Ragley Bikes, a dedicated hardtail brand, has everything covered. The Ragley Blue Pig is the entry-level 27.5in steel product with regular-size tires.
Ragley Blue Pig Race is a Ragley Blue Pig Race with a higher specification. The Big Wigs have 29in wheels, and share the same build kit and price structure. However, they come with dedicated 29in steel frames. Ragley also offers the Piglet, which has 27.5in wheels with 2.6in tyres.
All three bikes have a similar profile, regardless of the size of their tyres or wheels. 4130 cromo is the preferred material. The bikes have a modern appearance thanks to the slim rear triangle and clean front triangle. Other features that unify all models include the bridge connecting the top tube and seat tube, as well as the straight head tube. All frames have ISCG tabs for mounting a chain device on the threaded-BB shell. It’s a good thing that any bike has geometry to mirror modern full-suspension mountain bikes at sag. These numbers yield a relaxed 63.5deg head angle and low 305mm height BB, as well as short 425mm chainstays. The reach of the large Blue Pig at 452mm is quite short, even by full-suspension standards. However, we must remember that the Ragley’s reach is not as short as it appears on paper.
Suspension
The Blue Pig travels at the top end of the travel range with a 150mm-travel RockShox Yari RC knife. Although the Yari weighs more than the Revelation on Ribble, it is lighter and has a smoother, stiction-free action. It also does a great job of removing trail chatter. The Canyon Stoic’s steep, rough trails will make the fork dive more than it does the Revelation. This is due to the increased travel and less-sophisticated damper. A few extra clicks of compression can help prop the front end, but we found that running the fork firmer with the 10mm remaining travel was the best option.
Components
Ragley uses size-specific handlebars. The small and medium bikes have 780mm bars, while the large and XL bikes have 800mm bars. Combining the lock-on grips with the handlebars, we were able to achieve an 810mm width for our large test bike. The drop of the seatpost depends on the size of your frame. Small gets 125mm, medium 150mm and large get 170mm. Large and XL have 170mm drops. The smooth operation of the Brand-X Ascend Dropper Post impressed us again. It makes it easy to adjust your saddle height for technical climbing, or lower it a bit.
The SLX drivetrain performed flawlessly. Although the Deore chainset doesn’t have the hollow arms Shimano’s higher-end units, it didn’t lose stiffness when we tried to sprint. However, we did notice the constant bite-point shifting on the Shimano Deore four piston disc brakes. There are rumors that Shimano’s brake fluid gets viscous when temperatures drop. We were testing Ragley in extremely cold conditions. Could this be the reason for the problems we experienced? It’s unlikely, as we had the exact same issue with other Shimano four piston brakes in warmer times.
Performance
We expected Ragley Blue Pig’s smooth ride to be a joy with its slender stays. We were disappointed that it felt more like the Ribble HT 275 than the alloy Canyon Stoic. This just shows that you cannot make blanket statements about any frame material.
The Ragley’s geometry is the best in the test. It can be ridden up to the limit of Maxxis tyres with the best geometry. It feels composed and stable on smooth, new trails, even though your feet are well below the axles. However, if you dive into steeper and more difficult terrain, the geometry shouts “Go”, but the rear end jarring says no. You have to wonder if steel’s famed compliant is not present in this terrain.
Verdict
The Ragley Blue Pig is a hardcore hardtail with the right attitude and geometry. It’s only a pound short of two grand. We say most because the variable bite point of the Shimano Deore brakes was distracting, and the relatively rough ride quality of the 4130-steel frame was too much. The 29in Big Wig’s extra roll-over would likely offer a better ride quality while still being able send it. You could also increase the size of your tyres by putting the Blue Pig’s back on the Blue Pig.
More Details
Frame:4130 triple-butted cro-mo
Fork:RockShox Yari RC, 150mm travel
Wheels:Nukeproof Neutron 110/148mm Hubs, Nukeproof Neutron Rims, Maxxis Minon DHF/DHRI 27.5×2.5/2.4in Tyres
Drivetrain:Shimano Deore 32t 170mm chainset and SLX 7100 R-mech, Shimano Deore M6100 32t Shimano Deore Shiffer
Brakes:Shimano Deore M6120 four-piston, 200/180mm
Components: Ragley alloy 800mm bars, Ragley Stubbing 50mm stem, Brand X Ascend 170mm posts, Ragley Tracker saddle
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 center:799mm
Wheelbase:1224mm
Down tube:738mm
Top tube:635mm
Reach:452mm
