Been looking at a Jack of all trades style bike and quite fancy the look of the Rag+ but my Google Fu has proven to be weak sauce. Does anybody know of anywhere that has them in stock?
The UK distributor is Hotlines – maybe they will know if there are any out there? I can admit to missing it now that I’ve had to send the test bike back 🙁
Cost around 2k, but that’s with grabbing a few bargains, running Carbon force cranks and 1×11 rival drivetrain, rival brakes with XT 11-42 cassette, XT 140mm rotors, absolute black oval 38t ring, ritchey vantage 650b wheelset, with Specialised fast track tyres, salsa cowbell bars, Carbon post, weights around 19.5lbs
We – pedals bike care – have frames on offer as well and can usually beat crc. We have a stock custom build very similar to the NS full bike @ £1750, but with nicer wheels. Can also go full custom obviously.
Also selling my light use ex demo medium full build for £950 to fund the purchase of a Rondo Ruut CF2.
Also see the Rondo Ruut AL on our site, these are expected 3 weeks ish and are a refined version of the RAG.
Could anyone confirm a couple of things for me about this frame :
How long is the head tube on large and does the fork have mudguard eyelets? On the latter, I’ve seen some photos showing them and some without so I’d be concerned of it was a case of depending on which fork came with the frame. Cheers
Not got a large here just now to measure but will try and post it later.
There are two fork versions, the full bike came with a wider fork that has stealth internal mudguard eyelets, these are the ones that don’t look like they have any.
The framesets come with a slightly slimmer fork where the hose guide tube exits internally so it looks neater, but means the mudguard mounts have to be traditionally positioned.
Thanks pigyn – so I guess the frameset only fork is like the one in Johnny rocky mountains photos. I could live with that.
Is the Ruut significantly different / better? Looks nice but the adjustable fork looks like a bit of a gimmick.
The Ruut is a slightly tidier frame, some internal cable routing and nicer finishing. A lot comes down to if you prefer the brushed off red with pinkish details on the alu Ruut vs the stealthy black RAG. And if you want a frame only or not.
I am getting a Ruut because I want the carbon one :p
12mm front is the new road standard, NS kept the RAG 15mm so you can use your old mountain bike wheels as a spare set, perfect for all those narrow rimmed 2.1 27.5 XC race wheels that are only good for the bin otherwise 😆
Pigyn
That’s why I cannot understand kinesis’s theory here as there tripster is not a road bike and they are trying to sell it as a do it all, therefore they should have used 15mm front not only for 650b mtb wheels, but a lot of road wheel hubs are interchangeable to 15mm where mtb wheels are not to 12mm, anyway I think it’s kinesis’s loss and NS gain
…looking into the fork mudguard eyelets (it’s an important thing since this would be a multi-purpose bike) even some of the frame only forks seem to have neither dropout or inside-leg eyelets. Anyway, I’ve mailed NS to see if they can answer.
I think the one in the pics above is a small or medium. I’ve bought a large (55.5cm) but forgot to check the headtube length – will do so and let you know.
in the several hours I spent at the NEC last year this was one of the few bikes to really catch my eye. The display model had fat skinwalls and was covered in mud, looked like a badass hoot.
CRC have the frameset in (in some sizes) but not the complete bikes. I guess they have enough variety of brands in stock to not bother with this one – maybe it’s too niche for them?
I’m loving mine so far. Not had chance to take it properly off road yet, but it’s been a hoot on the short blasts I’ve had. Just bought some cowchippers to whack on it and may need a slightly longer stem. Front does seem quite low, but I’ve just come from a Trek Stache so it’s bound to seem that way.
CRC have the frameset in (in some sizes) but not the complete bikes. I guess they have enough variety of brands in stock to not bother with this one – maybe it’s too niche for them?
They used to have the full bikes but I guess they are all sold out now (and superceded by the Ruut). Thanks for the CRC answer by the way – odd that the pictures definitely showed post mount!
Got mine all built up bar waiting for the flat mount adapters and longer bolts for the rear brake mounting! I went for the small, which interestingly has the cable routing underneath the down tube and chainstay (which makes for a bit of a tight loop to the derailleur).
Anyone know what the chunky black ‘nut’ is for? Oh, and what’s the point of including a chainstay protector that doesn’t fit the bike (cue Lizard Skin DPS bar tape off-cuts!) !?
The large has the rear gear cable routing under the stay as well – generally it seems like there is some variation in the frames that isn’t shown in the photos. Not massively impressed with CRCs diligence in supplying accurate information on their products.
Not sure what the nut is – is it a spare fitting for where the rear axle screws into the dropout? Just need a headset and a bloody front flat mount adapter and I can start the build. I’m going to fit a black Easton stem that I have and also have some red bar tape spare that could look nifty… Or just go all black.
Those cowchipper bars look interesting, I tried some flared bars on an old Kaffenback I had and quite liked them. Maybe something for a future upgrade though
Question for those that bought the frameset, how many spacers fit under the stem? I read the review on another website which stated the steer had been cut quite aggressively. Ideally I’d like to have quite a bit of steerer to be able to dial in the fit.
the uncut steerer on mine is 30cm from crown to top and the headtube on large is 16cm so I’d say that’s pretty generous. The comment on that review may have been referring to the built up bike.
Just finished building my frame up and taken for a quick inaugural spin before the rain comes:
Haven’t ridden my road bike since January so the whole drop-bar thing feels a bit odd, especially with the Woodchipper flares, but I’m sure it’ll come back to me!
Hmm… looks like a rigid 29er[b]650b[/b] with drops.
I mean, looks very cool an that, especially johnny RM’s build. But yeah, its a 29er[b]650b[/b] with drops really innit?
650b*2.2 or 700cx40.
I don’t really get the 650b road thing, but then I’ve never ridden one, I guess it must be a hoot on dry singletrack (compared to a CV tyre)? I think I’d rather a 29″ tyre to deal with lumpy/bumpy stuff better and accept that it won’t work so well for muddy CX.
@Frogstomp – very nice. I like how you’ve gone full-brown with the matching saddle, I’m planning to be all black with some red trim… because those are the parts I’ve already got. Just got some flat mount Spyres and waiting for the headset then I’m ready to build.
yes, I guess it is basically an old-school MTB with drops in some respects, I’m sure its more capable than the rigid MTBs I rode back in the last century.