RITCHEY SWISS CROSS, named after the very famous racer Thomas FRISCHNECT nationality flag "Swiss Cross", is the multi-victorious CX bike developed by Ritchey. Ritchey is an American bicycle company that develops, design and test bikes and components from now over 40 years. Tom Ritchey, its emblematic owner who is a former national lever racer, is one of the pioneers in the early days of mountain biking. From the beginning he is constantly thinking of ways to improve bikes, : many Ritchey designs and manufacturing methods have become industry standards.
The RITCHEY SWISS CROSS, like the RITCHEY P29er, is made of Heat-treated, triple-butted Ritchey logic II tubin. Logic II tubes use super short butted section, meaning that Ritchey have a longer central thin section than regularly seen on steel tubes, making the frame as light as possible. Tom Ritchey is focused on saving weight without compromising the strength and longevity of its racing bicycles.
The new edition of the RITCHEY SWISS CROSS is a natural and logical evolution of the previous 2012 swisscross frame. What is really new on this frame ? The 2016 frame RITCHEY SWISS CROSS is disc only, and there are no options to mount cantilever except purchasing the 2012 red frameset that is Cantilever only (still available from ritchey and its distributors). The seatbase on the non-drive side has slightly evolved featuring a small curve in order to braze the disc-mount..and giving the bike a nice look.
What has not change ? Same place for the seatclamp nicely integrated at the top of the seatbase, the headtube is still 1"1/8, a diameter that for ritchey will never go out of fashion on this classical looking bike. No oversized, or thru axle...regular QR. There are only braze-on for 2 bottle cages, no extra for who could dream of rack on this bike...maybe take a look a bikepacking. the bottom bracket is the reliable and non cracking BSA standard. Tire clearance at the reat is still about up to 38c (delivered in 700x35c on the complete bikes), but like always refer to ERTO.
The geometry is the same than the 2012 edition and is mainly orientated for a cyclocross use, but not only,,...meaning really sportive with short chainstays of 425mm, an headtube angle of 71.5 degree in average that predict a fast handling, an high bottom bracket with 63mm drop almost like an MTB (regular CX are more around 69mm).
The frame is made of steel, triple-butted Ritchey logic II, and provides a good balance between comfort and reactivity thanks to short chainstays. Of course it is (maybe) not reactive as a carbon frameset, but still, it is not the last when it is time to go. The tiny steel tubes are alive and can either absorbs vibration to save your back and reduce you fatigue on long hours than powering your ride by resending the strength like a bungee cord.
For the 2016 Edition, the RITCHEY SWISS CROSS is available as a complete bike with a transmission more orientated for a gravel use than CX, this is new, or as a frameset (Frame + Ritchey WCS Carbon disc cross fork ) if you wish to start your bike from scratch. The complete bikes is mainly equipped with Ritchey WCS light components. Specifications are the following : The groupset is mainly a Shimano ULTEGRA 6800 11 speed with a 50/34 crankset, only the cassette is a 105 (5800) in 11/28T. Yep the 50/34 will fit better a road-gravel use than a typical CX that need a 36/46 crankset for example, but with the 110BCD it is pretty easy to change the ring for some adapted to your type of ride. The brakes Shimano RS685 - RS785 Hydraulic Disc with 160mm rotors - 2x11 shifters. Other components are from the RITCHEY's range mixing Ritchey Zeta Disc WCS for the wheelset, Ritchey EvoMax WCS Blatte for the handle bar.....
GEOMETRIES
SPECS
- Frame RITCHEY SWISS CROSS - Ritchey logic steel tubes
- Fork: Ritchey WCS Carbon disc cross fork
- Drivetrain Shimano ULTEGRA 6800 11 speed
- Components Ritchey WCS
- Wheelset Ritchey Zeta Disc WCS
- Rear axle spacing: 10x135
- Tire clearance up to 38c
- Weight: 10.3kg (55cm)
The SWISS CROSS is designed to be ready for cyclocross, probably with smaller ring at the front like a 36-46t, but the geometry traduces an unruly behavior for a CX bikes that, now equipped with disc brakes, wanna ride on other path. CX season is short...or maybe you are not a competitor at all and you look a for a prestigious and punchy playful bike to ride to work or during the week end either on road than gravel path... cause riding must stay a fun thing to do.
Riding a Ritchey is like.....riding a Ritchey...cannot be compared !
Only available in one color (black gloss) or, with an extra fee, you can signed for the Heritage Custom Paint program and choose between the Team RWB, Urban CAMO, Commando CAMO or Sunset Fade colour scheme. 6 Sizes are proposed : 49, 51, 53, 55, 57 and 59cm.
The cost of the Frameset (Frame + Ritchey WCS Carbon disc cross fork) is (MSRP) Europe about 1403.90 Euros / USA $1100 (ex.tax)
The cost of the complete bike is (MSRP) Europe about 3200 euros / USA $3199 (ex.tax)
Announced weight in : Frame 1960g / 4.32 lbs , Complete bike 10,30kgs / 22.5lbs. size 55cm
French Distributor for Ritchey : http://www.gyro.fr/CT-910-ritchey.aspx
International Ritchey's website : http://ritcheylogic.com/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/RitcheyInternational/
