Search for “Ritchey” on The Radavist

Reportage By: John Watson

Jeff’s All City Nature Boy Zona

If you grew up adoring the Ritchey P20 bikes and later found yourself running your own bicycle company, there’s a good chance you’d wanna adopt their livery. Jeff’s Nature Boy Zona prototype is an homage to the MTBs of the 1980’s and with a paint job like that, who can deny the randess?

I was way stoked on Jeff’s second place finish at the SoCalCross C race during the SSCXWC in LA, so I gave his bike a little bit of attention the next morning. He’s got all the GSC guys racing singlespeed on these bikes, so they’ve gotta be good! Word on the street is that this will be the paint job on the limited Zona this year, so stay tuned.

Reportage By: John Watson

A Weekend of Texas CX

I returned to Austin after a week-long trip in Los Angeles to find two back-to-back days of cross racing on the local schedule. Having just raced my first sanction cross event in LA, I was eager to give the local circuit a try, so Saturday I headed out for some fast, dusty and humid fun. Since I didn’t have any season points, I started in the back of the 4’s, in a field of about 40 racers. Over 3, ten minute laps, I held onto my position, coming in 4th, which was good enough for me. I learned a lot (watch out for sandbaggers on MTBs) and had a blast (most importantly). I even managed to get a bit of air on a nice bump on the course.

Sunday, I decided to rest up and take photos. It was Chris‘ birthday, so I wanted to get some good shots of him racing and of course, we had to douse him with beer… Thanks to Andrew Franciosa for shooting photos on Saturday. It’s not every day I have photos of myself up on the blog, so be kind!

Reportage By: John Watson

Review: Budnitz Bicycles Ti Bars and Seatpost

When the team at Budnitz Bicycles emailed me, asking if I wanted to try out one of their single speed, belt-drive bikes, I respectfully declined, prompting them to offer up their titanium bars and seatpost instead. I’ll be honest, I was pretty amped on how my Icarus looked with those Ritchey drops and there was absolutely nothing wrong with my Thomson post but I decided to give them a try anyway. It’s been a few weeks of riding them, so what’s my consensus?

Honestly, the feel of the bars is distinguishable from an aluminum bar’s stiffness but it’s not blatantly obvious. It takes a few rides to feel it. What makes these most appealing is the shape, perfect for a bike like this: not too racy but not upright like many cruiser or porteur bars. The finish is nice and the bend is elegant. I never was a fan of straight, flat bars. As for the post? I can’t really feel any difference. The clamp is a bit cumbersome but once you set it up, makes a lot of sense. And I really like the simplicity of the design.

Overall, a $170 Ti bar and $150 seat post is out of most of our price ranges but when compared to high-end carbon bars and posts, it’s not that bad, especially if you prefer the feel over carbon. Or in my case, the low-lustre finish. The Budnitz Bicycles Ti Bars and Seatpost definitely changed the look and feel of my Icarus. Only time will tell for how long. Check out some photos in the Gallery.

Radar

Sizemore Bicycle: Oregon Manifest Bike For Sale

I think this is one of my favorite bikes that Taylor Sizemore has ever built. His Oregon Manifest bike is for sale and at $3,000 complete, it’s a great investment. There are more photos at the Sizemore Journal and check out all the details below, or cut to the chase and contact Taylor today!

Reportage By: John Watson

Marc’s LOW Track Bike

Since Andrew LOW began building aluminum track frames in SF last year, the whole world has been salivating over their aggressive geometries and bright liveries. But I’ve seen few that rival Marc Marino’s newest LOW track bike, remember his Low Pro? This bright pink beast is almost impossible to photograph but I did my best to get all the details. We took the TIME to look at his pedals already but did you notice the extra gussets at the bottom bracket cluster? Or the killer Ritchey cockpit? Details, this bike has ’em and it’s hella #FixieFamous.

Check out more by clicking the photo above or here to open in a new tab.

Radar

Colossi: The Traveler

For those jet-setters out there who can’t get enough of their track bike, you should check out the Colossi Traveler. It’s the all-arounder with optional brake mounts, clearance for days and Ritchey Break-Aways for easy disassembly. See more at the Colossi Flickr. Did I mention it’s Columbus Spirit? That shit’s GOLDEN.

