Back in the saddle: Ritte is making bikes again and they look pretty cool
I don’t know if they stopped building bikes or just took a break from building Belgian-inspired, but not Belgium-built bikes conceived from total irreverence. In any case, Ritte is back with two new head-turning builds: the Satyr (gravel) and allroad Phantom.
Built in partnership with Tom Kellogg (formerly Spectrum Cycles), both feature sprightly Reynolds size-specific tubing, geometry and unusual looks (particularly for stock steel rigs) - an aesthetic for which the not Belgian, but nonetheless cool bike brand is very well-known.
“It isn't watts or virtual leaderboards that get us out of bed in the morning,” the company claims, but the sheer emotion and satisfaction that comes from just turning the pedals.
With that ethos in mind, the Ritte/Kellogg collab conceives two new designs (available December 17th, 2019) that have custom-drawn Reynolds tubing and proper rake, Enve forks to ensure feel and feedback for every size rider is just right. “The closest you’ll get to custom,” they maintain.
When this blog is big and successful - like, CyclingTips big - I’ll be able to post in depth reviews and images on ride feel and assign random ratings that bestow a sense of quality, craft and the general experience of riding new frames from a constantly evolving bike biz. Till then, we have specs and bike pics.
All spec-ed out: the Satyr
Tom Kellogg design
Reynolds 725 tubing – varying tube specs for each size across 6 stock sizes
Enve forks – varying fork rakes with size
T47 bottom bracket
Full internal cable routing
Flat mount disc brakes
43 mm tire clearance
3 cage mounts (2 water bottle, one tool/keg type)
Fender mounts
MSRP $2250, complete builds from $3800
Custom Paint Option
The Phantom (above), in brief:
Tom Kellogg design - progressive all-road geometry
Reynolds 725 tubing – varying tube specs for each size across 6 stock sizes
Enve forks – varying fork rakes with size
T47 bottom bracket
Full internal cable routing
Flat mount disc brakes
700x32 mm tire clearance
2 bottle cage mounts
MSRP: $2250 frameset, builds from $3800 (Global Pricing TBC)
Custom Paint Option