Thanks for the compliments. The frame is an '09 Jamis Dragon 29. I own a bike shop, and after each model year there are discounts on closeout frames and complete bikes. I purchased this one as a frame only, after the 2010 bikes had been introduced. I really like the color (Jamis calls it Mud), and it did not come with a fork. This is a frame that Jamis continues to offer as frame-only, built from Reynolds 853 steel, but they have changed the name of the model to the Dragon Race, I believe, for 2011.

As for the way I built it up, I wanted to go with the rigid fork because I like the simplicity of it and the razor-sharp way the bike handles with it compared to a suspension fork. A key element for me is the tubeless tire setup; I'm a big believer in the Stan's Notubes system for mountain bikes, and with the benefit of the tubeless setup I can run around 25psi without worrying about pinch flats. This low pressure not only helps a lot with traction, but it softens the ride a huge amount. The low tire pressure and big wheels really do give the bike a nice forgiving ride quality for the type of XC mountain biking I do most of the time. With the rigid fork and big, low-pressure tires, the bike climbs steep, technical stuff better than any bike I've ever ridden.

The fork is a Salsa Cromoto Grande 29, built from True Temper Ox Platinum steel with stainless, forward-facing dropouts. I've been very happy with it, and the bike handles great with it; it's suspension-corrected to mimick a fairly short-travel suspension fork, which is what the Dragon 29 frame is designed for-