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ritchey:start [2022/08/19 09:17] – mtbtimelineritchey:start [2025/03/16 07:57] (current) – mtbtimeline
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 ===== Ritchey Overview ===== ===== Ritchey Overview =====
-Tom Ritchey, started building frames in 1972, aged 16(( Background info from [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Ritchey|Wikipedia]])), in Menlo Park, CA and raced them successfully until retiring from racing in 1976. By 1974, during his senior year in high school, he had finished nearly 200 frames. He continued building over road 200 frames per year until 1980, when he switched to mainly producing mountain bikes. By this time, he had already made 1,500 road frames.+Tom Ritchey, started building frames in 1972, aged 15(( Background info from [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Ritchey|Wikipedia]] and [[https://ritcheylogic.com/blog/ritchey-at-50-a-timeline|ritcheylogic]])), in Menlo Park, CA and raced them successfully until retiring from racing in 1976. By 1974, during his senior year in high school, he had finished nearly 200 frames. He continued building over road 200 frames per year until 1980, when he switched to mainly producing mountain bikes. By this time, he had already made 1,500 road frames.
  
 Starting 1981, Tom produced between 400 and 700 frames per year until the early 1990's and continues to make small quantities of frames to this day. Starting 1981, Tom produced between 400 and 700 frames per year until the early 1990's and continues to make small quantities of frames to this day.
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 \\ \\
 Magura motorcycle bars & levers, Phil Wood hubs & bb, TA 28x42 by 13-32 gearing, Huret Duopar rear derailleur, it was all the finest available of the day. Magura motorcycle bars & levers, Phil Wood hubs & bb, TA 28x42 by 13-32 gearing, Huret Duopar rear derailleur, it was all the finest available of the day.
-[[https://www.facebook.com/groups/1445113295801506|Facebook]]+[[https://www.facebook.com/groups/206343713238299/permalink/872606439945353/|Facebook]]
 </div> </div>
  
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 ===== Follow the Money ===== ===== Follow the Money =====
-John Finley Scott, owner of the [[https://www.cupertinobikeshop.com/|Cupertino Bike Shop]] , ordered 110 frames in 1979 from Tom for $19,000(([[https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Dirt-Origins-Mountain-Biking/dp/1892495619|The Birth of Dirt (3rd ed.) by Frank J. Berto]] , page 68 )) . Many of these sat in a chicken coop on Scott's property for years. Some these rusting relics have yet to be finished ((See personal pic of rust in mtbtimeline's backyard)) . His infusion of capital into Tom's business, plus another $10k in the same year to Fisher/Kelly, was just what was needed to sustain the industry. Other people were also making "all terrain bicycles," but the Ritchey frames, with Kelly & Fisher building and promoting them, were the true genesis of the mountain bike.+John Finley Scott, owner of the [[https://www.cupertinobikeshop.com/|Cupertino Bike Shop]] , ordered 110 frames in 1979 from Tom for $19,000(([[https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Dirt-Origins-Mountain-Biking/dp/1892495619|The Birth of Dirt (3rd ed.) by Frank J. Berto]] , page 68 )) . Many of these sat in a chicken coop on Scott's property for years. Some these rusting relics have yet to be finished ((See personal pic of rust in mtbtimeline's backyard)) . His infusion of capital into Tom's business, plus another $10k((It was likely less than this, as Charlie Kelly states that the investment was just in the form of a few thousand dollars worth of left over TA and touring components MountainBikes used to build up the first set of mtbs with.  From a personal mtbtimeline conversation.  More research is needed.)) in the same year to Fisher/Kelly, was just what was needed to sustain the industry. Other people were also making "all terrain bicycles," but the Ritchey frames, with Kelly & Fisher building and promoting them, were the true genesis of the mountain bike.
  
 </div> </div>
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 [[https://www.404.com|mtbtimeline collection]] [[https://www.404.com|mtbtimeline collection]]
 +</div>
 +
 +
 +<div column 50% #s1977>
 +----
 +===== 1977 650B =====
 +One of perhaps 24 off-road 650Bs made from 1977-79.  Campy Rally v1 (1974-75), Cupertino Bike Shop stickers on the 650B rims, TA cranks, Mafac brakes, Cinelli stem and bars.
 +\\
 +
 +Originally built with [[https://www.nokiantires.com/hakkapeliitta/|Nokia Hakkapeliitta]] "snow" tires, this example was recently reclad with modern [[https://brucegordoncycles.bigcartel.com/product/700c-x-48mm-rock-n-road-tire|Bruce Gordon Rock 'n Road]] "all-terrain" tires.
 +
 +</div>
 +<div column 45%>
 +
 +{{1977b.jpg?300|1977 650B }}
 +\\
 +1977 650B
 +[[https://www.facebook.com/groups/206343713238299/permalink/648408579031808|facebook]]
 </div> </div>
  
