for those who love bicycles, check it out

[look 171]

Check this out. I like his products, no fancy stickers plane and simple. They are designed to work and win. Have a look

[nostatic]

That brought back some memories. I remember Ritchey Ultras at the shop I worked at and lusting after the P-23. I also ran early Megabites - actually I ran a Megabite in the front (reversed - I was convinced the lugs were the wrong pattern) and a Continental in the rear. No suspension, steel frames. Those were the days...

[look 171]

I have no idea what you are talking about because Mtb was not my thing. I would go way too fast and kept falling off and couldn't handle the really rough stuff. I too was caught up with all the hype and bought a mtb with a rigid fork. It was a Diamond back and ended up breaking it coming down the Mt Wilson Toll Road. Now I have a Giant, their first gen carbon mtb. It is more then 15 years old and have no more then 2000 miles on it. I just can't get into it. I wish I could.

[intakexhaust]

Tom Ritchey's steels are pure art. Friend of mine in the early 90's had a P-21 built with all the Ti jewel's available and some sic light wheels. He bought into all the TR components like bars, stems, brakes. I have no idea what the hot ticket is today, but that bike then was beautiful riding, efficient, stiff and just took your bodies energy right to the turf. Amazing.

edit: I also recall in those days, my bud would phone Tom Ritchey and carry on about having his frame built, custom paint and all that pestering cr@p. LOL

Thanks for the link. Enjoyed it.

[look 171]

I was one of the guys who bought European frames (I did have a Medici)back in the late 80s and early 90s until I saw the Independent Fabrication. That was a piece of art. TR was completely overlooked. I want one of his frames now.

[tabs]

I think I will stick to a HUFFY, as that is comseurate wih my skill set..

[ckissick]

That was fun to watch. I worked at Palo Alto Bikes in 1984 and '85. I knew a lot of those guys in the pics and used to ride with Jobst Brandt a lot.

Funny thing is, Jobst sort of introduced Ritchie to off-roading, but Jobst never used a mountain bike. Even in the 80's he rode a road bike with skinny tires. He didn't see a need for a mountain bike. So I'd go on trails with him using my road bike, too. He was very tall and his bike had a huge frame that Ritchie built. I was always waiting for the bike to collapse but it never did.

BTW, my road bike is the one I built while working at PA Bikes, using a frame that Sterling McBride gave me. I guess it's getting pretty old now, but it's still a great bike.

[cantdrv55]

Nice story. Not into mtb bikes either which is a waste since I live in the SF Bay Area and there are hills all around me. Thanks for the link.