[Closed] Ragley Ti - Owner's Opinion[s] ?

The Calderdale steps scare me just looking at them. Fair play to you guys.

horses cant get up steps and so maybe those are not on bridalways...

i didn't mean i wanted to cycle down them, they look like a nice walking spot. 🙂

theflatboy - i didn't mean i wanted to cycle down them, they look like a nice walking spot.

good news. now we've got that sorted, if anyone fancies divulging where i might find these lovely looking steps when i'm up that way in a few weeks then that would be lovely.

See this is the thing, I can well believe that slacker is better for steep, Calderdale down hills and doesn't make much difference to the slow slog back up, but what I can't quite fathom is how it is going to work slicing through woodland singletrack?

I've been riding my Ragley Ti a lot at Lee Quarry where there's some great flowing singletrack as well as berms. Short stem / wide bars and aggressive riding style is where this bike is at and that combination means sharp handling fun and the option of hitting rock sections and way steep stuff as well.

Wow, it's the "Jesus Bike"

Will it bring an end to world hunger and a cure for cancer as well? 😉

have I ever wanted a steeper head angle?

yes!

IMO there comes a point where the bike just falls from side to side as your turn the bars. Very confidence inspiring at high speeds, but felt woefull climbing in anything other than a straight line, felt like i was wrestling it upright after corners!

ed-o : interesting as i've said the same thing about my ti 456.

140mm Fox 32's on a thomson 50mm stem + cnt dh 711mm's 🙂

hmm, i've checked and according to the figures, the ragleys chainstays are the same length as mine - 16.5". Not sure why they felt longer, they certainly looked longer - the f. mech was definitely further away from the tyre. Maybe it was the steeper seat angle??

I'm pretty sure slack angles have been around for a while. My old Cove Stiffee had them back in 2002.

I recommend building the test/demo bikes with a longer steerer and some spacers though. Takes a bit too much getting used to for people on non-on-one bikes otherwise (unless thats the idea, like making people use a shorter stem?)

horatio - the ragley's HT is longer than the [very short @ 105mm] ti456's......and my ti456 run's a 50mm thomson 0 deg rise x4. 20mm of spacers currently - i do intend to drop to 10mm one day !

Ragley Ti discounted already?
[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=39288 ]15% off at CRC[/url]

Nice pics of CRC...it iz well buff, innit?

What are those little holes on the dropouts for?

I still have much love for my Ti456 so am not tempted. But looking forward to the build pics that will hopefully start surfacing. If its half as good as the Ti456, it'll be awesome.

What are those little holes on the dropouts for?

So you can tell your wife you're going to fit a child seat on it. Even though you're probably not.

Has anyone ridden all three of the Ragley frames (Blue Pig, mmmBop and Ti)? How different do they feel? I assume at least Brant has 😉

[i]See this is the thing, I can well believe that slacker is better for steep, Calderdale down hills and doesn't make much difference to the slow slog back up, but what I can't quite fathom is how it is going to work slicing through woodland singletrack? Most of my local riding is gently undulating forest trails, all twisty and narrow but fundamentally lacking in elevation changes[/i]

Great point. Most of us don't live in the alps or even the peaks. What's the slackest head angle you can live with for flat, twisty singletrack?

Only I've ridden all three.

The steel and ti are very similar in feel, until you pick them up.

When did you wish your steeering was faster/more nervous/more twitchy?

I ride an inbred with (I think) the older 420mm forks, so not very often!

Not trying to open a can of worms here, so how would I choose between the steel and Alu frame? What are the pros/cons, or is it just a case of personal preference (or prejudice...)?

Alu frame is stiffer, harsher, more direct, lighter. An ace thrash, blast, braap, rip machine.

The steel and ti ones are a bit softer and more subtle.

Not trying to open a can of worms here, so how would I choose between the steel and Alu frame? What are the pros/cons, or is it just a case of personal preference (or prejudice...)?

Steel is stronger, alu is lighter. Steel is possibly more forgiving, the alu one looks like it will be quite stiff.

