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TRAIL feature a slight S-bend profile to increase both tire and crankarm clearance. For extra stiffness the chain stays are connected just behind the bottom bracket by a stout chain stay bridge. The rear of the P-29er is of the slider variety and constructed of machined chromoly. They feature replaceable alloy dropouts held is in place by two 6 mm Allen bolts and a single limit screw on each side. The slider setup allows for two inches of wheel base adjustment and for the frame to be setup as a single speed. The seat stays revert back to a conventional round profile and are joined just above the rear tire by a curved seat stay bridge. One has to look closely to see the technology and engineering that has gone into the 29er, as on the surface it has the appearance of a classic steel frame.
The P-29er marks the return of Ritchey frames to the mountain bike landscape. Designed by Tom switchbackmb . com
Ritchey, the P-29er is not simply another manufacturer following the 29er trend, but rather an artful blend of classic steel construction fused with the latest technology. Ritchey has 38 years of racing, designing and frame building experience and it is expressed in the P-29er. The bike is constructed using heat-treated, triple-butted Ritchey Logic II tubing that uses butting profiles designed to mix compliance with stiffness. The frame has a classic, understated appearance, with the only hint of its racing potential showing in its low slung cockpit and tri-color fade paint scheme that stands as a tribute to Ritchey P-series racing bikes of the past. A custom-machined head tube that houses a semi-integrated headset marks the leading edge of the P-29er. The head tube has a decidedly retro look, yet is quite ingenious in that it allows for the
The Ride Driven by memories of Thomas Frischknect dominating the World Cup, combined with Ritchey’s trademark red white blue tri-color fade paint scheme, it is hard to imagine the 29er as anything but an all out cross-country race machine. In the saddle, the bike lives up these preconceptions. The frame is stiff with a lively snap that can only come from a well-designed steel frame. While the feel of steel can not be denied, numbers and test data will likely show countless
carbon frames to be stiffer—but no tester could muster enough power to garner any noticeable flex. Our Ritchey P-29er came equipped with a complete SRAM X0 drivetrain, including Avid X0 brakes. The rest of the Ritchey P-29er is outfitted with Ritchey’s top-of-the-line components. The cockpit is made up of a Ritchey WCS C260 stem mated to a SuperLogic Carbon Flat 10D handlebar, while the seat post is a SuperLogic Carbon topped with a white CS Carbon Streem saddle. To keep the P-29er rolling, Ritchey equipped it with a prototype wheelset. Ritchey swore us to secrecy, but first impressions are extremely good. The wheels came wrapped Ritchey Shield tires. Completed, the Ritchey P-29er hit the scales at 23.5 pounds, without pedals. The rider’s compartment on the Ritchey is low and
RITCHEY P29ER Tom Ritchey is one of the original mountain bike pioneers, putting torch to tube, crafting mountain bikes since the late 1970s. During the 1980s, Ritchey built roughly 400 frames a year and by the early 1990s had set the standard for steel frames with the legendary P-23, P-22 and P-21 frames. They were not only light but also durable and found their way to the top of the podium under Thomas Frischknect, Henrik Djernis and Ruthie Matthes. Despite the success of the P-series, it wasn’t enough to fend off the onslaught of aluminum, titanium and carbon. As the 1990s pressed on, Ritchey scaled back frame production, turning his engineering and creative focus towards components. By the end of the decade it appeared that Ritchey frames would be a part of history.
The frame came mated to a RockShox Reba RLT 29er 100 mm dual air fork that features RockShox’s Motion Control damping with external rebound and low-speed compression to lockout adjustment. The Reba RLT 29er version on our Ritchey P-29er is outfitted with a 15-mm thru-axle Maxle configuration.
Images | John Maynard
use of internal cartridge bearings without the excess material and weight of a straight tube. The top tube uses a conventional round profile as does the down tube. The derailleur cables are routed cleanly under the top tube with the rear disc brake housing along the left side. The down tube extends from the head tube at a relatively shallow angle before arcing downward towards the bottom bracket. The seat tube continues with the front triangle’s theme of conventionally round profiled tubing. A nice, welcomed feature is the integrated seat post clamp that uses a large 6 mm Allen bolt to securely clamp down on the post. The rear triangle starts with vertically ovalized chain stays that taper along their length toward the rear dropouts. They
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long, putting the rider in a classic cross-country racing position. Our large P-29er came with a 70-degree head tube angle. With a 24.2 inch top tube that keeps the rider stretched out and relaxed while making the bike’s weight feel balanced between the front and rear wheels. The 73-degree seat tube angle reinforces the crosscountry racing feel of the P-29er. Turn the Ritchey P-29er skyward and the bike climbs with relentless persistence. The bottom bracket remained stiff regardless of the amount of power put to the pedals. Along with being stiff, the P-29er has a lively feel that resonates and propels it forward with each pedal stroke. In or out of the saddle the P-29er feels quick and responsive. Once in a rhythm the larger 29 inch wheels help keep the speed high, and on steep pitches the cockpit keeps the rider in a low and powerful position. The aggressive cockpit also aids in stopping the front wheel from wandering. Rough, rooted sections are best handled aggressively, carrying as much speed as possible. Slow too much and the low front end becomes
cumbersome to lift over obstacles, especially as the fork compresses. Turning the P-29er downward, the Ritchey is fast and controlled. The geometry feels spot-on as the speed increases. Fast, open trails or gravel fire roads are handled easily, with the frame giving true, consistent feedback to the rider. Over slightly larger obstacles or through shutter bumps the P-29er remains connected to the ground, not wanting to get kicked off line. Into singletrack the P-29er keeps its speed well and rolls over roots and through rock gardens without any issues. Tight, twisty corners are where the P-29er comes to life and where a rider can separate himself from his rivals. The head tube angle feels like just the right balance between agility and high-speed stability. This allows one to carry more speed and cut harder through tight corners. Exiting corners, the P-29er snaps forward with each pedal stroke, making it hard for others keep pace. When the trail gets steep, or is filled with drops, the long and low cockpit forces the rider back over the rear wheel. This can make for some interesting
moments, but it is the trade off for a machine that excels in so many different types of terrain.
The Rider The rider for the Ritchey P-29er is looking for a capable, race-winning machine that is durable enough for more than one season. They also appreciate the feel of a quality built steel frame and perhaps, like us, have an unrequited love for the Ritchey we never had. Ritchey has done a beautiful job of mixing their rich heritage with the latest technology, and in doing so they have created a modern classic.
Builds The Ritchey P-29er is currently available only as frameset. As it should be, the only paint scheme available is the classic red, white and blue fade. The P-29er comes in four sizes: small, (15 inch) medium, (17 inch) large, (19 inch) and extra large (21 inch). S
THE BOTTOM LINE PRICE: $1,000 (frame only) GROUP: SRAM X0 WHEELSET: Prototype Ritchey 29er OTHER: Ritchey WCS C260 stem, SuperLogic Carbon Flat 10D handlebar. The SuperLogic Carbon seat post, Ritchey CS Carbon Streem saddle WEIGHT: 23.5 pounds (no pedals) MORE: ritcheylogic.com switchbackmb . com