Ritchey 2015: new bars, stems, wheels and more from Eurobike

Ritchey 2015: new bars, stems, wheels and more from Eurobike

Wide disc-brake and carbon road wheels, ultralight saddles and the return of the Bullmoose

James Huang / Immediate Media

Published: August 28, 2014 at 9:05 am

Ritchey's product range is already massive and yet it continues to grow for 2015 with new road and mountain wheels, updated bars and stems, ultralight saddles and posts, and even new pedals and grips.

Here are some details on what you'll find in shops soon.

Wheels: wider, more tubeless compatibility

Width and tubeless compatibility are common themes for Ritchey's new wheel offerings for 2015. First up are the new WCS Zeta Disc road wheels, which sport the same hub internals as the rim-specific WCS Zeta II wheels but with large-diameter spoke flanges all around, a broader tubeless-compatible rim with a very generous 20mm internal width, and splined interfaces for Shimano's Center Lock disc rotors.

Ritchey's new wcs zeta disc brings disc brake compatibility to the road along with offset 20mm-wide (internal width) tubeless-compatible aluminum rims. claimed weight is 1,560g for the pair and retail price is just us$800: ritchey's new wcs zeta disc brings disc brake compatibility to the road along with offset 20mm-wide (internal width) tubeless-compatible aluminum rims. claimed weight is 1,560g for the pair and retail price is just us$800

We're dying to get a set of Ritchey's new WCS Zeta Disc wheels set up on a 'cross bike with their very generous 20mm internal rim widths

Claimed weight is a very reasonable 1,560g for the pair and retail price is just US$800 – a refreshingly attainable figure in a world where four-figure sums are far more common.

Next up on the road front are the new WCS Apex 60 carbon clinchers, which unfortunately aren't tubeless-compatible but are quite wide with a 17mm internal width and a noticeable broad and blunt-shaped 60mm-deep profile that we anticipate will perform well in crosswinds.

Key features on the new ritchey wcs apex 60 carbon clinchers are wide rims with blunt noses for presumably good handling in crosswinds plus externally accessible spoke nipples for easy truing: key features on the new ritchey wcs apex 60 carbon clinchers are wide rims with blunt noses for presumably good handling in crosswinds plus externally accessible spoke nipples for easy truing

Ritchey's new WCS Apex 60 carbon clinchers look fast but also easy to work on

Ritchey anchors these around its Phantom Flange hubs, which at first glance appear to require proprietary spokes but actually use standard J-bend ones. The externally accessible spoke nipples should help make maintenance even easier.

Claimed weight is 1,561g for the pair and retail price is US$1,600.

Off-road riders will get the new WCS Trail wheels – essentially mountain bike analogues of the WCS Zeta Disc, built with 25mm-wide (internal width) aluminium rims with solid outer walls for easy tubeless compatibility. Ritchey will offer these in both 27.5in and 29in sizes, both with swappable 15/20mm front thru-axle and 142mm rear thru-axle hub end caps.

New for 2015 from ritchey are the wcs trail wheels, which have a 25mm-wide (internal width) tubeless aluminum rim, 15/20mm front thru-axle compatibility, and both 27.5 and 29in sizes. claimed weight for the 27.5in version is 1,627g per pair and retail price is a very reasonable us$750: new for 2015 from ritchey are the wcs trail wheels, which have a 25mm-wide (internal width) tubeless aluminum rim, 15/20mm front thru-axle compatibility, and both 27.5 and 29in sizes. claimed weight for the 27.5in version is 1,627g per pair and retail price is a very reasonable us$750

Width and low weight are good - but reasonable prices are even better

Their claimed weight is 1,627g and retail price is US$750.

Bars, stems, seatposts and saddles galore

Naturally, Ritchey's new range is also bolstered by an army of new cockpit components.

Ritchey's wraparound C260 stem may offer excellent bar support but the associated installation hassles have apparently turned off a few too many people. New for 2015 is a detuned C220 version with a clamp that extends 220 degrees around the bar, allowing for a straight press-fit installation that doesn't require any additional disassembly. Ritchey will offer the C220 in both forged alloy and carbon-wrapped 'Matrix' construction.

Fans of ritchey's wraparound c260 stem clamp design now have an option that doesn't require bars to be unwrapped for installation. the new c220 models (offered in both forged aluminum and carbon-wrapped aluminum) have a less radical clamp setup that allows the bar to just be pressed straight on: fans of ritchey's wraparound c260 stem clamp design now have an option that doesn't require bars to be unwrapped for installation. the new c220 models (offered in both forged aluminum and carbon-wrapped aluminum) have a less radical clamp setup that allows the bar to just be pressed straight on

The new C220 stems should be much easier to install than the current C260 ones

The WCS Trail stems become easier to work with, too, with faceplate bolts that are now flipped for better tool access. A new 35mm-diameter WCS Trail 35 platform is added for 2015, too, with stems available down to 45mm in length and bars measuring up to 780mm in width. Retail prices range from US$85-95.

On the road side, there's the new 235g WCS Carbon Streem II bar with aero-shaped tops but traditional round drops and internal cable routing, a new SuperLogic carbon stem variant with an oversized 1 1/4in steerer clamp to work with bikes from Giant, Canyon, and others, and a sleek new laser-etched finish for the polished aluminium Classic range.

Weight weenies will be interested in the new Superlogic Vector Evo saddle and seatpost, which uses a new carbon fibre single-rail interface (that's thankfully compatible with current Ritchey posts just by swapping out the head). According to Ritchey, the new saddle and post weigh just 260g combined.

Ritchey says its new superlogic vector evo saddle and seatpost weigh just 260g combined: ritchey says its new superlogic vector evo saddle and seatpost weigh just 260g combined

This saddle and post combined supposedly weigh just 260g

Also introduced at the Eurobike show is the new WCS Zeromax saddle shape with a very flat profile and central cutout, and the throwback WCS Carbon Bullmoose integrated carbon fibre mountain bike bar and stem.

Other bits and pieces

Need more? Ritchey also showed off its new 220g, US$170 WCS Carbon Echelon road pedals with carbon reinforced bodies, cartridge-style chromoly axles, and replaceable stainless steel wear plates. And if you need some more colour in your life, the True Grip foam grips are now offered in several hues to suit your fancy.

The new ritchey wcs carbon echelon pedals sport a carbon reinforced body, a cartridge-type chromoly spindle assembly, and a replaceable stainless steel wear plate. claimed weight is 220g for the pair (without cleats) and retail price is us$170: the new ritchey wcs carbon echelon pedals sport a carbon reinforced body, a cartridge-type chromoly spindle assembly, and a replaceable stainless steel wear plate. claimed weight is 220g for the pair (without cleats) and retail price is us$170

The new WCS Carbon Echelon pedals look pretty good for US$170

Speaking of colours, Ritchey has freshened up its steel mountain bike hardtails for 2015 with new colours and – finally – tapered head tubes, which will greatly expand the range of compatible suspension forks.

Also new on its mountain bikes are tapered head tubes for wider compatibility with modern suspension forks. joining the new head tubes are tapered versions of ritchey's carbon fiber rigid forks: also new on its mountain bikes are tapered head tubes for wider compatibility with modern suspension forks. joining the new head tubes are tapered versions of ritchey's carbon fiber rigid forks

Tapered head tubes - finally!

www.ritcheylogic.com