Raleigh '09 FS

[live2ride]

When in the big ring there is movement, but in the small ring there is virtually nothing - really clever, must be in the geometry design. Maybe a different rear shock can sort that out. But I must say I have been very happy with the on off switch on the current shock. It is either fully active or fully locked.

 

Either way it looks like the Moonraker is raking in the wins at Forest to Falls with David George winning on this bike this weekend

https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=25805

[Ox_Wagon]

There is a nice pic of the bike in the new Bicycling mag.  If I remember correctly the basic lay out was used in the early 90ties on the Specilized Stumpjumper.  The one thing I do not like about any layout with the shock at the back of the seat tube (Bianci, Scott etc) is that the shock is in the direct path of all gunk that is thrown up from the rear wheel.  It may be a good idea to copy Orbea?s solution of a small mud guard to protect the shock.

 

[jmaccelari]

 

Except for some cosmetic changes the frame design and BB's pic looks VERY similar!

Probably made in the same Taiwanese factory...

 

[Buff]

The frame does have a lot of bob, I noticed that at the Epic as well, but David might have been riding it super soft. It also has a manual lock-out on it, I wonder if they are going to make it remote like the Orbea?

 

 

[averageguy]

I have been lucky enough to be testing the new Raleigh since November last year. My partner and I both rode the bike at the Epic this year and finished a respectable 61st. This is my fourth Epic and this was our best finish. I had the choice to ride a carbon hardtail like last year or this new prototype. For me the choice was easy.

 

Please remember that there is a very big difference between pedal induced bob and the suspension simply moving because of the weight of the rider as he pedals. Yes, some platform damped shocks remove this rider induced movement, but this also comes at the expense of small bump sensitivity. And trust me, on the corrugations we experienced in the Epic, I will take the slight movement and have a fully active suspension. The new bike is very active and extremely supple over all bumps. And believe me, if David (or me) was experiencing any pedal induced bob, we would not have been riding these bikes. Pedal induced bob, sucks energy and at the end of a 147km stage you would know all about it.

 

As for the shock being in an exposed position, this is true, but again, we experienced no problems. I have been riding my frame for about 6000km and the shock is still working perfectly.

 

When I saw 80% of the other full suspension riders, with water bottles attached to seat posts or stuffed into back pockets it made the ride even sweeter for me! This is really the holy grail. No Hydration pack to worry about, 2 full bottles. Light, supple and fast with four inches of fully active travel. For those who actually ride mountain bikes and are not just arm chair experts, I am sure they will see the benefit.

[Marius]

My Santa Cruz SL can take two bottles but I still prefer my Camelbak, I don't see a frame offering to take on two water bottles as a selling point, it's stupid imho as a Camelbak is more practical.<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

[NotSoBigBen]

 a Camelbak is more practical.<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

For funriders .............

[jmaccelari]

 

imho as a Camelbak is more practical.

Hey - new flame war!

 

I started riding with a Camelbak and once I started getting serious I dumped it

and now use water bottles (dig, dig...).

 

I have now purchased the smallest one I can find (a Hydrapak Flume, I think) and

pack my spares & cell phone into that - without the bladder. I hate having

tools in my pockets or strapped onto the bike.

 

I still use my Camelbak (without the bladder) to pack my clothes & lunch in for

when I cycle to work.

 

[Marius]

Yeah, also use mine for training rides to carry spares, makes sense just like it makes sense using it during Mtb events.

[Guest Big H]

Spares ..... waarvoor Mapsie..... o ja ek onthou nou jy was mos die ou wat so baie kettangs gebreek het. Doen jy dit nog ..............  mmmmmmmm????????

[GoLefty!!]

Getting this back on track...

 

 

 

Albert,

 

I see what you're saying. The trade off the design team has made has been to err on the active side and provide a firm pedal platform by applying lock out.\

 

This is a respectable and tested and tried solution. However, pedaling induced bob and rider weight induced bob is the same thing but viewed from a different vantage point. It's the vertical movement that is the most problematic i.e. the riders weight moving up and down during pedaling.

 

 

 

For an active bike you have to make the trade off of either controlingthe amount of bob to get the sensitivity or make the suspension firmer and let the tyre handle small bump sensitivity.

 

 

 

Taking the path of making a bob sensitive suspension is brave in this day and age but the marketing is a pitfall that can be unpacked quickly. Tread carefully here. Active is good as long as it does not rob the rider of momentum.

 

 

 

The rear shock placement is not an issue, never has been on either the Scalpel nor the Stumpjumper before it, nor on the Orbea. The shock is in a vertical position so all the crud is wiped downward and away from the main body of the shock.

 

 

 

 

[Slowbee]

Alright all knowing folk - does the position of this shock cause more pedal bob than say the giant anthem, or the felt virtue 2? I know they are all different systems with different pro's and cons, - but what about the pedal bob?

[averageguy]

Getting this back on track...

 

Albert,

I see what you're saying. The trade off the design team has made has been to err on the active side and provide a firm pedal platform by applying lock out.\

This is a respectable and tested and tried solution. However, pedaling induced bob and rider weight induced bob is the same thing but viewed from a different vantage point. It's the vertical movement that is the most problematic i.e. the riders weight moving up and down during pedaling.

 

For an active bike you have to make the trade off of either controlingthe amount of bob to get the sensitivity or make the suspension firmer and let the tyre handle small bump sensitivity.

 

Taking the path of making a bob sensitive suspension is brave in this day and age but the marketing is a pitfall that can be unpacked quickly. Tread carefully here. Active is good as long as it does not rob the rider of momentum.

 

The rear shock placement is not an issue, never has been on either the Scalpel nor the Stumpjumper before it, nor on the Orbea. The shock is in a vertical position so all the crud is wiped downward and away from the main body of the shock.

 

Tim, Come to P.E. I will take you to Longmore and you can ride the bike. Then you can let the hubbers know what you think. I have a feeling you will be placing an order...

[Slowbee]

average guy - your views on the 3 bikes in terms of this thing called pedal bob?

[Marius]

Pedal Bob is over rated, just pump the damn shock harder, jeeeeeezzzsh, then you still have your 3 settings you can filp between. No Bob, slight Bob and lotsa Bob.Marius2008-05-06 02:16:02

[Slowbee]

Hey M

 

Just wanting to know. I see guys on the r44 and man oh man - they spend more time going up and down than debbie does in dallas !