Help w/ID on ‘88 Ritchey.

[Monsieur Paul]

Can anyone ID the model of this ‘88 Ritchey with u-brakes? TIG welded, non-catalogue color. No tubing or model badging. Primarily XT build (crankset may have been replaced- Now Sugino). Ritchey Force Stem and bars. Just picked it up on FB marketplace and trying to decide how much time & money to put into it. Have a Canadian edition Outback in 4130 from the same year for comparison, and this one has larger diameter tubeset and fork blades.

Serial # A7C01177 (built in ‘87?)

 

[vtwinvince]

Looks a bit earlier to me.

 

[Monsieur Paul]

Looks a bit earlier to me.

Could definitely be an ‘87. I think those were the only 2 years with U-Brakes?

 

[DrDaveTampa]

TIG frame, Japanese serial number, rack mounts -- I'd say probably an Outback

Frames were manufactured in Japan, TR did the seat stays and attached whatever braze-on's he felt appropriate. I figure the "A" stands for Ascent (link to my '87 Ascent here, review here). Odds are pretty good we have the same frame, different braze-ons

ETA: '88 is a good bet, I've never been able to locate an '87 catalog so no idea if the Outback was a thing in '87. Main difference being I get to ride to this and you gotta try to get "Don't Worry Be Happy" outa your head, and good luck with that

 

[Monsieur Paul]

I think the outback had different forks (smaller diameter blades), with a mid-fork rack braze-on? Otherwise very similar.

 

[Monsieur Paul]

Here’s my other outback for comparison