Ritchey 1999 Swiss cross

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Used

Bike Setup:
Full Ultegra, Mavic Open Pro, Salsa Stem, King headset, American Classic seatpost, ITM 260 bars, Flite Saddle, 20lbs with cross tires!

Summary:
I purchased an older Swiss Cross made with Prestige tubing used. I loved the way Prestige bikes rode back in the mid 90's so I thought I'd find a frame made of it after riding a Specialized M4 alloy frame for a year. The ride is exceptional! Anyone who has never ridden a frame made with Prestige is missing out. This bike can be ridden all day in comfort. I use it mainly as a commuter and road bike.

Strengths:
Lightweigt and supurb craftmanship on the the frame. Prestige tubing is excellent. A Ritchey frame still turns heads for those who are in the "know"

Weaknesses:
It is really more of a road bike with canti's than a modern cross bike. I would be weary of doing any heavy cross ridding on this frame.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized S-Works M4 Cross Bike

Price Paid:  $400.00 at bought it used

Favorite Ride:
Hiltpoltstein-Oberttrubach

Bike Setup:
classic pro wheelset, dia compe canti brakes, campa daytona levers and derailleurs, suntour xc pro cranks, FROGLEGS (130 EURO!!!), control seatpost, syntace bar+stem

Summary:
The swiss cross flies through singletracks, climbs great, and since i´ve got froglegs, it also has an awesome handling on technical courses and on tricky downhills.

Strengths:
single trail, weight 10.2 kg

Weaknesses:
low rear tire clearance (30 mm)
color splits off fastly

Similar Products Used:
MTB: serotta, cannondale, trek, etc.
Road: masi, cannondale

Price Paid:  $2500.00 at Richey

Favorite Ride:
Mt. Diablo

Bike Setup:
58cm, Shimano D/A w/38/48 TA rings & 12/27 cassette. Avid canties, Chris King/Mavic Open Pros, Richey BioMax bar w/WCS stem, Easton CT2 post w/Selle Flight Trans Am saddle and Time A.T.A.C. Carbon clipless peddles.

Summary:
Don't cheat yourself, I've tried them all and the Ritchey is the the last word in Cross. At home on or off road. I put 5000mi on it this winter. I commuted thru rain/snow/mud and potholes all winter long on this rig and it never let me down. Put your trust in Tom.

Strengths:
Frame design and geometry, by far in a class by it self. Nothing compares to TR's design, ingenuity and refinement.

Weaknesses:
The only nit-pick I have is that the TR cross fork, though beautifully made, is a bit on the heavy side.

Similar Products Used:
Ibis, Bianchi, Voodoo, Indy Fab etc. I've tried them all. None compare.

Favorite Ride:
Blue Marsh Lake

Bike Setup:
TR zero wheels, cranks, cantis, HS, seatpost, kevlar speedmax 32cm tires, 48/34 - 11/34 gearing, ultegra/XT shifting, bontrager saddle, Salsa bell lap 46cm bars & Moto Ace stem, custom Ritchey red & blue paint separated by white panels.

Summary:
road gearing on a cross bike is useless. The key is a Ritchey crank which will allow a 34 small ring up front and 9 speed XT in the back which allows a 11/34 range. Then you can go where mountain bikes go and blow them away in the process because this bike is fast and efficient. The steel frame is light and compliant, steel is the key. Oversize aluminum is another waste of time on a CX bike. It will beat the crap out of you. Once the speedmax tires were worn in a little bit, the bike is 95% as fast as a road bike and not as fragile or limiting. Slam through potholes, rough pavement, RR tracks, gravel shoulders, curbs, etc., no problem. Ride all singletrack except for the last most heinous 10%. It will beat you up more than a MTB, so it isn't for all day singletrack epics. All day on the road, however, the gearing allows you to ride serious steeps and stay aerobic. This really is a go anywhere bike, I was at first amazed at how it could bomb through the rough stuff. I haven't touched my MTB or road bike in 3 months.

Strengths:
All around use with very little drawbacks on the road or the dirt.

Weaknesses:
Ritchey Zero wheels are a pain to switch tires on

Similar Products Used:
checked out all CX bikes on the market, also ride Bottecchia SLX road and Litespeed obed MTB

Bike Setup:
Ritchey 58cm , ultegra sti and ultegra 600

Summary:
great steel ride, worth it if you can afford it

Strengths:
fantastic ride, very nice box crowned fork, light weight

Weaknesses:
a little pricey

Similar Products Used:
None