Continuing their march to total component domination, Ritchey unveiled a number of new products from the industry trending 27.5″ category to tubular road wheels. Initially teased back during the Taichung Bike Week, Ritchey unveiled their new Vector Evo saddle rail system which is their take on a mono rail clamp. It uses a different design than SDG or Selle Italia’s versions, and claims to offer a number of benefits.
Get more details on the Vector saddle and more after the break.
Initially offered in the Contrail and Streem models, the saddles weigh in at 220 and 175g respectively. The mono rail designs allow for incredibly light weight designs, while keeping the saddle stronger with more fore-aft adjustability. Ritchey tuned the nylon + carbon fiber rail along with the Vector Wing system to properly distribute the load and claims the reverse hammock shape resists the sag other saddle show from long term use.
The clamp is narrower than a traditional rail model which allows for increased pedaling clearance, and like most single rail designs, it allows for a narrower nose to the saddle. The clamp heads are compatible with the Ritchey Link system so you can change back and forth between the Vector and traditional rails if need be.
The Ritchey trail group gets a number of additions, including a new aluminum version of the Trail Seat Post. We’re currently using the carbon Trail post on our Turner Burner Project, but the 6061 alloy post will drop the price to a lower level. Offered in 27.2/30.9/31.6, the post weighs in at 340g for a 400mm 27.2. The Trail saddle offers a durable saddle for long days on the trail with steel rails at 330g, and is a perfect compliment to the Trail post.
Of course, no Trail line up these days would be complete without 27.5″ wheels, so the WCS Trail wheels are introduced in the middle size. The wheels feature a lightweight alloy rim, cold forged WCS Trail hub with sealed bearings and Centerlock disc mounts, and a 28h drilling with 142/qr and 20/115/QR compatible hubs. Trail 650b wheels weigh in at 858g rr/751g ft and are offered in 29ers as well.
The WCS Rizer Bar is new with a 710mm width with 20mm rise and triple butted aluminum construction for a bar that weighs 265g.
Road bikes get a few new bars as well with the WCS Neoclassic above and new Streem II below. The Neoclassic is a traditional bend, short reach bar in 40, 42, and 44cm sizes and comes in at 260g. The Steem II is reinvented and built for speed with short reach, shallow drops and an anatomical bend. The Streem II offers a wide flat perch for your hands up top, and an extended center section that is clip on compatible.
On the tire side, the Race Slick is back as a 120 TPI clincher and tubular in WCS 23 and 25mm sizes. the tire features a 60A durometer tread for a good balance between grip and durability, and the 23mm size weighs in at 189g with an aramid bead. The Z-Max Evolution makes an appearance in 650b x 2.1 which is the tire based on the original Z-Max tread. The dual compound tubeless ready tire weighs 586g and is available in 26 and 29″ as well.
Ritchey also introduced their carbon Apex road wheel line which includes both tubulars and clinchers. Tubulars are offered in 88, 50, and 36mm depths and all feature the fully serviceable Phantom Flange hub in 20/24h drilling. The hubs include a patented 6 pawl, 12 point micro-clutch system and DT aero spokes. Weights for the 88mm wheels are 945g/819g, and the 50mm wheels are 793g/624g.
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The Apex line will also be available in clincher models like this 46mm version. The full carbon rim is also laced to the Phantom Flange hubs with the same 24/20h lacing pattern and engagement system. 46mm clinchers weigh in at 851g/675g.
