I’m down Abersoch way around once a month and am yet to find any “proper” riding on the peninsula. I know some locals who go up on the headland above Hell’s Mouth but it’ll be legally dubious and not worth the hassle. For me it’s always a case of jump in the car and point it in the direction of CyB 8)

I may be the only one, but I really get on with Bike Hut dry lube that you pick up off the shelf in – wait or it – Halfords! Feel free to shoot me down, but for me it works really well. Keeps things quiet, smooth and best of all not collecting every last bit of dirt on the trail. It seems to repel water pretty well too which for a dry lube is pretty cool.

I’m late to the mix here but thought I’d jump in

I did almost the same thing as you bobbyg81 when by poor Rockhopper died following an enthusiastic ride around the Beast of Brenin. Only difference is that I built up a piglet instead. I had full intention of using as many parts from the Rockhopper as possible, but got carried away and ended up with a mostly new bike. If you search my posts you’ll find pictures somewhere.

You’ll love your Ragley, great angles and bomb proof!

PS If you don’t put the stickers on it goes faster and everyone asks, “wow – what’s that your riding?” 8)

If your looking at steel then consider the Ragley Piglet, just come back from a great day at Coed-y-Brenin on mine – only one minor upset! Not sure what the pre-built bikes are like but mine rides great with its 120mm Rebas up front and an XT / Deore drive train. Not the lightest bike in the world but it puts up with the abuse I throw at it.

Beast blast broke bike :)

Have a go at this

http://www.theedgecycleworks.com/mtbroutes/long-mynd-loop

It worked for me and includes some great single track

Coed Llandegla

Lot’s of smooth high speed single track with jumps that can be rolled over as easily as jumped to a whip.

:-)

Yep me too! 8)

Mine seems to suffer from abrasion and cable rub easily so I’d advise some good heli tape.

I’ve got 521’s laced to a Hope Pro II Evo on the front and a Spec Stout on the rear. Totally bomb proof rim – my mech had a fight with the wheel and destroyed 3 spokes. After a bit of trail side bodging I was able to ride on no probs. There wasn’t even much of a wobble in the wheel when I re built it back home.

You may find them a little heavy but I’m not bothered by a few grams.

Really are a man after my own heart, I came so so close to pressing the purchase button on a Canyon Nerve but the wife caught me just in the nick of time.

I love the rugged simplicity of my Piglet and aside from a bent mech hangar when the derailleur went through the spokes it’s been great. I have an XT / Deore group set that I put together with some bit’s from my old Rockhopper and some new.

Don’t forget to post some pics when you get it all together :D

Hello

I have a Piglet with a set of 120mm Rebas. They originally came as 100mm but it’s an easy job to alter the travel. The forks are great but one thing to watch is that if you run big tires there isn’t much clearance from the fork. I run a Specailized Purgatory up front and there are plenty of scratches from where stones have gone through.

Love my Piglet, always good to see someone else with one!

Hello

I have a 17 inch Piglet and I’m around 5’11” It fit’s me just about right even with my short 55mm Ragley stem. I did try an offset seatpost for a little more room but it bent like soft cheese so I’m now back to an inline and actually prefer it.

Don’t know what stock levels are like now but my 17″ was pretty hard to get hold of back in November.

Let me know if you need any more Piglet info, it’s a great bike

I’ve got this one

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=32396

I’m an Aero engineer so I’m pretty fussy about my tools – this is absolutly spot on and an absolute steal. Just for fun I checked the accuracy on the cal bench at work and it’s pretty accurate. Within 0.2nm

Doesn’t come with any bits, but I guess you have them already.

Loved my Rockhopper, I was getting back into riding and needed a bike to give me confidence and build my fitness. It worked a treat and I loved it. The problem was I started pushing it a bit too hard and after an enthusiastic ride of The Beast at CyB the poor frame gave up and cracked at the chain stay. Specailized would of replaced it for free if I was the original owner but alas the bike came from eBay :(

I’ve moved onto a steel Piglet now but sure miss the Rockhoppers climbing ability!

Tom

I’ve got Halfords Advanced and they have done me pretty well over the last year or so. With a quick change of the brackets the bars fit both the wife’s and my car.

The carriers come in a handy two pack so you have a rack for you and your mate! As far as I know it’s all made by Mont Blanc just with a Halfords badge stamped on.

Cheers, Tom

Hello, I’ve got an Ivory Piglet and love it.

I had to replace my Rockhopper frame as the chain stay developed a nasty crack after being pushed a little too hard round the Beast of Brenin. Having being put off Al as a hardtail material due to it’s love for cracking I went for good old fashioned steel.

I’m liking the Piglet’s slack angles a lot with bags of stability when descending. I’ve fitted the Ragley 55mm stem and their 710mm bars. The 17″ frame did feel a little compact for me (I’m 6ft) so I popped a layback seat post on and it’s just the job. It does take a little more effort getting up the hills though, but it could just be me being out of shape this winter!

Mine has a pretty functional setup with nothing too fancy at all. Deore / XT groupset, Tektro brakes and a Reba fork. To be honest I could lose a bit of weight with lighter wheels, I’ve got 521’s at the moment with Specialized’s Captain and Purgatory tires. They are probably the reason I doesn’t climb so well but they’re bomb proof which helps when taking drops and jumps…. badly!

If you need any more info let me know. :D