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 [[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/mtn-bikes?year=1980|The Pro's Closet]] [[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/mtn-bikes?year=1980|The Pro's Closet]]
 </div> </div>
 +
 +
 +<div column 50% #s1981>
 +----
 +===== 1981  =====
 +This is built with the "economical" MountainBikes II frameset, which cost $544 in the [[https://ritchey.vintagebicycledatabase.com/catalogs/mountainbikes/1982/MountainBikes1982_21.jpg|1982 catalog]], where the higher end MountainBikes I frameset cost $845 at the same time.  There are no model names
 +at this time.
 +SunTour Cyclone GT (1976-83) front and rear, 15 speeds, TIG welded bullmoose bars,
 +
 +
 +
 +</div>
 +
 +<div column 45%>
 +{{1981b.jpg?300|1981 }}
 +\\
 +1981
 +[[https://ritchey.vintagebicycledatabase.com/bike.php?id=486|The Ritchey Project]]
 +</div>
 +
  
  
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 ===== 1983 Competition ===== ===== 1983 Competition =====
-The Competition, later called the Annapurna, featured faux-lug fillet brazing, emulating the look of lugs with molten brass. Meanwhile, Ritchey continues to make the Everest & Mount Tam frames.+The Competition, later called the Annapurna, featured bilaminate/faux-lug fillet brazing, using both brazed decorative lugs with joining tubes with fillets. Meanwhile, Ritchey continues to make the Everest & Mount Tam frames.
  
 In 1983, Ritchey/Kelly/Fisher split up the MountainBikes company and Ritchey Bikes no longer carried the MountainBikes sticker (( [[https://www.bluetrainpublishing.com/books-blog/being-gary-fisher|Being Gary Fisher]], page 252.)) . Ritchey continued to sell some frames to Gary Fisher, which were labeled as "Fisher MountainBikes."  Ritchey developed a new sales network, including [[rm:start|Rocky Mountain]] in Canada which resold "mass produced" Japanese TIG welded "Ritcheys."  The [[fisher:start|Fisher]] brand did come into existence until the end of 1983.  ((For vague details on the dissolution and how Ritchey survives today as the oldest single owner operated bicycle brand, see: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGiZKEZoiWQ|Ask a Founder: Tom Ritchey]])) In 1983, Ritchey/Kelly/Fisher split up the MountainBikes company and Ritchey Bikes no longer carried the MountainBikes sticker (( [[https://www.bluetrainpublishing.com/books-blog/being-gary-fisher|Being Gary Fisher]], page 252.)) . Ritchey continued to sell some frames to Gary Fisher, which were labeled as "Fisher MountainBikes."  Ritchey developed a new sales network, including [[rm:start|Rocky Mountain]] in Canada which resold "mass produced" Japanese TIG welded "Ritcheys."  The [[fisher:start|Fisher]] brand did come into existence until the end of 1983.  ((For vague details on the dissolution and how Ritchey survives today as the oldest single owner operated bicycle brand, see: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGiZKEZoiWQ|Ask a Founder: Tom Ritchey]]))
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 <div column 50% #s1984> <div column 50% #s1984>
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-===== 1984 Ritcheys =====+===== 1984 Commando =====
 Ritchey found other venues to sell bikes, including the [[https://www.paloaltobicycles.com/|Palo Alto Bike shop]], where Ritchey originally sold his road bikes. Meanwhile, the bikes are now called the Commando, Timber Comp and Annapurna. Ritchey found other venues to sell bikes, including the [[https://www.paloaltobicycles.com/|Palo Alto Bike shop]], where Ritchey originally sold his road bikes. Meanwhile, the bikes are now called the Commando, Timber Comp and Annapurna.
 </div> </div>
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 <div column 50% #porna> <div column 50% #porna>
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-===== Annapurna =====+===== 1984 Annapurna =====
 The pinnacle of fillet brazing, the Annapurna is worth another look. By avoiding the use of lugs and using fillet brazing, Ritchey was allowed to choose the diameter of the tubing and the geometry of each frame, which was required for custom, hand made bicycles. ((Ritchey reminisces on how he got started: [[https://us.ritcheylogic.com/us_en/blog/tom-ritcheys-40-year-ride-honored-with-film-and-fanfare|Tom Ritchey's 40 Year Ride Film]])). The pinnacle of fillet brazing, the Annapurna is worth another look. By avoiding the use of lugs and using fillet brazing, Ritchey was allowed to choose the diameter of the tubing and the geometry of each frame, which was required for custom, hand made bicycles. ((Ritchey reminisces on how he got started: [[https://us.ritcheylogic.com/us_en/blog/tom-ritcheys-40-year-ride-honored-with-film-and-fanfare|Tom Ritchey's 40 Year Ride Film]])).
 </div> </div>
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 <div column 50% #s1985> <div column 50% #s1985>
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-===== 1985 =====+===== 1985 Team Comp =====
 In 1985, Ritchey offered 6 bike choices: Ascent, Timberwolf, Timber Comp, Commando and Team Comp. In 1985, Ritchey offered 6 bike choices: Ascent, Timberwolf, Timber Comp, Commando and Team Comp.
 </div> </div>
ritchey/start.1660925836.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022/08/19 09:17 by mtbtimeline