miamijim

Long story added to post #1

Thanks to everyone for the kind words of appreciation. I removed the fork today looking for a tubing stamp, there is none but it allowed me to take more pictures of the fork detail. Those pics will be posted later with my thoughts on them as well.

miamijim

Ritchet appears to have been experimenting with stiffenig up the BB area, other frames have a much more unquie centered bridge, in '76 he swithced over to ovalized seat ubes and later frames had full platform verus a bridge.

It says 'T. Ritchey' in big yellow font on the down tube. But, we all know how that goes so I relied on extensive research as well as knowledge gained from Owen, Aaron and the BF and CR archives. I went into this not knowing much and came out of it knowing a lot. Everything matches up, particularly the seat lug area which is very unique to Tom Ritchey. Decal? check. Original paint? check. Fillet lugs? check. Proper seat lug? check. No serial number? check.

I did my due diligence and spent days going over history and pictures. The guy I bought it from was not the original owner, he bought it sometime in the early 80s' ('82 I think), he didnt say how he acquired it and I didnt ask but I'm fairly certain he acquired it at an estate auction in Houston al ong with the other items. (There's an auction house label on the backside of the dealer signage. Back then the owner was also a Vespa dealer nad may have acquired it through his Vespa dealings.

It was part 'Antiques Roadshow' and part 'Pawn Stars' that convinced me of its originality.

dgodave

As classic as vintage can get.

(btw, the first mtb I ever rode was a Ritchey, on test ride from Gary Fisher's little shop in San Anselmo).

due ruote 

Extraordinary. So what do you do with a bike like this? Will it be an occasional rider, or hang on the wall to be admired?

miamijim

Photobucket links added to post #1

Fork pics..

Of note:

No tubing stamp but probably Reynolds.
Crown has flats on the front and rear so there's no need for half moon/concave washers.
Underside of crown voids are filled in, I'm not sue how unique that is but Ritchey clearly took time on areas not normally seen.
Legs have a nice curvature, not super curved like an old PX10 but not super gradual like a late 80's fork
Small key way.
No rifling. Not sure when Columbus started rifling but again, its probably Reynolds.
Carzy long tangs!!

miamijim

Still working on that!! Its a size too big for me so we'll see....

The overall condition is such that it could easily be a rider or used in L'Eroica type events. It has its fair share of chips, scratches etc....

gomango

That's personality.

It does have its fair share of exposed metal though. I would attend to that.

PeregrineA1 

Awesome! That is all....

jet sanchEz

Nice. Did the original owner say how he came into possession of such a nice bike? Was it custom made for him or did he buy it used?

mississippimud

Jackpot !

miamijim

The person I bought it from is NOT the original owner and has no idea as to who the original owner was. He acquired it as a frame set, the components are not original to the frame set and not matched either....some pre and some post CPSC Campy parts.

I'd imagine everything Ritchey built back then was custom. This example has a 54.5cm top tube with a 55cm seat tube so it's fairly square.

Fahrenheit531 

Thanks for the added pics. Stunning work, with consideration of every detail.

devinfan

What a find!!! I love how "American" this frame is, it's there in every detail. Come to think of it I can't think of a small American builder I don't like. It's great to see the push for invention and innovation in these bikes.

SJX426 

Great thread! Thanks for the details in acquisition, history, knowledge, opinion and pictures! Oh yeah. Grail find! Learned a lot from the pictures of what quality lug work looks like.

Wonder what he used to fill the crown voids. I guess brass is too heavy and Silver solder too expensive!

Have you tried/going to try to contact him?

LeicaLad 

This has been really fun see come to a successful conclusion. And yet more thanks to Jim for the additional detailed photos. What a great score!

I've often said that Tom was preternaturally talented with a file & torch. Even this early example shows the proof of that.

I love the fork. My first Ritchey, ordered in 1981, had his twin plate crowned fork. Shortly after that, he stopped making them, as the fork took twice as long as the rest of the frame to braze up. They are, however, true works of art.

Sadly, at least for us, TR is not known to indulge the history buffs who have questions about specific frames. Known to be a nice guy, but not interested in ancient details.

As for other artists I deeply admire, this photo shows a pair of the true greats among those building today. Great guys, to boot.

crank_addict

Jim- That is one cool machine! More important is now seeing it in the right hands. Terrific research. Knowing you'll preserve it makes me feel good. Could only imagine the horror some fixie knucklehead would do to it.


LeicaLad..... cute comment on TR and being cordial. I recall when a buddy had his custom P-21 built. Cracking me up, because I recall him constantly phoning Ritchey about things, paint, whatever. Something exchanged or happened because my buddy later mentioned.... I don't think he likes me and then roared out laughing. (Bud was annoyingly funny to begin with, and could test ones patience -lol)

repechage

Let others record the history, he is interested in the present and next step.

miamijim

Rear bridge is simple and requires a concave washer on the top side and a flat washer on the back side.

Rear cable guides are simple rings and large enough to accept grey Campagnolo housing.

BB area has the raised bridge as previously mentioned. Stays are flattened versus being crimped.

Rear dropout openings are milled.

Inside of BB shell is rather basic although I'm not sure what others were doing at the time. ST is notched at the chainstays but the ST/DT junction is not double mitered.

repechage

Having one primary tube overshoot the other at the bottom bracket is well accepted.
Squishing the chain stays is not unprecedented, think Masi.
Tom was observant, and then thought about what he could do differently beyond what he had already seen.

The fork blades look Imperial oval to me, so I highly suspect Reynolds, and pre bent.

I think the underside of the fork crown is filled with Brass. Just a hunch, done by some of the French Constructeurs.

gomango

That's quite true.

I've recently built up two of the Ritchey Swiss Cross models that are being raced locally.

I have been tempted to keep one for myself, especially with the new camo version coming soon.

Ritchey also has a Commando fatbike coming that is tempting as well. I may finally break down this fall and build one for the coming winter.

Didn't really snow here this last winter so I am glad I waited.

I really like some of the features on the Ritchey. Looks cool too.

LeicaLad 

Interesting shot of the innards of the BB.

Here is what I found when I opened up my 1980 Ritchey road bike:



I was stunned to find it, quite literally, spotless in there!

Showing the evolution of the artist, as it were.

Otis

Fillet v. lug.

repechage

Actually that would concern me a bit.
No vent at the Bottom Bracket shell for any tube or stay.
My guess in this case the bike got thoughtful care so probably not like it was left out in the rain for an extended period.
Is the top tube sealed at both ends?

gomango

Sure looks like it.

crank_addict

^^ Seeing that image of the bb inner shell, might not be a bad idea to drill a few weep holes in there. Let some air route from the seat, down tubes to the stays. Nothing to do with rain but perhaps condensation from warm to cool cycles could cause unseen damage.

Anyways, back to Ritchey. On the few bikes I've seen handmade by him (not speaking of production models), all are a treat to see. I'm jealous of Jim's bike. That thing speaks American originality. I get it that many think a Confente, Masi original, etc. is it but Ritchey's craftsmanship is right with the best of them. Just looking at Jims example.... think of all the time into crafting it, no shortcuts (pun) and be so elegant different. A rather young man back when while doing that artistry. Really neat.

Can relate to gomago. For something most recent, I've been visiting a LBS where the owner spec ordered and is building a custom BreakAway tandem. Last I've seen its mostly done and oh my! Who knows how much of it is machine or handwork but whoever is doing the work with or for Ritchey, I'm sure he signs off on it with a keen eye. Everything on the build is top shelf too, front belt drive, Di2, etc..