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ritchey:start [2022/03/08 08:36] – mtbtimelineritchey:start [2023/11/03 08:02] (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 my 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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 Mt. bike archaeology: recently unearthed. Mt. bike archaeology: recently unearthed.
 \\ \\
-[[https://www.404.com|personal 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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 <div column 50% #s1979> <div column 50% #s1979>
 ---- ----
-===== 1979 -> 1981 =====+===== 1979  ===== 
 MountainBikes offered a single, customizable frame choice for the first few years, with a variety of available components. MountainBikes offered a single, customizable frame choice for the first few years, with a variety of available components.
 +\\
 +
 +Made in Summer 1979 for a friend of Otis Guy.
 +\\
 +
 +Huret Duopar derailleur, three piece Phil Wood hubs, later addition of a [[potts:start|Steve Potts]] bar and stem, new paint.
 +
 +\\
 +
 +</div>
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +<div column 45%>
 +{{1979.jpg?300|1979 }}
 +\\
 +posted by [[http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/repack.htm|Charlie Kelly]] to
 +[[https://www.mtbr.com/threads/an-original-ritchey.497608/|mtbr]]
 +
 +</div>
 +
 +<div column 50% #s1980>
 +----
 +===== 1980  =====
 +
 +Huret Duopar derailleur rear, SunTour aR GT front.
 \\ \\
 <blockquote>I have no problem acknowledging the many riders who went off road before I ever rode a bicycle. But until the Ritchey MountainBike appeared on the market in 1979, you would have had to make your own. There was nothing on earth like the MountainBike for sale to the public, and a few years later, half the bikes sold worldwide were copied directly from it.<cite>Charlie Kelly,[[https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/the-start-of-mountain-bikingnot-in-the-usa/page/3/?links=false%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F|singletrackworld]]</cite></blockquote> <blockquote>I have no problem acknowledging the many riders who went off road before I ever rode a bicycle. But until the Ritchey MountainBike appeared on the market in 1979, you would have had to make your own. There was nothing on earth like the MountainBike for sale to the public, and a few years later, half the bikes sold worldwide were copied directly from it.<cite>Charlie Kelly,[[https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/the-start-of-mountain-bikingnot-in-the-usa/page/3/?links=false%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F|singletrackworld]]</cite></blockquote>
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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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 <div column 50% #s1984> <div column 50% #s1984>
 ---- ----
-===== 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>
 ---- ----
-===== 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>
 ---- ----
-===== 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>
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 [[https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Dirt-Origins-Mountain-Biking/dp/1892495619|The Birth of Dirt (3rd ed.) by Frank J. Berto]], page 69 [[https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Dirt-Origins-Mountain-Biking/dp/1892495619|The Birth of Dirt (3rd ed.) by Frank J. Berto]], page 69
 <WRAP #prod3 /> <WRAP #prod3 />
-[3].  150 frames sold in 1980. The [[https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Dirt-Origins-Mountain-Biking/dp/1892495619|The Birth of Dirt (3rd ed.) by Frank J. Berto]], page 70+[3].  150 frames sold in 1980. The [[https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Dirt-Origins-Mountain-Biking/dp/1892495619|The Birth of Dirt (3rd ed.) by Frank J. Berto]], page 70.  Another source states that MountainBikes sold 160 bikes in 1980 [[https://www.amazon.com/Repack-Rwanda-Origins-Evolution-Mountain/dp/B00EZSD4Y2/|From Repack to Rwanda The Origins, Evolution, and Global Reach of the Mountain Bike, from the SFO Museum]], about page 12.
 <WRAP #prod4 /> <WRAP #prod4 />
 [4].  From 1981 onwards, Ritchey produced 700-800 frames each year. [[https://ritchey.vintagebicycledatabase.com/ritchey/|The Ritchey Project ]].  [[https://us.ritcheylogic.com/us_en/blog/ritchey-at-50-a-timeline|RitcheyLogic.com]] states that 400+ frames were built in 1981 and 700 in 1982. [4].  From 1981 onwards, Ritchey produced 700-800 frames each year. [[https://ritchey.vintagebicycledatabase.com/ritchey/|The Ritchey Project ]].  [[https://us.ritcheylogic.com/us_en/blog/ritchey-at-50-a-timeline|RitcheyLogic.com]] states that 400+ frames were built in 1981 and 700 in 1982.
  
  
ritchey/start.1646757374.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022/03/08 08:36 by mtbtimeline