There’s a quiet kind of genius behind every Tom Ritchey bike, and his newest offering carries that same spirit in waves. The new Ritchey Septimer Break-Away isn’t just another carbon all-road frame — it’s the product of four decades spent refining a single idea: the ultimate do-it-all travel bike. Lightweight, timeless, and built for exploring the roads most riders roll past, the Septimer feels like a continuation of Ritchey’s core philosophy: less flash, more freedom.
What Is the Ritchey Septimer?
Named after the Septimer Pass — a rugged Swiss-Italian crossing that predates asphalt, cycling, and most modern borders — this bike blends ancient simplicity with modern engineering. At its core, it’s a carbon all-road frame married to Ritchey’s clever Break-Away system, allowing the bike to pack down into its own travel case. Stainless-steel joints securely cinch the frame together, with no creaking or wandering, and reassembly takes just minutes. No proprietary puzzles, no hidden clamps — just a mini torque wrench and a bit of attention.
All Riding | All the Time
The Septimer doesn’t seem to chase trends (though Ritchey bikes never do); it chases ride quality. Tire clearance up to 700×48mm gives it a serious range. Anything from tarmac to rough gravel to the kind of “is this still a road?” terrain. The kinda road that makes adventures interesting. It’s the bike you bring when you can’t bring three bikes. I’ve been thinking of it as a “Swiss Army Bike”: All-road, Gravel/Travel, MTB/Get-Awesome. All the riding that you can do. The frame is built for 1x or 2x drivetrain compatibility, mechanical- or electronic-friendly, with external cable routing that keeps field repairs simple in a world of buried hoses.
Bottle mounts, bag mounts, and rack mounts mean it’s ready for the Alps, your local mixed loop, or a self-supported trip across Europe. Ritchey leaves the carbon layup visible under a matte finish, and it suits the bike perfectly — elegant without trying too hard.
Ritchey Septimer | Frame Notes
The frame checks most boxes; on the outside, it’s a matte carbon with white Ritchey classic lettering. It’s unassuming until you start examining it. On closer inspection, the tubes are larger, the seatstays are dropped and flattened, and the chainstays are asymmetrical. Then you start to notice the breakaway bits. The couplers and the seat post pinch bolt don’t stick out; they blend into the frame’s aesthetic.
One piece, however, that is missing is the UDH, something that will have riders either indifferent about or writing comments on this post. It does leave some options off the table, and for a do-it-all rig, an XPLR setup with transmission on this bike would be excellent (although a standard rear derailleur like the Rival included is much easier to travel with, and doesn’t require a large torque wrench to reinstall once you’ve removed it).
Ritchey Septimer | Geometry
The geometry strikes a confident all-road balance. On the Medium (the size I’ve been testing), the 557mm top tube, 388mm reach, and 569mm stack create a slightly sporty yet comfortable position. You’re not stretched like a classic road bike, not upright like a pure gravel machine. A 70.8° head angle paired with 440mm stays keeps handling calm and predictable at speed without feeling too sluggish in tight corners. With a 73.5° seat angle centering the rider over the pedals, the Septimer feels efficient and well-balanced on climbs, descents, and long mixed-terrain days.
Ritchey Septimer Break-Away — Specifications
- Sizes: S, M* tested, L, XL
- Frame Material: Carbon fiber with stainless-steel Break-Away joints
- Rear Spacing: 142mm (12mm alloy thru-axle included)
- Fork: Ritchey WCS Carbon Disc Gravel Fork
- Drivetrain Compatibility: 1x or 2x chainrings (mechanical or electronic)
- Tire Clearance: Up to 700×48c (varies by tire/rim combination)
- Brake Mounts: Flat-mount front and rear, 140mm minimum, 160mm maximum with adapter
- Mounts & Routing:
- Top tube bag mounts
- External brake routing
- Stealth Shimano Di2 routing (EW-SD300 12-speed only)
- Stops/guides kit for mechanical groupsets available separately
- Other Cool Frame Details:
- Replaceable rear derailleur hanger
- Removable front derailleur mount
- Packs into the included Break-Away travel case
- Weights:
- Frame: 1,360g (size L)
- Fork: 440g (uncut steerer)
- Color: Black & White
- Price: $3,499 (€3,399 / £2,958)
Baby’s First Break-Away System
This was my first real experience with a Break-Away bike, and it’s as cool as I hoped. The system uses a primary coupler, along with a clever split at the top tube-seat tube junction, which ties the seatpost into the structure. My demo bike arrived packed in the Break-Away case, which looks like old-school luggage. The luggage was so unassuming that I initially didn’t recognize it. Like “whose luggage is at my front door” kinda stuff.
