Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
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Bikes, Products, and People from Sea Otter Classic 2023: Part Two
We’re back with our second eclectic mix of findings from the 2023 Sea Otter Classic. Yesterday’s post just wasn’t enough to tell you about all the new bikes, old bikes, products, and people Josh and Travis encountered this year. In fact, we reckon even two posts won’t be enough. There’s a lot to cover, so settle in with your morning coffee and enjoy.
Radar
Radar Roundup: Revel Ranger Fits Bigger Rubber, Ritchey Ascent New Color and Corralitos Bar, Garmin Edge Solar 540/840 , Velo Orange Neutrino Pre-Order, and Vermejo Charcoal Burner
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Durango Derby, Ritchey Ultra 50th Anniversary, Sight Seeker Sample Sale, Low Pressure Zine, 5Dev Ti Chainrings, and Cracked Earth
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Ritchey Classic Components, Rod Steward in Black, Paragon 40th Anniversary Tool, MW Baja Tee, ORNOT Women’s Droptail Thermal, and Production Privee Number 5
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
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John’s Keyesville Classic Bike: His 1980 No Serial Ritchey Mountain Bike
Next week, I’m loading up the Troopy and heading West to the Keyesville Classic. Every year, vintage mountain bike aficionados descend upon the Kern valley to race vintage bikes while the “real” race occurs. This vintage race is quite the spectacle, and if you’ve never seen it in person, you ought to check out Erik Hillard’s gallery he shot a few years ago for The Radavist.
At any rate, I just finished buttoning up my bike I’ll be bringing to Keyesville to ride and, yes, take part in the vintage race. Let’s check it out in detail below…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Locked Titanium Bars, Industry Nine Sale, ZigZag Cages, Roamer, Ramble Rides Returns, Ritchey Jerseys, LA Doesn’t Need Mountain Biking, The Frek Story, and BONKED
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Ritchey 50th Outback, RAR Fundraiser, Longer Fox Transfer SL, Fat Tire Flyer Scans, Shimano Tropical Leaves RX8, Roached Clips, and Dream Free Ride House
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Quirk Overland, Roper Poster Re-Up, Too Slow for PNS x Salomon, Ritchey CX Diaries, MADE IN: Milano, and Bikepacking in The Cairngorms
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Paul Goes Blue, Limited Edition REEB SST, State Carbon Road Frames, Silver Stallion Just Pedal Shirts, Ritchey Gravel Grips, and Call of a Life Time Episode 1: Sea Otter Classic
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Reportage
Conversations with Tom Ritchey Part Two: The Influence of Jobst Brandt
This is part two of an in depth conversation between Tom Ritchey and Ryan le Garrec where Ryan seeks to identify key periods in Tom’s life alongside key people. Perhaps second only to Tom’s father, it seems that Jobst Brandt had significant influence of the young Tom. Below, Ryan shares excerpts from Tom’s side of their conversation that highlight Jobst’s character, his notorious rides, and his lasting impact. Enjoy!
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Ron’s 1986 Ritchey Commando
When it comes to the paint jobs of 1980s Ritchey frames, it’s hard to beat a Commando. These bikes were painted by Rick at D&D and remain one of the most iconic bikes of the mid-late 1980s. Ron sent in his 1986 Commando with photos by Mike Blanchard of RUST Magazine, so let’s check it out below!
Radar
Radar Roundup: Brass Cable Cherries, Gold Campagnolo Corkscrew, Ponderosa Gloves, Ponderosa Shirt, Small Monsters Raffle, Joe and Bo’s Bedtime Stories, The Dirt Dashes, and The Eden Ridge Roundabout
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Tumbleweed Stargazer Titanium, Swiss Cross 50th, Rapha Merino MTB Shirts, Kromvojoj 2022, Bikepacking Denali, and Wheel Builders in Town
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
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Chris McNally’s Illustrated Nutmeg Nor’Easter
Sometimes, adventure comes calling.
For Chris McNally that call came from Ritchey when we asked him to tackle the Nutmeg Nor’Easter with nothing more than a rough outline of must-dos and our adventure-ready Ascent.
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Conversations with Tom Ritchey Part One: Tommy, Thomas, Tom
Tom Ritchey is not what you would call an open book. Rather, he’s a whole library; a labyrinth with many alleys, chockfull of stories, where everything splits and branches like the best network of singletrack, and there are no cul de sacs. Every door leads you to another room. Every answer opens up another question. There are no shortcuts.
The following is just a casual conversation. In it, you might not find all the details of the next frame that he is working on but you may find a better understanding into what it took for Tom Ritchey to become Tom Ritchey.
“I have a public self and I have a personal self. I could answer that question on a public side and tell you I just love riding my bike and being by myself and all (…) That would be an authentic answer but it’s not the whole answer of course. So I’ll give you the personal one too.” – Tom Ritchey
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Vintage Bikes Are Compounded Stories: John’s 1980 No Serial Ritchey
Every bike has a story, but some intrinsically harbor more nuanced lore. As you might have noticed, over the past few years, I’ve acquired a few Ritchey frames from the 1980s. We’ve previously covered my Everest and the story of Tom’s early Bullmoose designs; I also have a 1985 Annapurna, and this no serial number 1980 Ritchey, which might be the best build yet.
This era of mountain bike design and development is my favorite. In the late 70s, guys like Joe Breeze built beautiful bikes inspired by balloon cruisers and klunkers. Tom Ritchey, inspired by the frenetic energy of the mountain bike genesis, began making fat tire frames in the late 70s. From 1980 through 1981, several bikes left Tom’s shop, including the fabled ‘chicken coop’ bikes, and a few were built void of any serial number.
This bike is the latter, and boy, does it have a story…
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John’s 1983 Ritchey Everest MTB: A Happenstance Acquisition
What’s this? Another grey, size 23″ Ritchey? Well… yes!
Over the past year, I’ve revisited my love of handmade, vintage bikes and have honed in with particular interest on the work of Tom Ritchey, a builder at the fore of early mountain bike design. My goal in this case study of sorts is to provide a few examples of the major shifts in Ritchey’s production, primarily through the 1980s, with a single specimen representing these stages. My catalog of Ritchey frames includes a recently acquired anonymous 1980 model devoid of serial number, a 1985 Annapurna (arguably the finest bike model Tom ever brazed), and a 1982 Tam that is now being replaced by this 1983 Everest.
Earlier this year, we looked at my 1982 Tamalpais, built to catalog spec and in pristine condition. Yet one thing never really sat well with me about the build: the Bullmoose bars. You see, these early Ritcheys had a very unique Bullmoose that was more complex than the quill stem Bullmoose bars found in the late 1980s.
It’s a long story but one I’ll unravel here…