Ritchey Ascent Comp (1990) questions

[Guigui58]

I'm tempted to buy an old Ritchey Ascent Comp that has been listed for a while on Marketplace near where I live. The seller is asking way too much for it, hence why it has not sold yet. However, he is willing to lower its price.

The thing is, I don't know much about this model. I've always heard that TIG welded frames were imported from Japan, but some sources mention that these bikes were made in the USA. Which one is it?

Where does it sit in the 1990 Ritchey hierarchy?

Also, the serial number is apparently 004, which does not appear to follow the usual pattern...

The bike in question :



Thanks!

 

[Synthiaks]

how much?

 

[Guigui58]

how much?

It is listed for $1,000 (!), but the seller seems open to letting it go in the $400–$500 range (CAD).

 

[narcotitlan]

cool colours but is it covered in dirt or is it faded/rusty?

 

[Guigui58]

cool colours but is it covered in dirt or is it faded/rusty?

Yes, I have not seen a lot of Ritchey with that paint job online!

From what I can see in the other pictures, it is covered in dirt...

 

[bikeworkshop]

Surprised you'd not clean a 25yo bike before asking £1000 for it.
Paint condition is absolutely crucial to value.
A quality repaint and new decals is expensive and unoriginal.

 

[27motorhead]

Surprised you'd not clean a 25yo bike before asking £1000 for it.
Paint condition is absolutely crucial to value.
A quality repaint and new decals is expensive and unoriginal.

Indeed!!!

But they have gone to great lengths and expensive of installing a theatrical backdrop for the occasion...

 

[DrDaveTampa]

More likely an '89, no? link

"Hand Crafted" means the frame is from Japan, Ritchey attaches the seat stays and any additional nubbins, it follows, you want to carefully inspect the seat stay attachment, it's kind of distinctive. Just to make sure it's really a Ritchey.

Yes most of the TIG welded frames were imported from Japan, for a while there he had a dude in the shop welding up some frames for him, I believe those were sold as Ultras and have a "Hand Made" sticker if I'm not mistaken. But you know those are nice frames, Ritchey was well into his collaboration with Tange at that point so it has some good steel in it, it's not "Prestige" but it ain't bad.

I have one a couple of years older than that one, it's a very nice rider, not collectible by any means but it's a cool bike. 12.4kg, so not super light but it has practical geo and a very nice feel to it. I paid $350 US and thought I got an OK deal and it was in way worse shape than that one ... I'd pay $400 CAD all day and ride that thing like I stole it

 

[Guigui58]

Surprised you'd not clean a 25yo bike before asking £1000 for it.
Paint condition is absolutely crucial to value.
A quality repaint and new decals is expensive and unoriginal.

Exactly!

Although, to be fair, the price in Canadian dollars (1000$ CAD is around £550).

 

[27motorhead]

@Guigui58 have you seen this amazing resource?
https://ritchey.vintagebicycledatabase.com/catalogs.php



Looks more like a 1989 rather than a 1990 bike based on catalogues (or catalogs!). But I'm not Ritchey expert...

Happy reading!!!