why so much love for ritcheys ?

[P20]

They look right, they ride even better. The ride won't suit all riding styles. My P20 flexes under hard cornering, so you can actually feel the rear turn in after the front. Its nots a problem, just a character of the frame. The flex is largely down to the fact it was lighter than the SBC S-Works at the time.
Mine isn't a Tom frame, its too young for that. It has some nice touches, the flared seat-tube to stiffen the bb. This in turn means it has a bb mounted front mech as the seat tube isn't round. The ring reinforced headtube, despite the fact its the old 1". The minimalist seatstay/seat tube clamp.

Oh and it looks fantastic


Ritchey P20 by ritcheyp20, on Flickr

And the new one looks great too

 

[dirttorpedo]

When I started riding Ritchey's were simply the top mass produced bike available. The RockyMountain I ended up buying was a Ritchey clone. I think many other builders evolved the sport more by the early 90's - particularly in the PNW where I live and the terrain is different than the hills of Marin Co.

 

[sinnerman]

Definition of an early RITCHEY....

......" BUILT BY THE HAND OF GOD"....!!!

or if compared to a singer songwriter......

..........." THE GODFATHER OF SOUL ".......???


and yes they are that good....!!!!!

The picture below epitomises, what the mountain bike is, was, and always will be,..............a sense of FREEDOM, and that unbelievable feeling of escape from the rat race.

You dont need a Ritchey to achieve that feeling, but a Ritchey is like a "classic time piece".....its well made will last for decades, .....and has a whole lot of soul.

 

[mooster]

Weren't Peugeot trying to copy a Ritchey frame? But badly?

 

[Can of Coke]

I think they look horrible, remind me of shoddy Peugeots from the early days. Same goes for every gary fisher bike, just make me feel ill.

can I ask and this isn't a dig but what are your dream bikes or ideal retros? I take it your not a steel man?

I'd love to have my 93 Explosif back, but I'm more than happy with my 98 Hei Hei tbh

The bloke above is right about how they look like cheap Peugeots from bitd, they look turd, can't comment on how they ride.

 

[Can of Coke]

I think they look horrible, remind me of shoddy Peugeots from the early days.

could you explain the above quote a little better?

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=177652

See above.

 

[hollister]

See above.

erudite

 

[al]

I think they look horrible, remind me of shoddy Peugeots from the early days. Same goes for every gary fisher bike, just make me feel ill.

can I ask and this isn't a dig but what are your dream bikes or ideal retros? I take it your not a steel man?

I'd love to have my 93 Explosif back, but I'm more than happy with my 98 Hei Hei tbh

The bloke above is right about how they look like cheap Peugeots from bitd, they look turd, can't comment on how they ride.

To be honest mate, any comment at all is offensive to the Retrobike community. Like them or not, slagging them off just shows your ignorance toward the history of the mountain bike.

I never thought the day would come that anyone on here would have to defend any frame built by Tom Ritchey.

We all get what you're on about, as you ride a Kona with a heavely sloping top tube. I too like the esthetic of the 'canadian' style frame builders, but to start having a pop at old school frame design is like saying the Austin Mini is sh1t because it's a small box shaped car.

A little respect goes a long way, maybe you should show a little.

al.

 

[tintin40]

So you are saying that all double triangle bikes look 'turd' as they are just anther DT with out a slopping triangle.

Or do you not like the paint work??

Tim Gould won many races on a Peugeot labeled mtb.

 

[Dr S]

I guess everyone has an opinion but I find it hard to consider the opinion of someone who loves the ride of a Kona Hei Hei. Now before I get labeled a brand snob again I'd like to remind you that I own two Konas and ride them more than any of my other old bikes (the Humuhumu is just so much fun!). But the Hei Hei I had a few years back was the second worst bike I have ever riden. It flexed so much that the tyres hit the chain stays on the climbs and handled like over cooked pasta in singletrack.

To consider a Hei Hei to be superior to a Ritchey is just pure madness and smacks of ignorance.