Marin Rocky Ridge

matt@theforce

After the departure of my Kona Caldera mid last year, I've been on the look out for a replacement and in November I found a Marin Rocky Ridge frame on ebay. Not having the money spare to buy it I was hoping it would still be available closer to xmas ready for when SWMBO asks me what I want

The frame was purchased along with a Charge Spoon Saddle & XT Front Mech 3days before Xmas and arrived 2 days before XMAS 8) and gave me enough time to get to my LBS to get a Cane Creek S-3 headset pressed into the frame.

On Boxing Day I spent my Evans vouchers (compensation from the badly built Ridgeback mx16 for my son) and bought an Easton Haven SeatPost & Hope Seat Clamp, now I had everything it was time to start building.

Whilst waiting for the seatpost to arrive I spent a couple of days removing a few stickers and then proceeded to clay-bar the frame then added a few layers of polish finished off with some poorboys sealant.

With all my parts ready for fitting I set about building it, I only had to replace the rear mech cable due to the run being longer on the Marin than the Kona, other than that no problems were encountered and I was out on a quick ride up and down the street to let things start to settle in within a couple of hours

Spec
Frame : 2009 Marin Rocky Ridge (Small 15")
Headset : Cane Creek S-3
Forks : Rockshocks Recon Silver TK (100mm) http://www.sram.com/rockshox/category/104
Stem/Bars/Grips : Syntace F149 Oversized/ Easton Monkey Bars / Kona Jack shoot
Wheels/Tyres : Shimano XT Hubs with WTB rims/ Vittoria Geax Easy Riders 26x1.95 tyres
Shifters : Deore 3x9
Drive Train : Shimano BB90/SLX Chainset
Front Mech : Shimano XT FDM771
Rear Mech : Shimano XT M771
Cassette : Shimano HG50 11-32 With HG53 Chain & SRAM powerlink
Brakes : Shimano Deore M535 Hydraulic 160mm/180mm / RT67 SLX Centrelock Discs
Pedals : Shimano M520
SeatPost/Clamp/Seat : Easton Haven 400mm SeatPost/Hope Seat Clamp/ Charge Spoon Saddle





I was a little concerned that originally the bike was sold with a 140mm fork and I've only fitted a 100mm fork but the ride is very good, I would like to fit a shorter stem but other than that it is perfect for my needs.

Matthew

Bikerguy15

A nice looking bike mate, looks like those chainstays were built for a tank

I was just wondering, how tall are you?

matt@theforce

I'm about 5'7

JBA

That looks great, Matt. 8)

I was watching that frame on eBay with a view to buying it as a bike build project for my son. However, when I mentioned it to SWMBO she declared that he doesn't need a new bike and gave me the stare.

It's nice to see it built up. Have fun riding it.

matt@theforce

The pearl white colour is lovely, it looks so much nicer in the flesh and not in a camera phone picture.

I intend to have alot of fun riding it & plan to keep it as it seems to be quite rare to find one in a small

BigStu2

Rocky Ridges are great, I had a 15" 2008 model, upgraded most of the go fast bits which now sit proudly on my new piglet, I must say that you are missing out on a great part of the "Rocky Ridge" feeling by not having a 140mm fork, with one they have a 67.5 deg head angle and are incredibly stable downhill plus you will carve corners like your on skis, especially if you run 2.35 tyres. If you have a 16 yr old son you are probably as old as me and a bike that behaves well and lets you showboat a bit is an absolute blessing.
FYI, the standard stem for the 15 was a 60mm and the bar width was 711mm, a bizarre combination I thought at first so I promptly swapped them out similar to what you have but swapped back after a couple of weeks just to see, the difference was night and day, you can really charge on these bikes and have a great time, riders on regular xc bikes are really missing out I'm afraid

matt@theforce

Thanks, I intend to upgrade the fork at some point but as I am more of an xc rider a 140mm fork isn't needed, I'm thinking about a 120mm fork but wont need anymore than that.

I'm still at the bedding in stage but I know I will be making more tweaks

SGTMASON

Congrats on a great bike!
I have a Rocky Ridge also and i think you'll find your not as old as you think!
Thats an '09 Marin Rocky Ridge frame... http://www.marin.co.uk/2009/bikedetail.php?ModNo=3972-1F

matt@theforce

Excelent News , seeing the spec I'm not far off the original spec (mainly fork)

matt@theforce

After about 200 miles I made my 1st change, the Schwalbe BlackJacks were starting to wear and feel unstable at speed so they have now been changed for some Schwalbe Land Cruisers. Most of my riding is currently on the road with occasional trail use so these fit my purpose really well.

They roll really well and offer fantastic levels of grip on the road (even damp/muddy roads), the only downside is the weight, they weighed in at 900gm each (300gm heavier than the BlackJacks they have replaced).



After approx 100miles of use I am happy with them and like the style of tyre, these were a trial tyre to see if the pattern suited my style of riding and they do. For the money I can't complain.

Matthew

matt@theforce

Due to me buying an XT Chainset for my Cube I've moved my SLX Chainset & BB71 onto this bike replacing the Deore Chainset & BB51.




It feels much free'er to pedal and gear changes feel slightly smoother/quicker than before 8)

Matthew

matt@theforce

My chain has now reached the 1.0 mark so I've replaced it for a SRAM PG951 & while at it I've replaced the cassette for a HG61 11-32 as the chain/cassette have been mated together for the past 1200 miles and the cassette was looking quite worn.

I hoping for more than 1200miles from this setup though



No point in spending a fortune on it though as this bike is used no matter what the weather and used for commuting the 33mile round trip in the bad weather

matt@theforce

Since I stripped & Sold my Cube AMS125 frame earlier this year my RockyRidge has had a nice transformation to the below spec

Forks : Rockshocks Revelation Race Air U-Turn 120-135mm, Motion Control, PopLoc
Stem/Bars/Grips : FSA 110mm / Syntace Vector 2014 318 Lowrider Oversized / CUBE Fritzz Screw-On-Grip
Wheels/Tyres : Sunringlé Ryde XMB Wheelset / Schwalbe Nobby Nic 26x2.25
Shifters : XT M770 3x9
Drive Train : Shimano BB70/XT M770Chainset
Front Mech : Shimano XT M771
Rear Mech : Shimano XT M771
Cassette : Shimano HG80 11-34 With PG951 Chain & SRAM powerlink
Brakes : Shimano M785 XT 160/180 / Ice Tech 6bolt rotors