First look: Ragley Bagger 288 and Troof hardtails

Plus QED singlespeed and top-value winter road bike

James Costley-White/BikeRadar

Published: October 7, 2010 at 8:55 am

Ragley were showing off their latest bikes and bits at UK distributors Hotlines' London Show today, including the new Bagger 288 and Troof long-forked hardtails, QED singlespeed, Cragg Vale winter training bike and a carbon rigid mountain bike fork.

We brought you news of some of Ragley's new models from August's Eurobike trade show – the refined Blue Pig, the lighter weight Blue Pig X and the steeper angled, more cross-country friendly Piglet.

The steel Bagger and alloy Troof head in the opposite direction from the Piglet, sticking with Ragley's trademark laidback geometry (the 67-degree head angle is actually half a degree slacker than on the Blue Pig) but upping fork travel to a whopping 160mm (6.3in).

Like most of Ragley's 2011 hardtails, the Bagger has a 44mm ID standard head tube – meaning you can run a 1.125in, 1.5in or tapered fork – while the Troof has a 1.5in front end. Other features include custom-butted Fathead tubing and DMR Swopout dropouts, so you can run a rear Maxle or quick-release.

Ragley troof: - James Costley-White/BikeRadar

The Troof is the Bagger 288's aluminium brother

QED

The QED is essentially the same bike as the Piglet but with horizontal dropouts so you can run it singlespeed. We're loving the Refreshers-style logo. It's designed to take a 120mm-travel fork and features Ragley's new investment-cast 3-finger bridge to protect against chainsuck.

Ragley qed: - James Costley-White/BikeRadar

The QED will put some singlespeed fizz in your riding

Carbon fork

New for next year is a carbon mountain bike fork, spotted fitted to a Ragley TD-1 at the show. Instead of the usual cosmetic carbon weave, it sports a Kevlar weave which Hotlines assure us is both structural and highly abrasion resistant – so no more worrying about cable rub and minor rock strikes.

Ragley td-1: - James Costley-White/BikeRadar

Ragley are developing this carbon mountain bike fork with a Kevlar weave

Cragg Vale

The Cragg Vale is being pitched as a "super value for money winter training bike". With a full-carbon fork, headset and mudguards, the 7005-T6 alloy frameset will cost just £350. Reflective decals should make sure you're seen at night.

No word yet on availability or pricing for these bikes. Ragley also now have a full range of bars, grips, seatposts, stems and saddles – check out www.ragleybikes.com for more information.

Ragley cragg vale: - James Costley-White/BikeRadar

The Cragg Vale looks like an absolute bargain

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