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The Ritchey P-29er is Back & Updated Making it the Ultimate Cross-Country Mountain Bike

Written by Ron Frazelle
Ritchey P-29er Frameset hero(Photos/Ritchey Bikes)
22 Comments
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Cross Country riders rejoice! The Ritchey P-29er is back and better than ever. The latest manifestation of the P-29er reflects Tom Ritchey’s decades-long history/knowledge of the mountain bike. The frameset is designed for “ripping tight, twisty, and technical cross-country singletrack.

Ritchey P-29er Frameset hero 2
(Photos/Ritchey Bikes)

Ritchey uses their iconic, proprietary triple-butted Logic steel tubing for the frameset. Thus, combining modern progressive, XC geometry which provides a “balanced” ride that mixes “a snappy, responsive soul with a comfortable and predictable personality”.

Ritchey P-29er Frameset p-29er logo

The P-29er carries with it a pedigree that is firmly rooted in the decades-deep lineage of its P-Series predecessors, helping define the sport of mountain biking. This version of the modern P-29er is loaded with features demanded by today’s XC riders.

Ritchey P-29er Frameset bottom bracket cluster
Ritchey P-29er Frameset Machined and forged headtube

It has BOOST spacing along with stealthy dropper post routing. Plus, it carries an ultralight, forged, and machined tapered headtube. The frame has tire spacing for tires up to 2.3 and is designed to run a 100mm travel fork. This frame is ready for endless singletrack adventures.

Ritchey P-29er Frameset unique brake brace

Ritchey P-29er Geo

Ritchey-P-29er-Frameset-Geo.jpg
Ritchey P-29er Frameset jumpin' roots
Ritchey P-29er Frameset riding

Ritchey P-29er Retail & Specs

Retail: $999

Sizes: S (15”), M (17”), L (19”), XL (21”)

  • Frame material: heat-treated, triple-butted Ritchey Logic steel tubing
  • Ultra-light Forged and machined tapered headtube
  • Optimized for 100mm (BOOST) suspension travel fork or 500mm axle-crown rigid fork
  • BOOST 148 x 12mm rear end with replaceable stainless steel derailleur hanger
  • Post-mount rear brake: 160mm (180mm max – adaptors available separately)
  • Headset: WCS headset included (upper IS42/28.6 | lower IS52/40)
  • Recommended tire size: 29×2.25 (2.3 max) (depending on tire/rim manufacturer)
  • Bottle cage mounts: Two (one on downtube and one on seat tube) *Note: one on size S
  • Designed for 1X chainrings
  • 27.2mm seat tube with stealth dropper routing
  • Bottom Bracket: 73mm English
  • Weight: 2,380 g/5.25 lbs (M/17”)
  • Color: Dirt in Blood
Ritchey P-29er Frameset Designed by tom

“Tom Ritchey is known for taking whatever bike project he’s working on to the limit and then pushing beyond that in the redesign phase. This latest P-29er perfectly demonstrates his indisputable design style and his tendency toward new thinking to make something great even better“

The P-29er is available globally at the link below, Certified Ritchey Assemblers, local bike shops, and online retailers.

RitcheyLogic.com

Ron Frazelle
Ron Frazelle
706 articles

Ron Frazelle is the Cycling Lifestyle Editor for Bikerumor, he has been writing about bicycles and the cycling way of life for 7+ years. Prior to Bikerumor, he worked in the bicycle industry, living and breathing bicycles since 1995. He is based in Anaheim, California, Frazelle is an avid cyclist of all disciplines, camper, father to 6 children, husband, musician and self-proclaimed retro-grouch.

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22 Comments
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Bumscag
Bumscag
9 months ago

Tom Ritchry is back! With the best MTB 2004 has to offer, what are you waiting for?

22
Reply
RXKNephew
RXKNephew
9 months ago
Reply to  Bumscag

For real, “modern progressive, XC geometry”? Looking at the fork length, I think the geo chart is at sag, but even still 69.5HTA and 420mm reach in a medium is regressive, not progressive

5
Reply
Jam Ulrich
Jam Ulrich
9 months ago
Reply to  RXKNephew

481mm fork length in that geo chart is 50mm sag on a 120mm fork so it’s more of a 100mm fork geometry I think.