Radar

Brian Vernor: Makers

Photo by Brian Vernor

Remember that post I did on the Ritchey unicrown fork? It was, in many ways, the lead-in to MTB and BMX unicrowns. Brian Vernor has a little piece on “Makers” on his blog, featuring the renown Ritchey crown. Check it out!

Radar

Milwaukee Bicycle Co: Orange One Road Bike Now Available

Everyone knows buying made in the USA goods ain’t easy, or cheap and buying a handmade in the US frame is even harder. That’s why the crew at Milwaukee Bicycle Co. wanted to try something new for 2011. They reached out to Waterford and designed their own road frame. Here are the details:

Features and Information:
• Frame is made in the USA by Waterford Precision Cycles!
• Built with True Temper Verus Tubing!
• Designed for use as a geared road or cyclocross bike
• Set-up for a long reach (47-57mm) brakes
• Down Tube Shifter Bosses!
• Chainstay Bridge
• Down tube AND Seat tube mounted water bottle braze-on.
• High quality Ritchey road dropouts!
• Seatpost Clamp INCLUDED!
• Designed to fit up to a 700x32c tire – take it Cyclocrossing if you wish!
• 1-/8″ head tube, 27.2mm seatpost, 130mm rear spacing, 68mm bottom bracket shell.

You pick the color, the decals and the build, all starting at $609.99 for the frameset. Can’t beat that can ya? Get one right here!

Radar

Milwaukee Bicycle Co: Orange One Road Bike

This is incredible! Straight from the Bens Cycle blog:

“We have had more and more requests for our Milwaukee Orange One with geared drop outs that it was time to follow through for our customers.

We worked with Waterford Precision Cycles to create a frame that would ride as well as our original Orange One. When we starting talking about it, I came to the conclusion that there was only one right answer…don’t change a thing! Same True Temper Verus tubing, frame geometry and sizing; but with the cable stops, Tom Ritchey dropouts and 130mm rear spacing, all for around $600. As with all of our frame purchases; you’ll receive 20% off all build parts to get it rolling

There’s plenty of room for 28c tires and you’ll still have space left over (pic) for 35mm fenders. If you went with the optional cantilever bosses for cycloX, a big 32c nobby will fit just fine (even a narrow 35c).

Keep and eye out right here for more info coming soon!”

Solid pricing! That’s competition for the Taiwan market!

Radar

Speedvagen: Countdown to Cross Season

If there’s one thing that Portland knows best it’s cyclocross. Well that and maybe coffee. Coffee, cross and bikes. The Speedbloggen has a stuffed to the brim post today about the 2011 cross bikes and included in the mix is this shot of one of the Vanilla fork crowns. Who says steel is dead? Would ya look at that thing! So nice. It comes from the Pacenti Cycle Design and is an homage to the old Ritchey mountain crowns. Columbus steerer too. Check out more photos here.

Previously:
Tom Ritchey: Unicrown Fork Pioneer

Radar

Crested Butte to Aspen Klunker Classic 1980

Speaking of bicycle evolution and mountain bikes, check this video out. There’s nothing much to say other than if you chose to not watch this, you’re missing the point of riding bikes. These are the early days of mountain biking. When Fisher and others were riding hacked-up beach cruisers down fire trails in California.

Here’s some information from the Youtube page:

Crested Butte to Aspen Klunker Classic, 1980. Part 1 of 2. See Charley Kelly, Gary Fisher, “Murdoch”, the guy who did the belch for Jaba the Hutt, and other mountain biking notables, along with bikes by Ritchey, Breezer, and Arnold Schwinn & Co. A fine look at the state of the art in mountain bikes 30 years ago. Drpaddle is the guy in the Skid-Lid on the desert camouflage Lowell-Knight Procruiser .This was one fine time of high-altitude partying and pedaling with a bunch of creative, fun, and free people. Creator of this video is unknown. Be sure to view Part 2!

Part 2 is below, it’s well worth the watch!

Radar

Vintage Shoes

I’ve been looking for some vintage cycling shoes in my size for some time now. Changing pedals with different cleats every time you ride is a pain in the ass. On one bike I ride modern Sidi road shoes with Look keo sprints, on another I’ve got Mondrian Look pedals and my other road bike has Look Delta pedals. Now I have a separate pair of shoes for each bike. Sure it seems excessive, but some people, like Harry take it to the next level. How? See below.