Ritchey goes disc: new Road Logic and Swiss Cross
Ritchey only has a small presence at this year’s Eurobike, but its booth is crammed tightly with new goodies. A number of products first teased at the Taipei Cycle Show are now ready for production, while the big news comes in the form of two modern adaptions on iconic steel framesets.
Road Logic Disc
For 2020, the classic Road Logic frameset gets a disc-equipped sibling. The new Road Logic Disc retains Ritchey’s triple-butted logic tubing, TIG-welded construction and traditional performance geometry, but sees 12mm thru-axles and flat mount brake mounts added into the mix. As is often the case, the move to discs has opened up tyre clearance: there’s now room for 30mm rubber .
The new Road Logic Disc retains almost all the classic goodness of the Road Logic, with the fresh addition of discs.
Amongst a show jam-packed full of aerodynamic claims, hidden cable routing systems and solutions to creaking bottom brackets, the Road Logic Disc is refreshingly simple. Both the brake hoses and gear cables are externally run, the bottom bracket is a regular English threaded and even the head tube sticks with a straight 1 1/8″ steerer, the latter chosen by Ritchey for its smooth ride quality.
Designed specifically for the Road Logic Disc, Ritchey provides a new WCS Road Disc fork with the frameset, an item that’s said to weigh 440g (uncut, includes axle). A 55cm painted frame is listed at 1,840g. Expect to pay US$1,399 for a frameset (frame, fork and headset), with slate/blue and charcoal/black colour options due to be available soon.
And yep, the rim brake version is continuing in the lineup.
Ritchey’s iconic fastback-style seatstays remain on the Road Logic Disc.
The tubing is heat-treated and triple-butted.
Ritchey made the move to drop-in integrated headsets on its steel frames a few years ago, and they’ve stuck with it.
Fully external cable routing, a straight steerer fork and not an aero tube in sight.
A closer look at the thru-axle dropout with replaceable aluminium derailleur hanger.
Pretty much a given in this day and age, flat mount brake mounts are used front and rear.
Swiss Cross
Don’t fret, purists: the iconic rim-brake Swiss Cross stays in Ritchey’s range as the Swiss Cross Cantilever. However, the disc-equipped version has seen an update for 2020, and is now simply known as the Swiss Cross. Like the new Road Logic Disc, this model features 12mm thru-axles front and rear, and flat-mount brakes. However, is that tyre clearance has been boosted to accept 40mm rubber, making this a rather interesting option for those seeking a fast handling gravel bike, alongside the company’s existing Outback.
The race-focused geometry is business as usual for the triple-butted steel frameset. With a new WCS Carbon Disc Cross fork on the front, a complete frameset (including headset) is quoted at 2,548g and priced at US$1,399. It’s available now in the pictured gloss black paint.
Unlike the classic canti model, this Swiss Cross features brakes that work (controversial caption, I know).
Gear cable routing is effectively unchanged, and still runs along the top of the toptube.
Tyre clearance has been opened up. Pictured is a 40mm tyre.
And a look at the back.
Those chainstays have been wildly flattened and bent to achieve such clearance.
Unmistakably Ritchey.
Like the Road Logic Disc, the new Swiss Cross uses flat mount brakes.
The integrated headset helps to save weight and reduce stack height. Thanks to Ritchey’s drop-in style headsets, it’s also a tool-free cinch to assemble.
A wild gravel bar
With an amazingly compact 102mm drop, wide flare and ergonomic hand support, Ritchey’s VentureMax bar has slowly been finding a loyal following amongst gravel riders. One reason for that is the oddly short drop that allows for a totally different (and optional) hand position where you can stretch out and across the span of the drop and hoods.
New for 2020, Ritchey has a carbon version which has provided even more freedom in the design. In addition to being lighter and likely more compliant, it now features a flat top and internal cable routing.
The Ritchey Carbon VentureMax bar is new for 2020 and adds a few new features to the previous alloy version of the bar.
A key feature is the short “Ergo-Bio” drop that allows for an additional hand position.
And another angle of that drop. Cause, gravel.
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