The trends are coming thick and fast. But steel of all things, the oldest of all frame materials, has defied the fashion hurricane for decades. No wonder. Carbon may be light and stiff. But even a harmless crash can turn a thin-skinned carbon fibre bike into a safety risk. The resale value is puny due to ever shorter model cycles. Reasons that fuel the longing for timeless, robust bikes.
The Ritchey P-650B offers exactly that. It is not built in the master craftsman's workshop, but in the Far East at a favourable price. But it bears Tom Ritchey's unmistakable signature. Although the head tube is ultra-modern and tailored for forks with stiff, tapered steerer tubes, it does without a rear thru-axle and press-fit bottom bracket. The classic line: BSA bearings and dropouts for classic quick releases. Why? Because it is tried and tested and good.
The frame tubes, some of which are triple-butted, come from the company's own Logic 2 range. A comparable carbon bike weighs around a kilo less, but you hardly notice this even with an ambitious riding style. The riding position is sporty without straining the back. On tight trails, the rider has to work a little harder due to the tame steering angle. But hey, everything is in the green zone.
CONCLUSION The Ritchey P-650B is the symbiosis of simplicity and timelessness. There are more aggressive hardtails, but the temperament is enough to keep you at the front even in races.
PLUS Sophisticated frame, functional equipment, steering head stiffness at carbon level
MINUS Impact-sensitive wet paint, weight about one kilo higher than a comparable carbon bike
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