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I've been out for a couple of rides on the Ragley Big Al that I've been building for the last few weeks. It hasn't fallen apart and I didn't die... woohoo!
Thought I'd share some reflections having only ridden a full sus (Canyon Strive) for the last 4 years or so.
General impressions: The hardtail is REALLY fun. It feels (and is) lighter than the full sus and I haven't found anything I would do on the Strive that I wouldn't on the Big Al. For my home turf - Haldon off-piste and similar - it's a blast.
The only exception is rock gardens - these are arseholes and my clattering over them on a hardtail demonstrates the benefit of rear suspension. My main technique at the moment is to take them as fast as possible to maximise the "flying over" effect, but think I need to work on this!
- Sizing and geometry: The Big Al feels smaller than the Strive (both medium) and I don't feel as stretched out for normal riding. It feels more "agile" and I can move about more easily. I also have shorter bars on the Big Al which probably contributes to this.
- SRAM Guide RE brakes (compared to Shimano XT): Seem less powerful, only an issue on really steep stuff, and SRAM's characteristic "progressiveness" is noticeable.
- Silt wheelset: The noisy freehub ratchet is a bit irritating, but sure I'll get used to it.
- Rockshox Pike (compared to Fox 36): Using as it comes out of the box so far - no complaints.
- Cranks: I built the Big Al with 165mm cranks (compared to 175mm on the Strive). Really like the shorter ones, and I might go for 160mm next time I'm in the market for cranks.
- Brand X Dropper: Dropper seems excellent, lever is just ok (I mangled the cable a bit on installation)
- Nukeproof Neutron grips: Really hard, with metallic ends. Don't like them - would prefer softer.
- Shimano SLX 12 speed drivetrain: Nice and smooth.
That looks nice and sounds nice.
Nice build spec (apart from the brakes, but that's a personal opinion :-)).
That is a lovely looking hardtail.
My rockgarden technique was much the same when I had my hardtail :o)
Good aren't they!? I got a Big Wig around 6 months ago . . . it's barely lighter than my full-sus 🙂 Lots and lots of fun when the suspension bike wouldn't be getting absolutely put to the sword
Hardtails are fun!
As someone that recently went through a few pairs of grips - the Goldilocks technique of too hard, too soft, clamps both ends etc - I’ve settled on these: deity supracush and highly recommend giving them a try.
Enjoy!
Nice is that.
About to pull the trigger on a Pace 627 and follow down the same path back to a proper hard tail. It was meant to be a cheap build using second hand kit but a bargain set of Lyriks + Hope wheels from CRC made me think they deserve a new frame. 😉
Looks like a lovely bike, hope you continue to enjoy. I'd love to do something similar but I'm on a self imposed new bike ban at the moment, I'm meant to be upgrading what I have to fit my needs rather than just buying a new thing.
Looks great that does.
Building my Big Al currently which will share wheels with my full sus (Bird AM9). I'm going through the brake debate atm, the bird has Sram G2 but I'm thinking about using Shimano on the Big Al, or even Hope if I can find them. First world problems and all that.
Within a few weeks you'll literally forget you're riding a HT ... what's weird is you can swap and you just take different lines without really thinking "I'm on a hardtail"
I was nervous on big drops and gap jumps for a while... in my head the FS had "saved my life" so many times... but then you case a gap on the HT and it's nowhere near as bad as you thought... (It's daft when you think about it trials riders drop off 15-20' drops to flat its just mentally I'd credited the FS with "saving" me far more than it really did.
Out of my local riding buddies it just used to be the 2 eldest who'd be riding HT's on group rides (we both have BIG BIKES .. just don't use them locally) but slowly the youngsters (some as young as 40's) have all been getting in on the act.
Your lawn looks terrible and some pish about front valve alignm....of something.
That looks ace. Miss my hardtail, wish i had the space.
Really nice. I run guide re’s after getting fed up of leaky shimano, definitely notice less immediate power but personally I think it’s more to do with feel / progressiveness.
Your tree looks a bit mouldy!
Bike looks fun though. You’ll get the hang of the rock gardens, go light and get the speed just right for the rhythm.
looks lovely,
ive got a noisy hub and sram brakes - both on my list to change...
I really like your bike. I am leaning towards a Big Al frame myself. Can I ask how much your build cost? I just want to know what I'd be looking at before I commit.
Thanks
The only exception is rock gardens – these are arseholes
I like rock gardens on an HT if they're not super gnar, as I'm less likely to get pedal strike.
Also when you say...
– Rockshox Pike (compared to Fox 36): Using as it comes out of the box so far – no complaints.
...do you mean you haven't set sag, etc?
I always set up new forks with a shockwiz (or however it's spelt). That may well be worth doing to dial in compression and rebound.
Lovely.
But you really want a steel frame 🙂
Whenever I switch to my full sus, it feels like I can just plough through anything without too much need for line choice. On my hardtail I'm far more focussed on choosing the smooth line