Inside was a beautifully organized pack job: rotors tucked away safely, drivetrain bits separated, nothing rattling. Whoever packed it deserves a gold star. Thanks to that tidy setup, I had the bike built and ready to roll in about 20 minutes (including a pee break). The clamps use a simple 4mm interface: align the tubes, tighten to spec with the included torque wrench, done. No play, no flex — it rides like a one-piece carbon frame because, functionally, it is one.
The seat post and seat tube adjustments took a bit more care. You’ll be going back from 4mm on the seatpost binder and the 5mm to secure the frame/seatpost in place. The three bolts instead of a single bolt to adjust your post height can feel odd, but it’s the trade-off for a bike that packs down this efficiently.
The external cable routing keeps things low-stress. Assembly-wise, you could easily build this bike in a hotel room, airport corridor, or trailhead parking lot and be riding within 10 minutes. The problem then is “what to do with the luggage?”
First Ride Impressions: Ritchey Soul
The first pedal strokes immediately reminded me of my old Swiss Cross – I love that bike. That familiar Ritchey feel: direct, neutral, never harsh. After a season on aero bikes that trade comfort for speed, the Septimer is refreshingly smooth, balanced, and fun. Glancing down and seeing a 50mm tire sitting under such svelte tubes feels like a dare to explore something questionable.
The ride quality is neutral in the best way. Climbing and acceleration feel snappy, and the Break-Away couplers introduce exactly zero unwanted flex. Rough, twisty terrain encourages more speed, especially on the 50mm Goodyear Connectors I ran. (Ritchey says 48s; reality says 50s fit fine. It’s tight in the fork but manageable unless you’re planning fenders or Unbound mud.)
Comfort is King
On pavement, the geometry finds that ideal all-road middle ground. There’s enough drop for efficient pedaling, but it never forces you into a ball. The front end is calm and composed at speed, and the steering has that subtle Ritchey precision — you set a line, it stays there. No twitchiness, no nervous energy.
On climbs, the centered seat angle keeps things efficient without the forward-tilted “attack” posture of modern gravel race bikes, which actually makes the Septimer nicer for long days. Descending, the longer wheelbase and balanced angles make the bike feel planted, especially when the road turns rough.
How does it compare to my Swiss Cross? The Septimer and Swiss Cross share a similar reach in size Medium. But it’s not a cyclocross bike. The Septimers’ bottom bracket is a full 12 mm lower than its Swiss Cross brethren. We’re not trying to say it’s a gravel bike either. Ritchey gave the Septimber a calmer, planted, all-road demeanor. Ritchey wanted it to be stable at speed, confident on rougher terrain, and naturally more relaxed in fit thanks to its taller stack and longer head tube.
The Swiss Cross, by contrast, sits higher and steeper, with quicker steering and a more aggressive front end that favors fast direction changes and CX-style handling. Where the Septimer wants to disappear beneath you on long miles and mixed surfaces, the Swiss Cross feels snappier and more urgent, built for tight courses, accelerations, and technical terrain. In short: same size, same spirit, but one is an all-day explorer while the other is fast/fierce for cyclocross.
Ritchey Septimer | Build & Weight
Our test build runs a SRAM Rival 1x group with Rotor Vegast cranks, Ritchey Zeta GX wheels (25mm internal), and a Ritchey WCS finishing kit. It comes in at 19 lbs — not ultralight, but appropriately durable for a bike meant to be packed, unpacked, flown, and occasionally mishandled by baggage handlers. You don’t want top-end, expensive, or fragile parts on a bike built for global travel. The supplied build is nearly what I would spec on a dream travel bike. A miss for me is not having a UDH hanger. I would love to see an SRAM XPLR group on this bike; it would add to the indestructible nature and overall utility. Maybe there’s a UDH adapter coming out, maybe not, but for now, we’ll wait.
Verdict So Far
Tom Ritchey has spent 40 years iterating on his idea of the “ultimate bike,” and the Septimer Break-Away might be the clearest expression of that vision yet. It’s part travel bike, part all-road machine, part “I can clear that” and all heart — a frame that feels timeless in both execution and intent. It’s been a pleasure to ride, and it’s a nice departure from what I usually roll daily. I only wish it wasn’t the end of the year and that I had some exciting trips to take, haha. But it’s not “only a travel bike,” it’s a versatile machine. One that will orphan some fringe bikes in your garage, one that could and will be mosts “Ultimate Bike”.
At $3,499 (€3,399 / £2,958) for the frameset, it’s priced fairly for the investment. This is a frame that will hopefully outlast trends and probably outlive most of the gear in your garage. Like most of the Ritchey bikes, the Septimer is exactly the kind of machine you’ll want to keep forever — and take everywhere. The Ritchey Septimer Break-Away is smart, soulful, and ready for the roads that don’t make the guidebook.
