Vintage Japanese(Toyo) Ritchey w/Rocky Mountain decal
05-19-16, 02:53 AM
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Vintage Japanese(Toyo) Ritchey w/Rocky Mountain decal
The title says it all really.
I have done my research and from what I gather this is a mid 80s Toyo produced "Ritchey" for the Canadian market.
Rumour has it that Vancouver represented 90% of the Canadian sales of Ritchey mtb at the time, that Rocky Mountain were more a bike dealer than maker at this time when they developed a relationship with Tom to ease the demand and wait list for Ritchey bikes in Canada.
Tom had gone to Japan to develop special tubing with Range and met with Toyo about producing frames.
From what I understand some were shipped to Tom at Skyline in the US where he did the final touches with braze ons and aligning while the others were shipped to Rocky Mountain for the Canadian market.
This would also become the seed for Rocky Mountain as we know it today.
This particular bike looks mostly stock apart from its wheels, seatpost, saddle, cassette, and grips.
The frame is tig welded but with brazed fast back seat stays to a lug at The seat tube. The DT decal says Ritchey with 2 seat tube decals, one with Rocky Mountain, the other "Guaranteed built with Tom Ritchey. Butted tubes and stays.4130"
The fork is a unicorn design that also has the Ritchey decals and butted.
Components are...
Original Shimano Steer Head derailleurs, both front and rear, brakes and thumb shifters.
Magura brake levers w/rubber hoods
Ritchey bullmoose chromed bar
Original chromed Tange head set
Suntour Pro bear trap pedals
Unknown crank set has 4 little flag flapping stamped symbols
Unknown bb
Cheap alloy post, velo saddle, cheap tires, Electra Townie wheels with el cheapo cassette with that single mega sized easy gear.
I have done my research and from what I gather this is a mid 80s Toyo produced "Ritchey" for the Canadian market.
Rumour has it that Vancouver represented 90% of the Canadian sales of Ritchey mtb at the time, that Rocky Mountain were more a bike dealer than maker at this time when they developed a relationship with Tom to ease the demand and wait list for Ritchey bikes in Canada.
Tom had gone to Japan to develop special tubing with Range and met with Toyo about producing frames.
From what I understand some were shipped to Tom at Skyline in the US where he did the final touches with braze ons and aligning while the others were shipped to Rocky Mountain for the Canadian market.
This would also become the seed for Rocky Mountain as we know it today.
This particular bike looks mostly stock apart from its wheels, seatpost, saddle, cassette, and grips.
The frame is tig welded but with brazed fast back seat stays to a lug at The seat tube. The DT decal says Ritchey with 2 seat tube decals, one with Rocky Mountain, the other "Guaranteed built with Tom Ritchey. Butted tubes and stays.4130"
The fork is a unicorn design that also has the Ritchey decals and butted.
Components are...
Original Shimano Steer Head derailleurs, both front and rear, brakes and thumb shifters.
Magura brake levers w/rubber hoods
Ritchey bullmoose chromed bar
Original chromed Tange head set
Suntour Pro bear trap pedals
Unknown crank set has 4 little flag flapping stamped symbols
Unknown bb
Cheap alloy post, velo saddle, cheap tires, Electra Townie wheels with el cheapo cassette with that single mega sized easy gear.
Last edited by xmessenger; 05-19-16 at 03:02 AM. Reason: Addition
05-19-16, 07:05 AM
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In my opinion, this is a nice bike, but it isn't a desired collectible bike, but is instead a somewhat collectible bike which puts the price in the $250 range. It is similar to the Ritchey Ascent which was made in Japan and had the rear triangle brazed by Tom. The Ascents sell in the range I listed. FWIW, I had an Ascent and a Fischer Montare from the about the same year and every detail of the frame was identical except the stickers. It wouldn't surprise me if this frame was identical to those. Economies of scale for different markets/manufactures.
05-21-16, 12:50 PM
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In my opinion, this is a nice bike, but it isn't a desired collectible bike, but is instead a somewhat collectible bike which puts the price in the $250 range. It is similar to the Ritchey Ascent which was made in Japan and had the rear triangle brazed by Tom. The Ascents sell in the range I listed. FWIW, I had an Ascent and a Fischer Montare from the about the same year and every detail of the frame was identical except the stickers. It wouldn't surprise me if this frame was identical to those. Economies of scale for different markets/manufactures.
That sounds like what I was thinking.
Too bad I don't have room for it. It would make a decent addition to my more rare albeit not completely stock 1992 Rocky Mountain Team Comp. I have this in good running condition with some cool parts like XTR Vs, Suntour Expert thumbies, Turbine crank, Syncros stem and triple butted P2 fork(which is awesome, smooth and light).
Kinda sad really. When you think of just how many quality makers were actually making stuff in the Vancouver area in the 90s.
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