The legend crashed back into the now, just like the ragged jeans once did. It had been an eternity since Tom Ritchey, the steel sizzler, had built a frame. Then, last summer, a Ritchey bike suddenly reappeared at the new product fairs. Filigree tubes, covered in the typical red, white and blue colour scheme that characterised the early mountain bike era that nostalgics like to refer to as "the golden age". But oops! It wasn't "Welded" but "Designed by Tom Ritchey", as a frame sticker claimed. The master craftsman had only provided the idea, but had the work done by contract welders in the Far East. The cult bike of the nineties. Made of steel as ever, but blown up into a Twentyniner. It is the fate of all great characters.
Anything out of the norm is considered exotic. Yet it describes what is probably the most exciting mountain bike genre. It's the collection point for everything special, non-conformist and unusual. The bikes beyond any run-of-the-mill paleness. Never before in the history of mountain bikes have there been so many brands, models and categories of use as there are today. But although companies churn out trends and innovations every year like tireless, never-resting birthing machines, the range on offer is similar across the board. The innovation spiral rotates at a monkey's pace. But visually, the bikes are becoming more and more similar. Assembly line production leaves no room for experimentation. There are many particularly good bikes. But only a few special ones.
The bikes in this test are as different as bikes can be. They have different target groups, areas of use and frame and equipment concepts. While the athletic cross-country bikes from Look and Scapin are uncompromisingly hungry for speed, the Ritchey presents itself as a relaxed tourer. The Breezer attempts the balancing act of speed and enjoyment, while the hungry suspension from Yeti, Cotic and Foes demands rough, rough terrain. A test group that isn't really one. At least the bikes have one thing in common. Each one is unmistakable.
You can find these exotic products in the test report below as a PDF download:
- Breezer Cloud 9 Elite
- Cotic Rocket
- Foes Shaver
- Look 986 RSP
- Ritchey P-29er
- Scapin Murdok
- Yeti ASR
