Ritchey Swiss Cross Disc on test: Tradition instead of retro

Test: The classic in the US brand's range is more up-to-date than ever, because while steel frames were a necessity 20 years ago, today they are loved for their own sake. Especially if they are disc compatible.

Even if it may seem so at first glance - this bike really doesn't have to be described as "retro". Rather, it has basically always been there; its story begins almost 20 years ago or longer, depending on where you start.

Tom Ritchey is one of those mountain bike pioneers who really knew how to make something. The man with the distinctive mustache is not only a source of ideas and a developer, but was also a frame builder and a real craftsman. This facet of his company has long since slipped behind a huge range of components and is no longer perceived as it deserves. And that is perhaps the reason why a bike like the Ritchey Swiss Cross Disc is first of all placed in a row with the various disc brake steel frame creations that have come onto the market in recent years - trendy and retro.

But the Ritchey Swiss Cross has history. It is closely linked to Thomas Frischknecht, the Swiss mountain bike legend who Ritchey equipped with equipment in the mid-1990s. At the time it was perfectly normal to compete on steel hardtails and the Swiss's were made by Tom Ritchey. And since Frischknecht always commuted between the two disciplines of mountain bike and cross-country, it was logical that the American would also provide him with cross bikes. Frischknecht landed what is probably his greatest international success in 1997 when he came second in the Cross Country World Championships, apart from the World Cup victory in Zeddam two years later.

Since that time there has always been a steel cyclocross bike in the Ritchey lineup; the large manufacturers, on the other hand, have long since switched to aluminum and carbon. And since Tom Ritchey naturally keeps up with the times, the Swiss Cross is now also available with disc brakes.

What is the first thing you notice when looking at the Ritchey Swiss Cross Disc? Of course, the slim shape of the frame, which is partly lugged, partly welded and offers a number of beautiful details. A Ritchey classic is the saddle sleeve, where the rear struts come together in the clamp - something like this used to only be seen on really noble steel frames. The retracted dropouts are also worth seeing (with the Ritchey logo on the right), as is the base for the brake caliper, which has a reinforcing bridge. To make room for the brake, the left rear stay is curved.

At the front, the “hourglass” head tube, tailored for a semi-integrated headset, catches the eye. A classic variant might be nicer, but wouldn't get along with the 1 1/8 inch fork. This is of course made of carbon and visually forms a clear contrast to the frame. Involuntarily one wonders whether a steel fork would not fit better, especially since the material could also offer a noticeable comfort factor at this point. The Ritchey Swiss Cross feels like pretty much any crosser made from a different frame material: quite stiff when accelerating, which of course is partly overshadowed by the "feeling" of the tires, and at the same time as comfortable as a diamond frame can be is equipped with a fairly slim, extended aluminum seat post - not very comfortable, although of course the tires also come into play here.

Tom Ritchey doesn't offer complete bikes, only framesets; equipping it with Shimano Ultegra on the part of the importer is an obvious choice, albeit not a very original one. As usual, the function of the groupset is perfect – soft, precise gear changes and a braking performance that inspires with fine modulation and conveys a lot of security. The Shimano disc is not too sharp; it is rather unlikely that you will lock up the front wheel in the heat of the moment.

All attachments bear Tom Ritchey's WCS logo, which stands for high quality and low weight. The parts include the monorail saddle with the corresponding support, a combination that has an unusually large adjustment range in the longitudinal direction and is of course infinitely adjustable in inclination. Also unusual is the compact handlebars with outward arches. These ensure that the brake levers are slightly slanted, which feels quite comfortable.

The wheelset also comes from Ritchey; Mounted is a WCS Zeta Disc with 24 spokes and 24 mm wide rims, which in turn are shod with the in-house “Shield” tires in WCS quality.

And it's these tires that make driving the Ritchey Swiss Cross fun. Since the test bike reached us with a flat tire, we immediately fitted latex tubes at the front and rear – recommended for the folding-tire crosser if you want to ride with low air pressure. Getting started with only 2,2 bar seemed risky at first due to the risk of bottoming out, but all our worries were unfounded. Instead, on the one hand, the Shield offered extremely good grip on wet, slippery surfaces, on the other hand, it rolled extremely well. The tyre's heyday then came on a bridle path with a deep layer of splits, into which 32 tubular tires pressed deeply and began to sway, making progress quite difficult. However, the 37 mm wide Shield literally swam on the deep surface and stayed on track. We didn’t have to observe any lateral buckling in sharp corners, as was to be expected given the low air pressure. Of course, old-school purists and cross-country riders are reluctant to go off-road with folding tires. However, this tire makes you ponder...

A look at the geometry table also makes you think. There you will find that the dimensions of the Swiss Cross are somewhere between a classic cross bike and a road racing bike. The steering angle is 72 degrees on the larger versions; With the 57 frame, the top tube measures 568 mm horizontally and the head tube 170 mm. This leads to a balanced, sporty seating position and good-natured, agile handling that you can get along with on and off the road. This makes the Swiss Cross an all-rounder that can be made fit for a wide range of purposes with a simple tire change. And between cross-country and road there is also gravel...

Besides all these good points, does Tom Ritchey's disc crosser also have a few disadvantages? Occasional grinding noises under the fork head let us know that the passage is quite tight at this point; mud and leaves can accumulate here. On the other hand, the cables and lines that are routed completely on the outside may make maintenance easier, but they disturb the slim lines of the crosser a bit. An interior routing in the frame triangle would be a dream and would also make cleaning and carrying easier.

Speaking of which: when you shoulder the Ritchey Swiss Cross, you realize that you are riding a steel bike. Without pedals, the bike weighs 9,1 kilos (Rh. 55), and with the slim, round top tube, it does feel a little tight when you carry it. But this is the only disadvantage you have to put up with if you want to ride this modern classic, which by the way is extremely affordable: the frame set officially costs 1.099 euros. If you are looking for a bike that fits the current trends, but has long anticipated them - here it is.

Conclusion

Tom Ritchey's classic is highly topical, especially with disc brakes. The slim steel wheel is great to drive, Ritchey components such as the tires should also be chosen for individual equipment.