NBD: Ragley Big Al

THIUW(more)P!

Edit: another just turned up! Maybe phone is a bit slow this evening....

Nice that!

The spec of those looks excellent for the money. How's the frame build quality?

Have a couple more. Might well have been my editing that made them disappear, I can't find a preview function on here...

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52158892149_152d9f002f_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52158892149_152d9f002f_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52158926029_0e6f9383fd_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52158926029_0e6f9383fd_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

I have the purple version with a 140mm Revelation fitted.... brilliant bike, so nimble and fast. Enjoy, (I'm running 2.25inch tyres and that probably makes it a bit lighter and faster at the rear end).

Nice red!
(You need more strimmer action)

How’s the frame build quality?

Generally good, but the paint quality/resistance to abrasion is very average, I found mine marks from stone chips more so than previous bikes.

Frame seems really nice. The welds are all obvious, but very neatly and consistently done. Feels bombproof. Everything is gusseted and welded... If I was the type to get air, I'd not worry about the landing! The paint work has a couple of very small transit rubs (for which I got a small discount) but it seems that's standard for Ragley, at least.

(You need more strimmer action)

Didn't realise you were on here, dearest Mother-in-Law 😉

TBF, I had the choice this evening of mowing the lawns, or setting the bike up, so....

How is the new bike honeymoon period? I've been on the look out for a Steel hardtail frame for a while to build up as a project bike and I'd convinced myself it had to be Ragley Blue Pig until I saw the HardTail Party review of the Big Al on youtube. So now the Big Al is my No.1 choice even though its obs not steel.

And the Big Al being a 29er means I could just swap wheels over from my full sus to save some money. It practically pays for itself .. right? Yeah!

I’ve got the Big Wig and it’s a great bike. Faultless Deore group set, good brakes, decent enough wheels and good fork. The only upgrades I’ve done are wider bars and an oval chainring but other than that it’s stock. Oh and I dropped a Novyparts splug in the fork which so far feels like a proper upgrade.

The big Al is fantastic, buy one👍

I've a BigWig ... set up SS ... which I like a lot. Just wondered if anyone has ridden / owned both a BigWig and a BigAl, and how differently it rides / how much lighter it is?

Looks ace to ride. Would love one of them.

Looks great. Clean build and solid. Bring on the miles!

That's one of those perfect looking bikes for the money if that makes any sense. its a real classy looking thing, love it.

Only been out once so far, and I'm a long way off fast or experienced. It was much better than the twitchy XC machine I started mtb-ing on and soon found myself leaving the brakes alone far more of the time 🙂 Back end is pretty hyperactive, especially at low/medium (for me) speeds, but I quite enjoy that; it settles down a bit as the pace increases. Gears shift crisply, saddle is comfy, shock just worked... really happy all round at the moment... except the tyres. I'm not a big fan at all, they really felt like they dragged the speed out of it and are probably massive overkill for the green/blue trails I'm (gently) riding anyway, so I think I'll probably swap them out asap.

Put some 29 x 2.25 tyres on tubeless, it will make it much better and lighter on the rear. I'm running Racing Ralph front & rear.

That looks lovely 🙂

Lovely looking bike.

How you finding the forks?

Trying to find anyone with stock at the moment as serious tempted to get myself one in the al 1.0 spec.

Put some 29 x 2.25 tyres on tubeless, it will make it much better and lighter on the rear. I’m running Racing Ralph front & rear.

I do like Schwalbe tyres and I'm happy to end up with 2 sets depending on the time of year, so RRs are definitely on the list (currently running Hans Dampf/Nobby Nic on my other bike over winter/spring).

How you finding the forks?

I set them to the recommended for my weight, then let a few psi out. Not used all the travel yet in the woods, next trip might be to Afan which is a bit lumpier... but on the whole, I've not really thought about them which is probably a good sign of them just getting on with the job 🙂

Looks great. Re. Your bottle issue, I've just seen this and thought of your predicament

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Wolf-Tooth-B-RAD-Bottle-Shift_233707.htm?sku=769998&utm_source=fb&utm_medium=product_ads&utm_campaign=facebook_product_ads&fbclid=IwAR2OP6fFZN4NUB04eVUDJujiMKZU-TwWNzTJ3fJ8GqV3WwoWG2lBR9xCNq8

That looks ace. I have a previous generation Bigwig which has been nicked by my daughter and although I normally buy steel hardtails the Big Al and NP Scout 29 aluminium frames are tempting.