From my internet research, it was clear the Ibis Ripley should be my next bike. But who would  spend top dollars on a bike they’ve never  seen or swung a leg over let alone ridden! Not me! So, it was time to test ride an Ibis Ripley. Trouble is, I live in NSW, Australia not California USA. I can’t stroll into my local bike shop, say, “hey howzabout a test ride on one of your Ripleys”, take it for a spin then put down a deposit. Here downunder it takes a lot more effort than that.

I searched http://www.bikeexchange.com.au for new or second hand Ripley’s. Found none. I searched various other web sites to find retailers – found just one here on the Central Coast – they could order one in for me but not till I had decided to buy it. And, there are no Demo Rides here, as far as I could see.

In a somewhat frustrated state, I penned an email to Scot Nicol, founder of Ibis Cycles in California. I was delighted when he replied. He was happy that I was looking for a Ripley, he was sorry that I was having trouble finding one to ride and he reacted by contacting the Australian distributers in Brisbane, Queensland.

And so communications began with Peter from Meeco Sales, the distributers. It became clear that the only way I could test ride a Ripley would be to hire one in South Australia or West Australia – way over on the other side of this vast land. Not willing to ‘buy before you try” it was looking like I would have to find another brand of 29er to fill my needs.

Then one day, Peter emailed me saying he had just taken delivery of an XL green and black Ibis Ripley – my size, my colour no less. It was his own bike.

Brisbane is an hours flight from where I live in Gosford, but if I could get a cheap flight, it would be worth the flight up to take a look at his bike, especially if he would let me swing my leg over it and maybe even ride it round the block. To may absolute delight, Peter not only consented to this but offered to meet me at the airport, drive me to some local trails and allow me to ride his brand new barely run in Ripley for a couple of hours! I was stoked! I booked my flight.

When I landed at Brisbane airport Peter arrived in a mysterious black van. In the back of the van was his old bike and, hidden under a blanket, his Ibis Ripley. He drove us to Daisy Hill, a piece of great Aussie bush just 20 minutes from the CBD, riddled with tree lined single tracks!

And here, once he revealed the Ripley and dialled it up to my riding preferences, we rode for the next two to three hours. I rode very carefully to start with, in no way wanting to risk damaging his beautiful new bike, but as time and kilometres and trees and trail passed, I became so comfortable on the Ripley that I grew in confidence and picked up the pace. Or was it the Ripley that picked up the pace?

From the first few moments when I circled the bike round the car park at Daisy Hill, I fell in love with the geometry of this bike. It felt light, it felt responsive, it felt almost cheeky. Peter’s Ripley was set up with a 140 mm fork. I had never ridden a bike with more than 120 mm before but I quickly appreciated the “longer legs”. It just seemed to cruise over the logs and rocks with supple ease. Despite the longer fork, the pedalling responsiveness of the DW link suspension was everything I had read about – true cross country kick.

So here it is. The bike I had been looking for, the Ibis Ripley – a XC 29er with great trail manners.

Sadly, when Peter dropped me back at the airport, he kept the Ripley in the back of the van. I won’t complain however, for his hospitality was legendary.

Over the years, I have learnt the hard way that when you plan to make a major purchase of a vehicle, such as a car or a high end bike, you tell yourself before test driving or riding it, you will NOT commit to buying it that day. You should always sleep on it first. So, that’s what I did. I slept on it.

Next morning, I ordered my XL green and black Ibis Ripley.