Thoughts on a new 'best-bike' project: Ritchey Logic + Open Pros on Ultegra

[Fab Foodie]

Further to my earlier post on Titanium frames to replace my 2004 aluminium TCR1:

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=72963.msg1505913#msg1505913

I've been doing more thinking... and researching.
Firstly there is sooo much choice that it's quite mind blowing and I'd find it hard to get round testing many due to free-time limitations.
Secondly for the price of a basic Titanium frame I could have a good steelie and some whizzy wheels for a small weight penalty easily remedied by shedding 2 stone of aerobelly.

Then there's too much choice again, so I was honing my list down to the Condor Accacio + one other. And then I read some reviews about the new Ritchey Logic frame which seems to tick all the boxes. Not only that but our newish LBS (Giant main dealer) is also starting to stock them and the owner has one (his own choice of ride) which I can borrow for a bit longer than the average test ride.

http://cycletechreview.com/2013/reviews/ritchey-road-logic-review/

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/tech/bikes/129591/1/ritchey-road-logic-2-0.html

I like the single-minded attitude of making his own tubes for his own bike. It looks great, is well made and a good price is possible.
The savings over Titanium would allow Open Pros on Ultegra 10spd hubs from Harry Rowland plus all the Ultegra/DA bits canabalised from the Giant which are in good order.

I know there are many good UK builders of steelies and some European, but I don't have the time unfortunately to make lots of visits for testing. So right now if after a test ride the Ritchey suits my needs and feels as good as it looks, I may just go for it with LBS support.

Am I loosing it?

 

[dan_bo]

The Ritchey's lovely. I'd have one.


Go for some Royce hubs though. Different,excellent, British, with excellent aftersales. Got a set on my fixie and the engineering and finish is luuuuuurvely.

 

[samsbike]

£1000 for the frameset only (as a budget) and if I didnt have time to get something else, I would rather get the 853 genesis equilibrium and build that up, presuming that steel is your preferred choice. That would save a bit of money for other stuff.

Good choice on the wheels but the current thinking seems to be to get something wider and the Archteype (check spelling) rims laced to ultegra maybe a better option. I do agree with the above if you had spare funds, royce or chris king hubs would be a more blingy choice.

 

[Fab Foodie]

£1000 for the frameset only (as a budget) and if I didnt have time to get something else, I would rather get the 853 genesis equilibrium and build that up, presuming that steel is your preferred choice. That would save a bit of money for other stuff.

Good choice on the wheels but the current thinking seems to be to get something wider and the Archteype (check spelling) rims laced to ultegra maybe a better option. I do agree with the above if you had spare funds, royce or chris king hubs would be a more blingy choice.

Ritchey is £950 for frame, headset and forks with carbon steerer is not all bad!
I like the Genesis too, though .... (in the background I'm building an Audax bike on a 531st frame I have for mudguards and saddlebag etc) so have no need for any mudguard capability and fancy something a bit racy-ish that won't shake me to death. If I wanted 1 do-it-all bike the Genesis near perfect.

 

[samsbike]

Aha, well OK, however, given that you are already building a steel bike, wouldn't you want something different in the garage (unless of course you already have something different).

 

[Fab Foodie]

[QUOTE 2610433, member: 30090"]Give it another few months and pick up a decent bike in the sales.[/quote]
err, like what sort of thing?

 

[musa]

Archetypes on chris kings hubs. Absokute lush my work mate has them. I may follow this but maybe dt swiss hubs or tb14s

 

[Fab Foodie]

Aha, well OK, however, given that you are already building a steel bike, wouldn't you want something different in the garage (unless of course you already have something different).

Good point and I've thought long and hard about this .... but plastic 'race' or so-called 'Sportive' bikes don't do it for me. I like real tubes (cos I'm old fashioned) I've had 8 years on a skittish but very good aluminium bike and just want a bit more comfort and forgiving handling over UK's appaling roads and that 'zing' and quiet you get with steel/titanium.

I'd end up with ....
A new Steel (or maybe Ti) race bike with good wheelies and Ultegra/DA mix.
A 531st Audax/Tourer/winter bike
A 531 MTB tubing Evans/Saracen mid 80s non-suss mtb (pub/shopping/utility)
A 1950s 531 plain gauge Holdsworth fixed (currently on the Turbo until it gets a new fork)

I think I'm spotting a sad trend here

 

[ianrauk]

Good point and I've thought long and hard about this .... but plastic 'race' or so-called 'Sportive' bikes don't do it for me. I like real tubes (cos I'm old fashioned) I've had 8 years on a skittish but very good aluminium bike and just want a bit more comfort and forgiving handling over UK's appaling roads and that 'zing' and quiet you get with steel/titanium.

I'd end up with ....
A new Steel (or maybe Ti) race bike with good wheelies and Ultegra/DA mix.
A 531st Audax/Tourer/winter bike
A 531 MTB tubing Evans/Saracen mid 80s non-suss mtb (pub/shopping/utility)
A 1950s 531 plain gauge Holdsworth fixed (currently on the Turbo until it gets a new fork)

I think I'm spotting a sad trend here

You can have a test ride on the Southend FNRttC

 

[samsbike]

If you are getting another steel, is it worth saving up for 953 or XCR?

The Ritchey doesn't do it for me, sorry, but I can understand why its nice. Also going the way you are I would want a steel fork as well. Isn't there anything from SOMA or Salsa that gets your eye.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Archetypes on chris kings hubs. Absokute lush my work mate has them. I may follow this but maybe dt swiss hubs or tb14s

Interesting rim, but still heavier than Open Pros. Interesting the 23mm width though.

 

[Fab Foodie]

You can have a test ride on the Southend FNRttC

Nice! What is it? What wheels?

 

[ianrauk]

Nice! What is it? What wheels?

Van Nich Ventus.
Hand made wheels from DC Hunt. Velocity Deep V rims, Novatec Hubs, Laser Sapim Spokes.

 

[Fab Foodie]

If you are getting another steel, is it worth saving up for 953 or XCR?

The Ritchey doesn't do it for me, sorry, but I can understand why its nice. Also going the way you are I would want a steel fork as well. Isn't there anything from SOMA or Salsa that gets your eye.

Not really, though I was a big fan of the Salsa Casseroll and surprised it never became more popular. I guess we have differing tastes, but appreciate your input. I'm ambivalent about steel forks.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Van Nich Ventus.
Hand made wheels from DC Hunt. Velocity Deep V rims, Novatec Hubs, Laser Sapim Spokes.

Ahhh, it was where I started looking. I have been speaking with Paul Smith at Corridori. Did you remove the decals yourself? Didn't User10571 do the same? I'd welcome a quick spin if I make it to Sarf'end .