I've got cheaper dual control setups on some of my train bikes, but they've just got the normal shift levers built into the same package as the brake lever, they don't change gear by moving the brake lever. I know roadies have had this for ages, but I've never seen it on a MTB.

[georgio]

Looks very familiar..  I have just built one too..  Awesome, goes anywhere, does anything sort of bike..  How can I show you a photo..  New to all this!