It’s not often we want to see someone get fat and go commando, but we’ll give Tom Ritchey a pass.
The new Ritchey Commando fat bike prototype is headed for production, likely coming out this winter. Price is TBD (likely around $1,100), as is some of the final spec. It’s a 170mm rear end for now, but they’re still playing with it and may go to 190mm.
The tubing is their triple butted, heat treated Logic tubing. This one’s a one-off fillet brazed prototype, but production frames will be TIG welded. The 1-1/8″ head tube will stay, and the fork will likely remain QR. Rear also uses a quick release skewer rather than a thru axle. It’ll handle up to a 3.8” tire.
UPDATE 1: Weight corrected for carbon road bike.
UPDATE 2: Price on Carbon Breakaway officially lowered to $2,999.95.
Streak through for more pics and a look at the insanely lightweight Carbon Breakaway road bike…
CARBON BREAKAWAY
The new Carbon Breakaway is the first carbon fiber bike built by Tom Ritchey. As in this particular model was hand built by the man himself. It uses all carbon tubes cut to size and bonded to aluminum pivot hardware.
Tom wanted a bike that focuses more on ride quality than absolute race performance. So, the tubes are smaller diameter than what’s found on modern race bikes, with a thicker walls. That gives it a smooth ride while also making it a bit more ding resistant. It is, after all, a travel bike.
It uses a standard threaded BB and straight 1-1/8″ head tube.
Launching in November. Five sizes planned (final range TBD). It’ll be $3,199 $2,999.95 for frame, fork and headset. Production bikes will be made in Taiwan, not hand built by Tom, but will still be hand made. The complete bike here with SRAM Red 22 and SuperLogic build came in under 14 pounds at 15lb 10oz or a full size folding travel bike. The carbon tubular wheels certainly helped, but still. (Note: Ritchey’s reps just emailed to say they noticed a glitch in their scale at the show when we were at the booth. It was showing 13lb 11oz on average, but once they got it straightened out, it consistently came in at 15lb 10oz. Still pretty darn good for a travel bike, and thanks to Ritchey’s team for keepin’ it honest)
SWISS CROSS DISC
We spotted this one at the Taipei Bike Show also (along with lots of other new components!), but snapped more pics anyway. They took the regular cyclocross bike and curved the non drive seatstay to fit the caliper inside the rear triangle. They say this added the least amount of weight and keeps the ride quality smooth. It also looks sleeker.
The new disc carbon fork comes in under 480 grams and will retail separately for $449. It’s a straight steerer but meets all strength and safety requirements. They say that thinner design with their shaped head tube saves a lot of weight on the front end compared to an oversized 44mm headtube and tapered fork.
Both frame and fork will be available in August. $1,300 for frameset including fork and headset.
