Ragley is a dedicated hardtail brand. The Ragley Blue Pig, the entry-level 27.5in stainless steel offering with regular-sized tyres, covers all bases.
Ragley Blue Pig Races are available with a higher specification. The Big Wigs are available with 29in wheels. They share the same build and pricing structure as the Big Wigs, but have dedicated 29in steel frames. Ragley also makes the Piglet with 27.5in wheels, 2.6in tires and Ragley’s Piglet.
The profile of all three bikes is the same regardless of size wheel or tyre. 4130 Cro-mo is the material of choice. Its sleek rear triangle, and clean front triangle give the bikes a contemporary look. The bridge that runs from the top tube up to the seat tube and the straight, die-cut head tube are two other features that connect all models. All frames include ISCG tabs on their threaded BB shells to mount a chain device. A bike that has the geometry of a full-suspension mountainbike at sag is a good choice. It features a 63.5deg head angle with a low 305mm BBB height, and short 425mm chainstaves on the Blue Pig. Although the Blue Pig’s reach is only 452mm by full-suspension standards it is very short.
Suspension
The Blue Pig’s travel fork is a RockShox Yari RC flint. It measures 150mm. The Yari is slightly heavier than the Revelation, but it has a smooth and stiction-free action that helps to eliminate trail chatter. However, the Canyon Stoic Pike’s Canyon Stoic Pike does notice the fork diving more on steep trails. This is because the Yari has more travel and a more sophisticated damper. The front end can be propped up by adding a few more compression clicks. However, we found the best solution was to make the fork feel firmer and stop the last 10mm of travel.
Components
Ragley Bikes use size-specific handlebars. Small and medium bikes get 780mm bars and large and XL bikes get 800mm. The lock-on grabs combined with the wide bars gave us an 810mm bar on our large test bike. The seatpost drop depends on the frame size. A small bike has a drop of 125mm, a medium bike 150mm, and large bikes have a drop of 170mm. We were impressed by the smooth operation of Brand-X Ascend’s dropper post. This makes it very easy to fine-tune the height of your saddle, such as when you lower it a little for technical climbing.
The SLX drivetrain was faultless. Even though the Deore Deore set doesn’t have hollow arms like Shimanos, it still gave us a good feeling when sprinting. The Shimano Deore four piston disc brakes with four pistons did have a tendency to bite point shift. According to rumours, Shimano’s brake liquid becomes viscous with lower temperatures. However, we were testing Ragley in freezing cold conditions. Could this have been the source of our problems? We didn’t experience the same problem with our other Shimano four lever brakes during more mild times.
Performance
The Ragley Blue Pig was expected to provide a smooth, comfortable ride due to its long stays. It felt a lot closer to the alloy Canyon Stoic than it did the Ribble HT 275. It is a reminder that no frame material can be compared to another.
The Ragley has the best geometry and can be used to the max of Maxxis tires. The Ragley feels solid and composed on bumpy, fresh trails. The geometry is strong enough to go into more challenging terrain but the jarring at the rear says no. Steel’s famed consistency is absent here. You need to question why it makes sense to use this heavier material, when it provides a similar feel as aluminium.
Verdict
The Ragley Blue Pig’s geometry and attitude are comparable to the best hardcore hardtails. At just a pound shy, it checks most boxes. We say most because of the Shimano Deore brakes’ variable bite point. Also, the relatively harsh ride quality and 4130 steel frame made it difficult to use. The extra rollover of the Big Wig 29in would offer a superior ride quality and still be able to send it. Alternativly, you can increase the tyre width from 2.4in up to 2.6in by attaching the Blue Pig.
More details
Frame:4130 triple-butted cro-mo
Fork:RockShox Yari RC, 150mm travel
Wheels:Nukeproof Neutron 110/148mm rims, Nukeproof Neutron hubs, Maxxis Maxion DHF/DHRI 27.5×2.5/2.4in tyres
Drivetrain:Shimano Deore 3310 32t 170mm Chainset, SLX 7100r-mech and Shifter
Brakes:Shimano Deore M6120 four-piston, 200/180mm
Components
Sizes:S, M, L, XL
Weight:14.78kg (32.58lb)
Contact:ragleybikes.com
Size:L
Head angle:63.5deg
Actual seat angle:73.6deg
Effective seat angle:73.6deg
BB height 306mm
Chainstay:425mm
Front centre:799mm
Wheelbase:1224mm
Down tube:738mm
Top tube 635mm
Reach:452mm
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