Ritchey are concentrating heavily on their wheel range for 2010 with over half a dozen new sets, including three carbon fibre mountain bike models – two clincher and one tubular.
The top-end Superlogic mountain bike clinchers feature 25mm-wide, 20mm-deep unidirectional carbon rims laced to DT Swiss-made hubs with Center Lock rotor interfaces (six-bolt rotors can be used with adapters).
Though the carbon rims obviously reduce weight – claimed figures are as low as 1,296g for the pair – their key benefit is the ability to use a wider profile without adding appreciable mass, thus improving rim rigidity and tyre support.
Ritchey will offer the Superlogic in both 9mm quick-release and 15mm through-axle front versions at a retail cost of £1,679 (US$2,250) for the pair.
Weight weenies and die-hard cross-country racers will also have the option of a tubular version, which drops about another 100g (more if you account for the lighter tyres) and is slightly less expensive at about $1,950 (UK prices TBC – approx £1,190 at current exchange rate).
Also on tap is a slightly more conventional carbon mountain bike clincher set with woven carbon rims. In either case, all of the rims will use true monocoque construction with no central mould seam. Projected availability is January 2010.
The Superlogic range will include carbon road wheels as well – again in both tubular and clincher form – with both models using rims designed by Paul Lew and enhanced with boron fibre for additional compression stiffness.
Hubs are again based on DT Swiss’s 240s model but rear wheels are further enhanced with a rarely-seen crow’s foot lacing pattern, with interspersed radial and crossed spokes for greater lateral rigidity.
Claimed weights are as low as 1,171g for a pair of 20/24h tubulars with the all-carbon clinchers creeping up to about 1,410g. Suggested retail price will range between $2,800 and $3,000 for the pair (approx £1,710-£1,830 at current exchange rate).
One of Ritchey’s most intriguing road wheelsets for 2010, though, also happens to be one of their cheapest. The new Zeta wheels use a relatively shallow 24mm-deep aluminium rim alloyed with vanadium for a competitively lightweight 1,545g showing at the scale, a more comfortable ride on rough roads and a reasonable £499 ($710) retail cost. German-made cartridge bearings and Belgian Sapim CX and CX-Ray stainless steel spokes promise good longevity, too.
Component highlights include new ‘Wet White’ finishes for a number of top-end selections, a new carbon fibre version of Ritchey’s popular zero-offset One-Bolt seatpost, redesigned Hammerhead integrated aero bars, a 142g WCS CF Streem road saddle with carbon rails, and a new Pro V5 mountain bike clipless pedal with reportedly more durable bearings than the previous version.
Even Ritchey’s titanium Break Away road frame has been updated for 2010 with a bigger down tube and newly swaged seat tube for additional drivetrain stiffness. Retail cost remains around £2,635 ($3,000) for the frame, fork and headset – a hefty sum but one that could quickly be recouped in saved airline fees depending on how much you travel.