1980s Ritchey mountain bike, handmade by Tom Ritchey
01-13-09, 10:34 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
1980s Ritchey mountain bike, handmade by Tom Ritchey
Hi, everyone--
I have a Ritchey mountain bike that was customized and handmade by Ritchey in the mid-1980s with the following features:
-The frame, fork and handlebars were handmade by Tom Ritchey
-Original Shimano thumb shifters
-Shimano cranks
-Shimano headset
-Suntour peddles
-Magura brake levers
Condition:
-It's been lightly ridden over the years, and has a few nicks here and there, but is in excellent shape overall
-Original red paint
-The ride is very true and smooth to this day
Ultimately, I am thinking about selling the bike. Does anyone have a sense of whether people are interested in these models? And if so, what sort of valuation I can expect.
Thanks in advance for any help.
I have a Ritchey mountain bike that was customized and handmade by Ritchey in the mid-1980s with the following features:
-The frame, fork and handlebars were handmade by Tom Ritchey
-Original Shimano thumb shifters
-Shimano cranks
-Shimano headset
-Suntour peddles
-Magura brake levers
Condition:
-It's been lightly ridden over the years, and has a few nicks here and there, but is in excellent shape overall
-Original red paint
-The ride is very true and smooth to this day
Ultimately, I am thinking about selling the bike. Does anyone have a sense of whether people are interested in these models? And if so, what sort of valuation I can expect.
Thanks in advance for any help.
01-13-09, 10:39 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 1,358
Bikes: March [B]'71 Schwinn Sports Tourer [/B] [B]
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
You need to ask that in the "Vintage Value Inquiries" at the top of the C&V page..
But before you do that... PICTURES PICTURES PLEASE!!
And no, they are not sought after and are junky old bikes. Please send me your address and I'll get it out of the way for you
Seriously, if it's hand-fillet brazed, that is a very good thing... TIG welded, not as good, but good...
You may have a model name on the top tube...?
But before you do that... PICTURES PICTURES PLEASE!!
And no, they are not sought after and are junky old bikes. Please send me your address and I'll get it out of the way for you
Seriously, if it's hand-fillet brazed, that is a very good thing... TIG welded, not as good, but good...
You may have a model name on the top tube...?
Last edited by bigwoo; 01-13-09 at 10:42 PM.
01-14-09, 12:27 AM
#3
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'll post pictures tomorrow.
Is proper Bike Forums protocol to repost in the right place, or just leave it be to avoid cluttering the boards?
Thanks!
Is proper Bike Forums protocol to repost in the right place, or just leave it be to avoid cluttering the boards?
Thanks!
01-14-09, 12:32 AM
#4
Senior Member
I'm not a mountain bike expert but I think you own a desirable bike.
this website has some historical Ritchey models for your reference:
https://mombat.org/Bike_Listing.htm
01-14-09, 01:10 AM
#5
www.theheadbadge.com
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,392 Times
in
2,092 Posts
01-14-09, 04:00 AM
#6
Formerly Known as Newbie
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 6,249
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
Yes, please report move requests to us instead of re-posting in a new forum. I'm moving this now (from Classic & Vintage).
--Juha, a Forum Mod
--Juha, a Forum Mod
__________________
To err is human. To moo is bovine.
Who is this General Failure anyway, and why is he reading my drive?
Become a Registered Member in Bike Forums
Community guidelines
To err is human. To moo is bovine.
Who is this General Failure anyway, and why is he reading my drive?
Become a Registered Member in Bike Forums
Community guidelines
01-14-09, 10:07 AM
#7
Keeper of the SLDB
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Springfield, MO
Posts: 1,577
Bikes: '75 Schwinn Paramount P-10, '86 Ritchey Commando, '87 Schwinn Cimarron, '91 Trek 990, '87 Schwinn High Sierra, '73 Schwinn Super Sport, '4? Schwinn New World, '76 Swing Bike.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
Yes, pics are a must have. Besides the obvious fillet-brazed vs. TIG I.D., there may be a decal on the seat tube that would state either "Handmade by Tom Ritchey" (he built the entire frame) or "Handcrafted by Ritchey Mountain Bikes" (built overseas and possibly finished by Tom -- most likely fillet-brazing the seat cluster). Lots of info here:
https://www.oldmountainbikes.com
Bob
https://www.oldmountainbikes.com
Bob
01-14-09, 04:57 PM
#8
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Pictures
Here are some pictures I took today. Let me know if there are other angles that folks would like to see.
Thanks for moving the thread to its proper place, and thanks for the links to other mountain biking pages.
You'll see in the middle picture that the bike was "Handmade by Tom Ritchey"
Thanks for moving the thread to its proper place, and thanks for the links to other mountain biking pages.
You'll see in the middle picture that the bike was "Handmade by Tom Ritchey"
07-22-09, 07:26 PM
#9
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
80's Ritchey Mountian
Dude, you should hang onto it unless it doesn't fit you... if you must, find a high end bike shop in your area and put it on consignment...
Look for the serial number on the bottom of the bottom bracket... oldmountainbikes.com will tell you how to read the number which will tell you when it was made, what type of frame and model... they also list photos of different models...
Look for the serial number on the bottom of the bottom bracket... oldmountainbikes.com will tell you how to read the number which will tell you when it was made, what type of frame and model... they also list photos of different models...
