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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Tapered head tubes - finally!