Looking forward to seeing this at the weekend you old fart "bad neck"

I'm only 35!! Seriously though - it was an industrial accident. I wish I had sued now. :-/

Looking forward to it - I chatted to the B&B lady and she said it had been biblical rain today. Eeeeeek.

Well the whole original spec thing has gone out the window and I decided to just ride the thing....

Me at the Lakes National ride:



It was very good on the technical sections - I only had one pedal strike on the whole ride because of the high BB, it was amazing threading my way through rocky sections without a worry.



So despite all the NOS stuff on it I rode it to the top of a big hill..





Uphill it was absolutely brilliant, even out of the saddle with my weight forward I barely got wheelspin even on loose rocky sections. It was unreal.

Downhill it was a bit different, I did feel like I was perched on top of the bike and it felt a little unstable. The steering was perfect though, even with the rigid forks. However the brakes were beyond cack. Really bad, the bike could go faster than the brakes would stop me so something is going to have to change.

I am thinking that a nice set of red Maguras would be well in keeping with the intended design of the frame and provide a nice sharp response....

I am also thinking that some 60mm travel suspension forks would make it even more capable - I'm not saying it needs it, more like it is so capable it would open up more of its potential with a bit of bounce up front. Marzocchi would be the only option for me as they actually work......

Marz would spoil it.
And the bike is not adjusted to any suspension so 60mm will be long.
When I used 60mm JUDY it rode ok, but the front just felt a bit wrong. Back to 40mm travel MAG's and it was spot on again.

Build another bike or get used to riding retro.
Get some decent brake blocks would be my first choice and play around setting the canti's up.

It is a great looking bike, i'm not normaly a fan of E-stays either

i was impressed with the rocky rob. Red forks and decals against the raw alu just ouzes retro! Keep it for ever;-)

very nice liking your retro ride pics mate, nice Rocky

I have Matthauser Superbrake pads on it, XT canti's and levers and very well set up, its just the wet that it doesn't cope with. I need a bit more bite and I loved Maguras when I had them.

The brakes would be the first move, but won't be soon. I can always try the forks later, you never know, might work well.

As far as getting used to riding retro, or rigid, well it wasn't until recently I got suspension on my modern bikes - I don't mind it, I just want to go faster.....

I do like it a lot, I might have something special coming up next and I am hoping I won't have to sell this to get it - must get saving!

hi
leave it just the way it is and buy another one.
awesome build. been following all the way.
roy

having no brakes is pure retro Rob just adapt your riding style to suit

Ha ha! What was it about that ride that made Rocky Mountain brakes not work??

Thanks all for your kind words.

nice to see this one finished to completion! Nice job Rob!

i'll echo what most say here, leave it as is. but if it's a must, only suspension fork i say should go on the bike is the one I have on the Cirrus.

So that's what they look like when they're not in a box all apart, very nice!

that is one nice Rocky!! Great job Rob.