If your doing dh tracks, drops and jumps then I guess the steel would be better.

you should have called it braap.

OK - here's one we discussed on tonights ride. When was the last time you wished your head angle was STEEPER during a ride? When did you wish your steeering was faster/more nervous/more twitchy?

Last time I rode some proper single track.

I dont think any trails in the South warrant a slack head angle.

Reckon I would find it difficult to choose between the steel/alu without a test-ride then.

Re head angles, get a fork with adjustable travel for a bit of flexibility.

I like the feel of my ti456 with my revs at 130mm as I now like to muscle the bike around with wide bars and short stem. I don't like the twitchiness of when I lower the forks, but a few years back it would have felt normal when I used to ride a Klein with steeper head angle and narrow bars.

Is it 'new school' or should it be 'nu skool'? Can it take everything you can throw at it, or should it take everything you can throw at it and more 🙄
But since the ti 456 is the best hardtail ever, surely this must be better? the best'est hardtail ever!
OMG what could be next.

I quite fancied one of these, but having read this thread I've kind of swung back to a Handjob. Seems that something lighter and quicker is a better complement to my full suss.

How does Ed deal with mud and grit with his beard? Does he own a Afro-com?
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rj - no way - ti456's are phenomenal. and mine will take 2.4" big betty's for proper rock running 😀
not too sure the ragley will take a 2.4" BB as that chainstay / BB interface thingy may foul........?

" trails in the South warrant a slack head angle."

Don't be daft, there's tonnes of steep in Somerset and Devon. It's just that we also have tonnes of singletrack too.

The impression I'm getting is that all 3 bikes suit "plod-up, bomb down anything" rather than "pottering about" riding. Sounds ideal for Quantocks and Exmoor.

not too sure the ragley will take a 2.4" BB as that chainstay / BB interface thingy may foul........?

The Ragley tyre clearance is considerably bigger than the 456.

Don't be daft, there's tonnes of steep in Somerset and Devon

could someone please just tell me where some of those yorkshire steps are?

TLR, you can fit a Big Betty in the rear of your Ti 456?

"Surely that's in the West, not the South"

Last time I looked, I didn't live in the North (more's the pity) or the Middle 😀

Perhaps he meant South-East. I expect there are steep bits on the Downs and Chilterns if you go looking, they are a bit hilly.

How does a thread about a strangely controversial bike that nobody has ridden turn into a north vs south debate?

And why do I care?

[i]How does a thread about a strangely controversial bike that nobody has ridden turn into a north vs south debate?[/i]

It's all Thatcher's fault I expect 😉

Haha, you're probably right there actually.

I blame scruff; he started it - 😛

theflatboy - could someone please just tell me where some of those yorkshire steps are?

I could probably tell you where most of them are but I doubt you'd understand my directions unless you knew the area and in that case you'd know the steps. I think the whole idea is that you shouldn't be there anyway so telling people its a bit wrong.

I want to see some one ride the steps at the top of Harley St in Tod

We all looked down the steps of doom- very wet/damp that day. Even Jason decided not to ride down them and he belted straight down Balti steps without checking first.

Balti steps

Not sure I know those.

wot mingsta said. slackish head angle with adjustable forks is perfect for steep stuff. sure i miss out on a bit of coil plushness with the talas rather than a vanilla on my ti456, but with the fork down at 100mm the bike climbs up walls, and at 140 bombs happily down steep stuff. 120 is perfect for singletrack. so using an air fork might be a slight compromise in outright suspension performance but it makes the ride as a whole more versatile on steep up and downy terrain. which is good as i ride the infamous quantocks / exmoor northern hills 😉

that said, i don't like the 456 at 100mm for anything other than steep ups- it gets twitchy and nervy (I'm using 70mm stem and 710mm bars). however, i'd happily xc race it with 120 forks and lighter tyres. and will.

like the OP and others, i'm interested in the ragley, but in no way am thinking of trading the 456. great bike.

