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NAHBS 2013: Ritchey Shows Unobtanium Fillet Brazed Steel Hardtail, Plus 650B Wheels & Tires

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Ritchey P-650b fillet brazed steel hardtail mountain bike

One of the nice things about being your own builder/brand is that you can build whatever you want for yourself, sellability be damned. And, while he probably could sell as many as he could make, Tom Ritchey built this fillet brazed show version of the P-650b as a one-off for NAHBS (and, likely, for his own use). The ones you and I can buy are standard tig welded.

Just visible at the top/left background is the 650B/700c breakaway tandem is inching closer to production, they’re mainly just finalizing the bags that the frame will go into.

More pics, plus 650B wheels and tires, below…

Ritchey Z-Max Revolution 650b tires and Vantage Wheels now available

The Ritchey Z Max Evolution mountain bike tire is now coming in 650B size, available in spring. $69.95, weight TBD. 27.5×2.1.

The 650B wheels are shipping and available now. The WCS Vantage Alloy are 1587g and retail for $799. These wheels are mounted to their WCS carbon rigid 650B fork, shown better in the complete bike photo at top, which is also available now for $499. 615g claimed.

The XX1 driver body will ship in a couple months for all of their compatible wheels. Check this post for more details on which brands are offering XX1 hub kits.

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15 Comments
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burt
burt
11 years ago

I’d love to have that! Beautiful bike.

yesplease
yesplease
11 years ago

How is Ritchey not getting in trouble using Unobtanium, its trademarked by Oakley.

fanboy
fanboy
11 years ago

Ritchey is calling anything “unobtainium”.

Looks to me like Bike Rumour is using that as a term to describe the fact that normal mortals can’t actually “obtain” a fillet brazed Ritchey frame for themselves.

ccolagio
ccolagio
11 years ago

gorgeous!

Mindless
Mindless
11 years ago

I would have feel awkward riding a bike with my name written on it 14 times.

Mindless
Mindless
11 years ago

..forgot to count stem, seatpost, saddle, bars.. top cap.. another 10 times? 😉

Ihatelogos
Ihatelogos
11 years ago

I took off all the decals on my frame except the downtube.

tommy
11 years ago

the bike looks pretty nice. Pity i cant say the same for the new stem i bought from that company.. But I am saying nothing ..:P

Aaron
11 years ago

Put drop bars on it and the world’s greatest gravel bike would be born.

James
James
11 years ago

Am i the only one that thinks other than impossible to get, what the hell is “unobtainium”?

SmooveP
SmooveP
11 years ago

The term “unobtainium” predates Oakley, the movie Avatar, and this bike. I remember seeing it in a bike mag article in the early 90’s around the time manufacturers were trying to come up with the next miracle frame material. Beryllium, anyone?

Bruno
Bruno
11 years ago

This is Porn Stuff…..beautiful bike

Ajax
Ajax
11 years ago

650b

Yeah!

But where’s the thru-axle stuff?

MGK
MGK
11 years ago

Can we lose the red/white/blue color scheme and just doing a normal color? Please.

john
john
10 years ago

Love the P-20/21 bikes in the early 90’s. I don’t see what they don’t offer complete bikes?? Also, it is his name and design but I don’t like the fact that his bikes are made in some sweat shop in a third world country and we pay top dollar for it! Fat Chance made the bikes in Somerville, Mass, Antbike mike in Massachusetts, Ingleheartbikes and Ted Wojick bikes in NH. I don’t mind paying the money if it is actually made here and not just buying his design. JMO

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