Celebrate five decades of cycling innovation with the Ritchey Ultra 50th Anniversary Edition. This isn’t just a mountain bike; it’s a piece of living history. Designed by the legendary Tom Ritchey, this limited-edition build honors the brand’s heritage while delivering a modern riding experience. Built around the iconic, fillet-brazed Ultra frame, this X-Large example offers a sublime blend of vintage aesthetics and contemporary componentry, making it the ultimate collector’s piece or a breathtakingly smooth trail machine for the tall rider.
Frame and Fork
Frame: The heart of this bike is the handcrafted Ritchey Ultra frameset, constructed from premium Ritchey Logic II tubing. Featuring exquisite fillet-brazing, the joints are smooth and seamless, showcasing the artistry of steel frame construction. The geometry pays homage to the original “mountain bike” design, updated with modern touches for a capable and comfortable ride. Finished in a stunning, celebratory anniversary color scheme with crisp badging, this frame is a rolling work of art.
Fork: Complementing the frame is the Ritchey WCS Carbon Disc rigid fork. It features a full-carbon construction to dampen trail vibrations and a tapered steerer for precise steering, keeping the bike light, responsive, and true to the classic cross-country feel.
Drivetrain
Shifters: Featuring the legendary SRAM XX1 Eagle 12-speed trigger shifter, known for its positive, crisp actuation and light thumb action. It puts a massive gear range at your fingertips.
Rear Derailleur: The SRAM XX1 Eagle rear derailleur offers flawless chain retention and precise shifting across the massive 10-52T cassette, ensuring you never run out of gears on the climbs.
Crankset: A custom Ritchey WCS forged alloy crankset, optimized for the anniversary build, provides the perfect stiffness-to-weight ratio and classic looks.
Cassette & Chain: The wide-range SRAM XG-1295 Eagle cassette and matching SRAM XX1 Eagle chain ensure seamless integration and reliable power transfer.
Cockpit and Finishing Kit
Handlebar & Stem: The bike is equipped with a full Ritchey WCS component suite. The handlebar offers a classic rise and sweep for comfort, clamped by a lightweight and durable Ritchey WCS C220 stem, ensuring precise control.
Seatpost & Saddle: A classic Ritchey WCS 1-bolt seatpost holds the Ritchey WCS Streem VL saddle, providing a period-correct look with modern comfort.
Grips: Finished with classic Ritchey WCS foam grips for a comfortable and authentic feel.
Brakes
Stopping power is provided by SRAM Level Ultimate hydraulic disc brakes. Featuring carbon brake levers and titanium hardware, these brakes offer exceptional modulation and lightweight stopping power, allowing you to confidently navigate technical descents.
Wheels and Tires
Wheelset: Rolling on Ritchey’s own WCS Zeta II Disc wheelset. These are built with a 24mm internal width rim (optimized for modern tires) and sealed cartridge bearings, offering a perfect balance of durability and weight savings.
Tires: Shod with Ritchey Ultra WCS Alpha Bite tires (size 29 x 2.2), designed in-house to match the bike’s pedigree. They provide fast rolling speed with ample cornering grip for classic trail riding.
Why This Bike?
Owning the Ritchey Ultra 50th Anniversary Edition means owning a tangible piece of mountain bike history. In size X-Large, this is a rare find, perfectly suited for taller riders seeking that coveted “steel is real” ride quality without sacrificing modern performance. It’s a conversation starter on the trails and a museum-grade piece in the garage.
