2006 Rocky Mountain Blizzard. 17.5"

[Andy R]

I might as well post this, while I still have it (or while I'm deciding what to do with it... :? )

Rocky Mountain Blizzard 17.5" Reynolds 853
Forks - Magura Phaon 90-130mm
Brakes - Magura Marta SL 180/160mm
Drivetrain - Raceface Turbine cranks, RaceFace 32/22 chainrings,
Shimano XT 12-34 cassette, Shimano XT front and rear mechs.
BBG bashguard, N-Gear jumpstop chain guide.
Wheels - WTB Speed Disc on Shimano hubs.
Stem - RaceFace Deus 70mm.
Bars - RaceFace riser
Seatpost - Yeti ARC
Saddle- WTB Rocket
Grips - Kona Jackshit
Tyres - Conti Vertical 2.3" (or Maxxis Highroller 2.35 Super Tacky)
Pedals - Ritchey

I was previously using Marzocchi Marathon forks, but while it was nice having the ETA and lockout features, the Phaons beat them hands down for feel and rigidity and bombproof-ness, even though (being spring) they aren't the lightest. Wound down to 90mm climbing is good and 130mm is the answer once you start back down , unless it's tight and technical when I leave them around 100mm.

As it's rare around here to see anyone riding something that isn't an off-the-shelf Specialised/Trek/Giant it's nice to own and ride for that reason alone, plus it is a lovely bike - I'm the limiting factor in all situations, especially at the minute it seems
It would be a real gem to have out in Greece, where the ability to use big volume tyres and the great brakes and suspension would be right at home on those long, rocky alpine descents. Maybe that's its "natural" home, somewhere with big mountains ? ?

 

[Neil G]

Very nice

Rarely see RMs out and about, I'd hang onto it

 

[Andy R]

Thanks mate ! - keeping it's pretty much the conclusion I've come to, and besides, I advertised it in local classifieds as the complete bike you see here for less than the original cost of the frame, with zero interest.
I haven't been riding it much lately because I've been spending the majority of time on my SS, but I really should get out on it more - after all, I've got it, so I might as well use it.....

 

[Neil G]

Good decision, I think you would really regret selling that bike

 

[kaiser]

That looks like a great usable bike, could be a future classic too , Didn't realise these were 853

 

[Andy R]

That looks like a great usable bike, could be a future classic too , Didn't realise these were 853

Don't quote me on this (someone will be along to correct me in a minute, I'm sure ) but AFAIK they've been Reynolds 853 since about 2001, before that for a couple of years Reynolds 725, in the late '90s Tange Prestige and the 1993 version that I also own is True Temper OX-3 /OX-2 mix.

The frame isn't specially light (probably getting on for 5lbs) and is pretty short overall (22" ETT) plus I'm using a 70mm stem and in-line post, but the Phaons wound out to 130mm slacken it off a bit and stop it being too "lively" on fast rocky descents. In fact, if you ignore the back end and "ride the forks", the faster you go the better it seems to get.
The danger is the faster you go, the harder you fall..... :cry: (although, to be fair, it wasn't the Blizzard that threw me into that tree last week...)

 

[sunchaser]

Nice bike My main ride is an '05 Blizzard. They do indeed ride very well

 

[Andy R]

Nice bike My main ride is an '05 Blizzard. They do indeed ride very well

Yours will be the black and white "20th Anniversary" edition then ?

 

[sunchaser]

Correct

 

[hondamatic]

I miss seeing those bikes around! There used to be lots of them on the trails - also the Hammers and the lower-end Rocky Cro-mo bikes (Souls, Fusions, etc.)

It's cool that Rocky made a Cromo XC bike for so long - like Kona with the Kilauea.