Silver stuff - Ritchey Classic?

DonutDad

I'm in the market for a new seatpost, flat bars, stem and bar ends to spruce up my old black kona kula hard tail frame.
It's all black on black on black at the minute, and I want to go silver as its not something you see around any more, at least not round our way.

I could easily go Ritchey Classic, but as the silver stuff seems to sit at the bottom, cheap end of the Ritchey range I was wondering...

A: what to folks think of the Ritchey Classic gear (my knowledge is 15 years out of date), any good?
B: any recommendations for silver coloured components by other manufacturers I should look at?

My riding will be training on local bridle ways with forays into the woods and some nice fast downhills (nothing crazy, those days are gone), day long rides in the lake district so building a hardtail that will take anything on a full days adventure, but no big hits (except accidental ones) or huge jumps (maybe little ones).

I'm not really after exotica, but cost isn't a barrier. I weigh 200lbs, so im looking at tough, rather than featherweight.

I'd be interested to hear any thoughts
Cheers

supersonic

If you are after looks, why not. If performance, well, it is ok for the money for the weight.

DonutDad

Makes sense I suppose, gotta be that price for a reason...
At the end of the day, performance would absolutely win - and if it came in silver, so much the better.

I guess I should be asking what components do people swear by for XC performance? - but I guess the answers would vary hugely as these things are always subjective.

I'm coming from being off the bike for years, so I haven't heard of half the makes out there, and have no idea if the good old ones have either sold out or lost their rep for whatever reason.

Don't really want to throw money blindly at expensive products to try and guarantee quality, but I am prepared to throw it at good parts that will be light and strong, practical and well respected.

supersonic

Have to ask - what is wrong with what you have?

DonutDad

It's black... Only kidding.
Riser bars where I want flats and bar ends for different hand positions on longer rides, probably need new stem or bars will be too low, lost half the seat post clamp after I took the saddle off to use on a road bike earlier in the year.
I know I could get another bit for that, it's just all old and scratched to hell and I thought I'd make it shiny again to make me want to ride it

nicklouse

DonutDad wrote:

It's black... Only kidding.
Riser bars where I want flats and bar ends for different hand positions on longer rides, probably need new stem or bars will be too low,

so use bar ends with the risers. saves the cost of new bars and a stem.

The Rookie

800 followed by 1500 grit wet and dry will change most black components silver in a faitly short while, better still buy some scuffed used stuff (so cheap) and remove the scuffs and turn silver at the same time! Then apply a layer or 2 of car polish to keep it that way.

DonutDad

Thanks guys, but not really what I was after...

I originally built up the Kula frame with the cheapest bits I could find in Halfords, with the idea that I would eventually upgrade to nicer things to do the frame justice and have a lighter, stronger (and yes, prettier) bike.

Totally decadent I know as the gear I have hasn't failed me as such, but I deserve a treat now and then, so I'd like to buy new things. On the one hand, I know these are hardly the most technical bits of equipment, so some old scaffolding would do the job, but on the other I know there are better things out there and I'd like to be able to make an informed purchase.

I cut my riser bars down, so adding bar ends to them would make it all a bit cramped on there now, and anyway, I still just wanna buy some new stuff.

cheers

cooldad

So just find stuff you like and buy it.

DonutDad

Yeah... that wouldn't be very 'informed' though would it.

I'm trying to discover something here. thought it would be a better approach than just going and buying something cos I liked the look of it - if you're saying that's all there is to it, then I'm a bit disappointed.

I'll just have to go with believing advertising bull and bike shop bias. Great buying advice, thanks.

cooldad

So find stuff you like, post up here and see the response.
I'm sure Ritchie stuff will be fine anyway.

DonutDad

I'm obviously learning about how to use a forum too - apologies.
my question is too generic, that does seem like a good approach.

I'll try again.

mrmonkfinger

DonutDad wrote:

what to folks think of the Ritchey Classic gear

Ritchey (in general) are good, I have (and prob. will again) bought ritchey gear.

Spending loads on bars/stems/seatposts will buy you some weight saving, but no different functionality. If you like the Ritchey Classic gear, then buy it.

DonutDad

Thanks for the reply, I think I probably will.
It was worth asking in case I got a load of "do not touch it with a barge pole!" warnings - but if the stuff is as good as it ever was, then it'll be okay, even if it seems unnervingly cheap (compared to what I thought I'd have to pay).

It's bound to be a bit better than the mega cheapo stuff I have currently, and cheaper to replace if my tastes change once I'm back into it and know what I'm talking about a bit more.

thanks

70\ʹspenguin

Oddly enough i am also looking at chrome things as my bike is just "too" black at the moment. I dont think there is anything wrong in getting parts simply because you want your bike to look nice, just as long as they are fit for the job and you ride it afterwards! You wont go wrong with Ritchey and the post in question is only a tad heavier than the standard mid range stuff.


If you are worried about weight then perhaps look at the chrome Thompson post as its pretty bombproof. They turn up all the time on the forums. Go for the named brands and shop around including the German sites. Im sure they do a stem also. Charge bikes make a lot of chrome things and stick em on their models so that is another option.

passout

Thompson did (do?) their seatposts & stems in silver. Not cheap but very nice.