Ragley Bikes, the U.K. based bicycle and component company that is the brainchild of Brant Richards, has announced that a new 29″er model is coming soon to be built by Lynskey Performance of Tennessee, U.S.A. The frame, dubbed the “TD-1″, will feature geometry optimized for use with a 440mm axle to crown fork, and not a suspension fork. We reported on the prototype frames last year in this post.
The titanium frame will feature Ragley’s signature “Three Finger” drive side chain stay treatment along with a slightly curved seat tube for better tire clearance and a vertically ovalized down tube junction with the head tube. Lynskey Performance sliding drop outs will be used to allow for a geared or single speed set up.
Three sizes will be made available: 16″, 18″, and a 20″. Top tube size for the three sizes are as follows: 23.5″, 24″, and 24.5″. Head tube angle will be 72 degrees, seat tube angle is 73 degrees. MSRP in the U.S. is said to be approximately $1526.00. Word is that the frames are to be ready to go in a “couple weeks”. Brant Richards also hints here that a steel and aluminum version of this frame may follow.
6 Small 10 Medium and 10 Large have left the factory and we should see them early next week.
Looks really good.
@brant, what is your philosophy behind the non-suspension corrected geometry?
How do you mean “philosophy”?
I saw lots of people were running rigid 29ers.
I thought it was silly making it all suspension corrected if people were running rigid.
So I thought it made sense to make a bike that was compatible with a lot of off the shelf forks, but worked with 29in wheels (as if you’re making a rigid bike, 29in wheels make a lot of sense).
brant,
what’s the BB drop?
2.5in
I have a SS Scandal. Great ride. Please do make a AL version, Ti is for lawyers. These things are really race-a-season throw-away race bikes. I’ll buy one in AL and heck yes, these things should be run rigid.
Please also post in mm too, a lot of us think that way.
Thats an interesting frame and concept in building only rigid versions. I sort of like the idea actually in that I’m currently shopping for a rigid only single speed frame – the TD-1 though is way over budget, still it would a kick to ride one.
Nice job Brant, I’ll be watching here and checking around mtbr where I first saw the the TD-1.
I have come to really love rigid bikes. However, I had a raleigh xxix g and is was based off the same fork length and I could never get the bar height right without using a riser stem with a riser bar or a crap load of spacers. That was with a 110mm headtube. My other rigid only bikes are designed around 465 a/c forks and seem to work just right for me.
Brant, what would the headtube length be for about a 19 or 20inch frame?
I’m sure that will be a problem for some riders, Captain Bob. This is an unashamedly ass-up, head-down race weapon. Not a bars-higher, see-where-you’re-going machine.
Headtube on the 20in frame is just 4.5in. I think you’ll find this model a little uncomfy, or requiring an oddly tall stem.
Thanks Brant.
Nice! All props to the rigid only design. Personally not to crazy about the bent seat tube since I find longer stays much more beneficial on my 29ers. I am a bike addict, but i have to say I would never buy another Lynsey ti bike.