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Ragley Rodwell or Focus Mares?
Hello,
Im in to minds, Im not sure if I should Build a Ragley Rodwell from scratch or Just buy the Focus Mares, After spec'ing up a Ragley its going to work out £250 dearer then just going and buying the similar spec'ed focus!
I only really fancy the Ragley for the colour!I know a Cheap place for spraying so could always change the focus.
Also Tempted to sell my Singular to pay for it (would make the Wife happy!) as I got to go the Finance route.
Are there any other options around the 750 - 1250 mark? 0% finance would be nice 
Cheers Steve
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19 comments
Well Ordered the Campag Veloce Groupset (well Centaur crankset) from Geoffrey Butler Cycles,
Should do me for a few years, just need to get the rest of the stuff.
Cheers Steve
I shall have a look! Geoffrey Butler Cylces is offering a veloce set up minus brakes for £230 which is perfect as I will be fitting Frogleg brakes.
Cheers Steve
Have a look on ribblecycles.co.uk
They have a 10% discount code on groupsets at the moment, on top of already cheap prices. I wish youd hurry up and build it, all this talk is giving me an itchy wallet
Well I think im pretty set on a Ragley, just trying to find out about some groupset, Founds a nice deal on a Veloce set up from Geoffrey Butler cycles, but also have considered shimano 105 and Sram Apex or Rival. See what happens, Knowing my luck the CRC sale will end before I get my Life sorted! waiting on cards now
Cheers Steve
well my Boss had a Fort cross with Campag Veloce 9 speed kit, Havnt got a price yet, but If i can get that a good price, Il strip it back and sell what not needed, and get the ragley frame.
Cheers Steve
My first cross bike was £250 second hand, did me fine for a few years. You dont need the best stuff in cross, as long as you have tyres that grip and brakes that (almost) stop your good.
I cant really get away with that one! I spend enough doing my other hobby.
Been offered a couple around the £300 350 mark, so I could possible buy one of the and sell the frame and forks, works out a half decent price!
Cheers Steve
sue for abuse, youll be able to afford it then
dont forget to add up all her clothes/shoes/bags purchases too, as leverage
Well I think that might be the end of this Idea!
Wife seen the price and hit me
so might need to look at 2nd hand! and splash out a a rodwell when iv have saved a few pennies!
Cheers Steve
Well re-speced up a Ragley with Ultegra (6700?) and thanks to sales it comes out a nats whisker more then 105
So I think that will be the option.
Cheers Steve
I've just built up a Kinesis Crosslight FiveT. I was considering the Ragley, but I wanted to use the new Kinesis fork with built-in cable hanger. I wasn't super impressed with the finish of the Kinesis frame though.
First, it was missing the barrel adjusters for the front derailleur and rear brakes. UpgradeBikes sent me some adjusters in the post, which were good for the brake mount, but weren't the fat indexed ones used for gear bosses. I bought a pair of gear boss barrels off eBay.
Secondly, I found that the rear brake mounts weren't accurately aligned. To get the rear brake working I put the spring on one side in the middle hole, and in an end hole on the other side. And with the spring tension bolts on the brakes at the opposite ends of their travels on either side, I got the brake centred!
Thirdly, the weld behind the bottom bracket is very fat, so the front derailleur wire rubs it.
Fourthly, it has rack mounts, but the design of the dropout is such that the seatstays interfere badly with the stays from a rack. I had to file a lot of metal away from my rack to get it to fit.
I'm with you that a crosser is a very versatile frame. And in answer to your Focus vs Ragley question I'm saying "not Kinesis"!
Though just seen a Cube Streamer at a great price for the spec, any one know what they are like?
Cheers Steve
I was tempted by a Road bike, but there is nothing I like out there with a similar spec - price as building the Ragley or buying the Focus cross bike, I would like to get a vitus 979 again, but are still quite alot for a old bike!
Plus the Wiltshire roads are pants, so fancied a Crosser with road bike kit, 105 or similar.
Cheers Steve
mmmmmmm. shiiiiiiiiny.
Here is my Swift, ive just put the drop bars on in an attempt to get the bars lower. With flat bars its like riding a cruiser the headtube is so long. Seems ok on the short rides ive done so far.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dickyelsdon/4928371051/
As for keeping up with road bikes.. get a road bike.
Nothing wrong with the swift, just want to convert that back to Single Speed! and would like to keep up with some of my mate on there road machines!
Cheers Steve
Singular Swift with drop bars... watch this space
What's wrong with the Singular? Doesn't it fill a similar niche?
Having ridden Brant's bikes in the past I can imagine the Rodwell is a good ride... And I know you can buy a 'full' bike for less, but building 'your own' bike adds another level of connection. My vote is for the Ragley