The Ibis Ripley is finally here.

[Gregorian]

I feel this is the best mountain bike ever made. As soon as I can find $7000 in my sofa cushions, I'm ordering one.

http://www.ibiscycles.com/bikes/ripley_29/

[Gregorian]

1. Just got this video posted by Scot Nicols, the emperor of Ibis.

Waaaaah. I want one now.

[wtmusic]

2. Have you driv- er...ridden it?

[Gregorian]

3. Only a handful have had that opportunity. Mainly Brian Lopes.

If he's excited, I'm excited.

But I did the numbers again, and it's over $8000 when set up with XX1, a Lefty, and Industry Nines.

[frylock]

5. lopes is the man!

here he is hucking a Mojo at some of our local trails in El Cajon:

[Gregorian]

7. That is crazy. And he can also actually ride XC.

I've been on a mountain bike since 1985, and my wheels pretty much never leave the ground. I'd love to know how people do this stuff. I can't even wheelie. But I love riding, and that's all that counts. I've been slow and sick and still gotten on the podium of one of the most difficult races in California. But jumping, damn. I have a set of jumps like this in my area, but I end up riding the front wheel, and then saying I'll never try it again.

Bikes are great.

[frylock]

9. yeh, i'm too damn old to be gapping dubbs like that..

that 35 footer at the end of the trail is ridiculous! Lopes can pretty much do it all; XC, DH, 4X, DJs. quite gifted.

[frylock]

4. i want to go full squish 29er, but need to do it on the cheap..

like about $3000. thinking of sticking with my beloved Giant and getting the Trance X1 (have the 26&quot but man does Transition make some sweet whips. The 5.5" Covert is looking real good to me right now. Have you ridden 650b yet?

[Gregorian]

6. I haven't ridden 650.

A couple of years ago someone in the Ibis forum swapped 650's for the 26"ers. I ride a Mojo. I couldn't not get it when they came out. It still feels like the day I got it. The problem is, I have Industry Nine wheels, and I'm not about to toss those for another set.

I'm totally stoked about this new Ripley. And it comes at a time when I9 has just redesigned their hubs. 2/1 lacing on their 24 spoke wheels. Carbon rims. It might be $3000 just for the wheels this time around. But the Sram XX1 is the tipping point. I'm getting ready to sell my car just so I can put this thing together. Haha.

[frylock]

8. priorities!

[Gregorian]

10. Here's a Lopes video that has a couple of skills.

Just a bunny hop, and a manual. Just!

I used to ride with a guy who was number 3 national champ. I learned more on just two rides than all of the years with other people. I'd give anything to spend time with a good welder, Brian Lopes, and Greg Spence the Aussie trumpet player. But time is flying. All I can do is be happy I got a chance to even dabble.

[frylock]

11. i have hops, but nothing like that!

and certainly not uphill and riding with flat bars. have you moved to the flats yet? i'm still using bars with a 1.5" rise. never did care for flats or low-rise.

[Gregorian]

12. Does this link work?

If so, it's my bike. It is exaggerated due to the angle, but I like strict XC. I think my stem is 110mm. I'm still riding old school. Guys are going to 60mm stems lately.

http://gallery.mtbr.com/showphoto.php/photo/79478/title/post-pics-of-your-ibis-here/cat/500

[frylock]

13. i'm one of those guys..

well, i'm running 70mm. my XC, or trail bike as I call it, is setup more as all mountain (70mm stem, riser bars, bash guard replacing the big ring), and my all mountain is setup as a smallish DH (6.7" in the back). i'm also running remote dropper posts on both of those whips. adds to the overall weight to be sure but really enhances the riding experience.

nice bike, BTW.