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NAHBS 2011 – Ritchey: New 29er Mountain Bike, Swiss Cross Cyclocross and Tom’s Dad’s Bike

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nahbs 2011 ritchey logic unveils p29er mountain bike geared and singlespeed

Oddly enough, just a few days before the show I overheard some folks talking about how Ritchey has had blueprints for a 29er (and a full suspension bike, too) on and off the drawing board for years. Every now and then they get pulled out, dusted off, tweaked, then shelved again with no particular impetus to bring the projects to fruition.

Then, lo and behold, the P-29er mountain bike took center stage in their booth at this year’s show.

Displayed in both geared and singlespeed version, with two different paint options under consideration, the steel frames are named in accordance with their historical project naming code. Years (decades) ago, they’d name a bike based on the target weight – the P23 would be a 23lb bike, etc. – except that this bike is definitely not 29lbs. Like most of Ritchey’s high-end SKUs, this one’s geared toward racing.

Check the specs, and their all new Swiss Cross steel cyclocross bike and other surprises after the break…

nahbs 2011 ritchey logic unveils p29er mountain bike geared and singlespeed nahbs 2011 ritchey logic unveils p29er mountain bike geared and singlespeed

Note the super thin headtubes…we’ll cover that in a minute.

nahbs 2011 ritchey logic unveils p29er mountain bike geared and singlespeed nahbs 2011 ritchey logic unveils p29er mountain bike geared and singlespeed

Sliding dropouts with swappable mounts let you choose between geared and singlespeed. For geared bikes, this means you also have a bit of leeway in setting up your effective chainstay length. Price will be $999 for frame and headset. Complete bike with gears is around 23lbs, and 21lbs as SS.

Both the P-29er and Swiss Cross below use Ritchey’s new 1″ head tube with flares for the bearings. Technically, it’s not actually 1″ because then a 1-1/8″ steerer wouldn’t fit it in, but that’s what they were calling it. Why the super narrow tube? The thinner diameter makes for stronger tubes at a given wall thickness with steel…basically, the bigger the diameter, the more “coke can-ny” it’ll get. The flanges at either end flare out to house drop-in bearings. The design allows the top and down tubes to join a bit farther apart and to “wrap” a larger contact patch around the sides of the headtube more, all of which makes for a stiffer, stronger frame.

Additionally, both bikes use Tom’s new Logic II chromoly steel tubing, which has differentially butted tubing with different thicknesses not just through the diameter, but top to bottom.

nahbs 2011 tom ritchey steel swiss cross cyclocross bike

The Swiss Cross is their new top of the line cyclocross bike. Sure, you can race their folding bike on the grass, too, and they’ve done it, but when you’re ready for a more performance oriented rig, this is it. Price is $1,299 for frame, paint-matched WCS full carbon fork and headset. Red and white match their “wet” component colors perfectly, so you can deck it out super matchy-matchy like this one.

nahbs 2011 tom ritchey steel swiss cross cyclocross bike

Bike as shown with full WCS alloy components is around 18lbs, frame target weight is just under 3.9lbs.

nahbs 2011 tom ritchey steel swiss cross cyclocross bike

Production bikes will be tig welded, available in August. This one was fillet brazed by Tom himself to get it ready in time for the show.

tom ritchey 1974 road bike built for his dad

This road bike was built by Tom Ritchey in 1974 for his dad. Considering the year, it’s got some remarkably forward-thinking ideas integrated into it.

tom ritchey 1974 road bike built for his dad

Bolt on stem – and check out how little contact area it’s holding onto. Quill stems were pretty much the only game in town back then.

Integrated seatmast with one-piece saddle/post.

Pass-through rear brake cable.

Miniature brake cable guide.

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15 Comments
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Oderus
Oderus
13 years ago

Ritchey is so far behind the ball with 29ers. It’s evident in the fact that the bike lacks Ritchey branded rims and tires (the key component of a 29er)

T
T
13 years ago

What? No disc tabs on the ‘cross bike? How retro.

T.Hudson
T.Hudson
13 years ago

Those two bikes are what I’ve been waiting 15 years for!!!! I raced a P-21 Team for four years back in the day. The only bike that I to this day still wish I had. They are THE best rides in the world. Any idea of price???

DANGERJONNY
DANGERJONNY
13 years ago

I AM SPEWING JUST PERCHASED A NEW 29ER FRAME WOULD DIE FOR THE RITCHEY!!

T.Hudson
T.Hudson
13 years ago

Oderus….they are not behind the ball. They are the ball.

Grit
13 years ago

Do you think the guys at Templeton Rye have ever seen the Ritchey logo? I’m betting they have. Wow, that 9er is hot!

Robert
Robert
12 years ago

Mmmmm. Where can I get the 29er? Come on Ritchey – stop teasing.

E Langer
E Langer
12 years ago

seriously! this is what ive been waiting for, besides for keith bontrager and wilderness trailbikes to get back to frame making, this is the most exciting news for some of us old schoolers in a long time.
ritcheys frames from back in the day were the smoothest and most well balanced off road rides one could ask for then and now. without suspension or moving parts the frames were finely tuned springs that provided both durability and performance with personality for good measure. there was a one to one relationship with the original american mountain bike frame builders and those of us who rode their frames which was unique and irrecoverable once mountain biking went mainstream and the work was contracted out. this kind of american ingenuity and productivity is what is going to save this country. im counting on it. believe it and support it. go usa! ( i know most frames bits and pieces will be taiwanese but hey, thats alright too.)

P.Lachance
P.Lachance
12 years ago

Praise the lord of mountain bikers! I ride a Ultra MB for 16 years now and I have always heard the same comment over and over: Great bike, man! You really took care of it but the only thing missing is a suspension…Thanks Tom for putting back on the trail your magical MB WITH a suspension! This is the ball we were waiting for. Where can we buy it now?!!

Sam
Sam
12 years ago

I’m building a production Swiss Cross for a customer and have discovered the rear brake bosses are a bit high and narrow (close together). Avid Shorty Ultimates will NOT work on the rear of this bike. The pads will not adjust to hit the rim properly. I test fitted an older Avid shorty brake and it works better but the pads still will not hit the rim just right. I’ve searched photos on the web and these bikes all seem to be built with TRP brakes. Something to be aware of folks.

Anton
12 years ago

More on the Ritchey P29er here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tSEdpTBOVo

What a great bike.

Dean
Dean
10 years ago

Where can I buy Ritchey’s new 1″ head tube with flares for the bearings? As I need it for a frame I’m building

Regards

Dean

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