1
Reply
Chris
Chris
9 months ago
Reply to  Bumscag

I always liked my Ritchey cockpit components and other stuff when I had them, but this is outdated to say the least 🙁

1
Reply
mud
mud
9 months ago

Ever since I saw that drop bar version that Fergus built up for Sea Otter I can’t get it out of my mind.

4
Reply
Oliver
Oliver
9 months ago
Reply to  mud

If it could fit 2x, the geo would be relatively solid for gravel. MTB … you must be joking.

2
Reply
Gary Patrick
Gary Patrick
9 months ago

Brazed on external cable guides for the rear derailleur in 2024? Yikes!

-1
Reply
Hamjam
Hamjam
9 months ago

Using this frame is as bad as using a CD player. Yes, you loved CDs and they still work as good today as they did in the past. But those days are gone. You must ride a bike with a 67 degree headtube angle no matter where you ride or how you like to ride.

0
Reply
RXKNephew
RXKNephew
9 months ago
Reply to  Hamjam

That’s fine! Ride what you like, I have XC hardtails from 1999 and 2014, they’re still fun to ride, but they aren’t modern and progressive. There’s nothing wrong with pitching something as classic or old-school, like just don’t lie. Or copy lies from press releases, but this is Bikerumor after all.

4
Reply
Tom
Tom
9 months ago
Reply to  Hamjam

Who hurt you? Was it Tom Ritchey? Show us on the doll where Tom Ritchey touched you.

0
Reply
David
David
9 months ago

Nice!

1
Reply
Joe Lee
Joe Lee
9 months ago

“Alas” ??? I do not think that word means what you think it means. Also – no UDH is a deal breaker.

0
Reply
Ron Frazelle
Author
Ron Frazelle
9 months ago
Reply to  Joe Lee

Hey Joe, thanks for reading. You’re 100% correct, it doesn’t mean what I thought it did. I’ve corrected the post. Thanks!

0
Reply
Andrew
Andrew
9 months ago

“Cross Country riders rejoice! Alas, the Ritchey P-29er is back and better than ever.”

“Alas?” Are we rejoicing or not?

0
Reply
Ron Frazelle
Author
Ron Frazelle
9 months ago
Reply to  Andrew

Hey Andrew, thanks for reading, yes…Joe caught that too…I’ve changed the post.

0
Reply
Dinger
Dinger
9 months ago

While dated against trend I think it’s refreshing that they’re not capitulating to it. This is an XC bike, not a “trail” hardtail. Most of the more modern XC bikes I’ve ridden with 67* (and even slacker) head angles and stretched out wheelbases turn and climb like trucks in the tighter wooded single track that I favor.

This still has some curious choices. dropper routing but 27.2mm seat-post? 2.3″ max tire clearance?

7
Reply
Grrg
Grrg
9 months ago
Reply to  Dinger

27.2 seatpost is because of the steel material, as seatpost can add a lot of weight at 34 mm. Not my favorite size either, but for this bike 100mm is probably plenty of drop

0
Reply
Bumscag
Bumscag
9 months ago
Reply to  Grrg

Nope. There’s plenty of sizes for seat tubes between 28.6 (or more likely on this bike 29.4 at the upper external butt) and 34.9, and the weight difference between steps is generally less than 40-ish grams.

0
Reply
SomeGuy
SomeGuy
9 months ago

I’ve had a couple P-29’s. The frames are decent, but this is a misstep. I was quite happy with my Ultra, which actually *is* closer to modern XC geometry. 68 head angle, 74 seat angle, same chainstay length, 30.6 post, and clearance for 2.6″ tires. Same weight, too. I’m not sure why they made this bike.

3
Reply
Chris Maltby
Chris Maltby
9 months ago
Reply to  SomeGuy

I got an Ultra last year and was bummed I didn’t wait for the P29. I’ll stick with my Ultra set up as a rigid 27.5×2.8.

0
Reply
Dude
Dude
9 months ago

It’s like bumping into my middle school crush… still love her.

0
Reply
Wily_quixote
Wily_quixote
9 months ago

It really needs the tricolour paint job..

0
Reply

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