Here are some pictures I took today. Let me know if there are other angles that folks would like to see.
Thanks for moving the thread to its proper place, and thanks for the links to other mountain biking pages.
You'll see in the middle picture that the bike was "Handmade by Tom Ritchey"
Thanks for moving the thread to its proper place, and thanks for the links to other mountain biking pages.
You'll see in the middle picture that the bike was "Handmade by Tom Ritchey"
07-22-09, 07:38 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Santa Barbara
Posts: 1,506
Bikes: SE Quadrangle, '82 Venus NJS, '03 Bianchi Pista, '86 P'sonic Mt Cat, Fat City Yo Eddy '91 + '93, B'cuda A2E, '86 Trek Elance 400, '88 Centurion D.Scott Expert, '88 Fisher Mt Tam (and no longer with me: SE OM Flyer, Umezawa/B-stone/Samson NJS)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Fantastic looking bike!
03-21-20, 11:47 AM
#11
Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Charlevoix, Michigan
Posts: 1
Bikes: Late 80's Accent Comp
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Price
Here are some pictures I took today. Let me know if there are other angles that folks would like to see.
Thanks for moving the thread to its proper place, and thanks for the links to other mountain biking pages.
You'll see in the middle picture that the bike was "Handmade by Tom Ritchey"
Thanks for moving the thread to its proper place, and thanks for the links to other mountain biking pages.
You'll see in the middle picture that the bike was "Handmade by Tom Ritchey"
03-23-20, 08:33 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Fairplay Co
Posts: 9,517
Bikes: Current 79 Nishiki Custum Sport, Jeunet 620, notable previous bikes P.K. Ripper loop tail, Kawahara Laser Lite, Paramount Track full chrome, Raliegh Internatioanl, Motobecan Super Mirage. 59 Crown royak 3 speed
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 790 Post(s)
Liked 1,761 Times
in
634 Posts
Great bike zombie thread.
03-24-20, 07:40 AM
#15
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,524
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
I've been answering real estate ads from 11 years ago. So far, it hasn't worked. But I need just one.
Last edited by wrk101; 03-24-20 at 09:26 AM.
Likes For wrk101:
03-24-20, 07:34 PM
#17
Full Member
I rode a lot in Woodside afterwork in the eighties. Sometimes fellow riders would point out Tom passing us on Skyline in his truck/van--he was an almost mythical figure. Anyway, I lusted for one of these bikes at that time, but they seemed impossibly expensive and I had to settle for a lesser mountain bike. For some reason, a few months ago I had a dream where I was somehow gifted one of these red Ritchey bikes (were there any other colors?) and was walking with it in downtown Seattle (not far from where I currently live). I had to use the bathroom (in the dream) so I leaned the bike against a wall and left it. When I returned from the bathroom the bike was of course gone, and I had a futile experience trying to recover it (I went a bit Chris Farley on myself for being stupid enough to leave it out unsecured). I was sort of puzzled by such a dream as I hadn't thought about having this bike in decades (I used to dream about being with beautiful woman--but those type dreams ended about 20 years ago).
Likes For SClaraPokeman:
03-26-20, 10:50 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Posts: 5,395
Bikes: Too many to list
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1765 Post(s)
Liked 1,124 Times
in
746 Posts
I enjoyed the pics of that iconic mtb even if the thread is old
I recall having a customer in Colorado who had 2 original Ritchey MTB's (his and hers) hanging in his garage from that era which looked pristine and he advised he purchased them from the man himself years previous for he and his wife to take up the sport, but they lost interest after one summer
Beautiful and graceful workmanship on those bikes
I recall having a customer in Colorado who had 2 original Ritchey MTB's (his and hers) hanging in his garage from that era which looked pristine and he advised he purchased them from the man himself years previous for he and his wife to take up the sport, but they lost interest after one summer
Beautiful and graceful workmanship on those bikes
03-26-20, 12:43 PM
#21
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: PAZ
Posts: 12,294
Mentioned: 255 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2588 Post(s)
Liked 4,824 Times
in
1,709 Posts
Well, the OP hasn't checked into the net since January 14th, 2009. You might be waiting awhile for updates...
DD
DD
03-26-20, 12:58 PM
#23
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: PAZ
Posts: 12,294
Mentioned: 255 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2588 Post(s)
Liked 4,824 Times
in
1,709 Posts
Understandable - they're great pics of a rare bike 
DD
DD
03-27-20, 04:11 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Fairplay Co
Posts: 9,517
Bikes: Current 79 Nishiki Custum Sport, Jeunet 620, notable previous bikes P.K. Ripper loop tail, Kawahara Laser Lite, Paramount Track full chrome, Raliegh Internatioanl, Motobecan Super Mirage. 59 Crown royak 3 speed
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 790 Post(s)
Liked 1,761 Times
in
634 Posts
The nicer Richey built MTB's and BMX stuff from the 80's are a bout the best built frame sets I have seen nearly flawless lug work and brazing and basically the toughest high end lighter weight frames ever made.
03-29-20, 06:43 AM
#25
Edumacator
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Goose Creek, SC
Posts: 6,803
Bikes: '87 Crestdale, '87 Basso Gap, '92 Rossin Performance EL-OS, 1990 VanTuyl, 1980s Losa, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 1987 PX10, etc...
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2439 Post(s)
Liked 3,122 Times
in
1,964 Posts
So......how much is it worth...?
__________________
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