I may have got the name wrong- bottom of Pecketwell singletrack- turn left along the road for say 300m's- then veer off right down the rough earth lane and sharp right down say 200 steps with a sudden steep change of pitch in the stairs at the end.

bigdugsbaws - yes, but not with my currently twisted rims ! ? ! 😯

when they're true, they do fit nice and snuggly 😀

Hora; you got it, but you can't get curry there.

"Bolty's Steps" it is.

ed-o : awesome ST article - loved it, thanks 😀

and i've NO kids !

One of the lads remarked just how bloody grippy Calderdale exposed wet rock is compared to the limestone up in the Lakes. 🙂

calderdale rock - is it granite infested ?

No granite, just gritstone

No granite, just gripstone

..ah I can see my work here is done 8)

Blimey- a lad on a really (original- not a later copy) old Scrambler rode up Pecket well late this afternoon- amazed he made it on his tyres!!

review coming soon i believe by Guy Kesteven.

supposed to be in this months mbuk isn't it?

supposed to be in this months mbuk isn't it?

Next months.

Blue Pig is in the next issue of WMB too 🙂

I might have to have a spin on one this weekend if theres any knocking about Brant? Having seen Eds I'm tempted to get shot of the Blur 4X after my impending trip to Verbier and get a Ragley Ti as a replacement...

The whole slack geometry thing is starting to grow on me 😉

Next months.

is it a 😀 or a 😥

[img] [/img]

Will the new O-O guy be making a Summer 456 out of anything other than scaffold pole?

might have to have a spin on one this weekend if theres any knocking about Brant? Having seen Eds I'm tempted to get shot of the Blur 4X after my impending trip to Verbier and get a Ragley Ti as a replacement...

Dibbs on the 4X frame.

Will the new O-O guy be making a Summer 456 out of anything other than scaffold pole?

Washing my Spesh Pitch last night and noticed the piece of chainstay behind the cranks looked quite similiar to the 3 finger Ragley thingy.

Just an observation.

I might have to have a spin on one this weekend if theres any knocking about Brant?

You'll be able to have a go on my bike at the weekend. No problem.

[i]"200 steps"[/i] ???!!! 😉

So have no normal peeps taken delivery yet then?

presumambly you cant be seen riding such a beast brant?

After all the ti failiures recently I was rather hoping someone may have snuck in a batch of lightweight 853 SS's before the CEN tests caught up.

They've been in stock on CRC for a while and I thought I'd even read somewhere that they were close to selling out, dunno why no-one is owning up on here to having bought one though?

yeah - who has got a Ragley Ti ? 🙂

fwiw, the Ti456 is stunning out here in the Pyrenees.

i'd expect a slacker HA would be even betterer......... 😯

thisisnotaspoon - Will the new O-O guy be making a Summer 456 out of anything other than scaffold pole?

yes, well more like sort of. there will be some new designs, some re-designs and I believe some losses.

if i'm correct in its understanding, the CEN does not apply to items you have in stock, so you could order a million before December and you'd still be able to sell them

Cheers Ed - I'll come and hunt you down sometime during Saturday!

DaveyBoyWonder, don't get rid of the Blur4x (mothball it). You might regret it then there is no way of buying one back again.

Anyone, still not?

seeems not so far pritcsa........
i'm now waiting for the next MBUK issue to read...

I've gone for the leap of faith approach. Picking it up tomorrow afternoon. 🙂

Remember, we need pics. The forum demands it!

TLR - i have a demo one in the shoppe if you are serious about one.

Its an 18. see www.thebikechain.co.uk for more info.

MARKD - NOT REALLY - I'M EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH MY tI456..........but may be tempted .....lol.....

That must be the one the nipper rides in that advert

CAPITALS RULE!

be tempted.

[img] [/img]

the_lecht_rocks - Member
MARKD - NOT REALLY - I'M EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH MY tI456..........but may be tempted .....lol.....

cynic-al - yes , the Hummer , but it broke as i'm way too fukkn hardcore for it, cheers 😀