tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538361619679101786.post7385883538628456278..comments2021-01-30T06:51:48.529-08:00Comments on Huffman Bicycle Club: Ritchey Breakaway Steel Cross ReviewUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538361619679101786.post-90870541525025405852018-07-07T10:13:28.207-07:002018-07-07T10:13:28.207-07:00The newer post on the Ritchey is here: http://blo...The newer post on the Ritchey is here: http://blog.huffmanbicycleclub.org/2016/11/tale-of-three-bikes-riding-ritchey-again.html. I've not been happy with that beam rack -- more recently am using bike packing bags -- but I love the new brakes and the big tires.Maxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07722786211652015559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538361619679101786.post-19260599570244299482018-07-07T10:00:43.826-07:002018-07-07T10:00:43.826-07:00Hey, thanks. Our regrets that we've been pret...Hey, thanks. Our regrets that we've been pretty dilatory in keeping up the posts. Should be getting better with a new training cycle under way. Fingers crossed.<br /><br />There's a later post on the Ritchey -- I rebuilt it, sometime in 2017, and I think it's a much nicer rig as rebuilt. I have one more change to make: going 1x. For travel purposes a single 46-tooth chainring seems just the thing. So there should be a new post on that before too long!Maxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07722786211652015559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538361619679101786.post-65264002505846132952018-03-22T04:40:01.876-07:002018-03-22T04:40:01.876-07:00Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog a...Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon. Big thanks for the useful info. <a href="http://www.copenhagenbikerental.dk/" rel="nofollow">rent family bike</a><br />Crystal Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06719672190743344930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538361619679101786.post-56824735840360294622014-04-16T09:07:25.551-07:002014-04-16T09:07:25.551-07:00Lack of self doubt must be a luxury! Thanks to NO...Lack of self doubt must be a luxury! Thanks to NONE for the lessons on "a thing or two about assembly and choice of components."<br /><br />If my post was not clear (or if one did not read it closely), this is the best travel bike one can find and for the money the steel version is just fine.<br /><br />But it is not a perfect travel bike. Maybe there is no such thing, but it does not mean one dumbs-down the definition of perfection. <br /><br />In particular, there are some clear areas in which the Breakaway can be improved. Accommodating closed-cam skewers is obvious. Robust paint is obvious. Faultless threads is obvious. Pump pegs are obvious. Under-the-downtube bottle braze-ons is obvious.<br /><br />In other areas, it cannot be readily improved. A serious riding bike will never fold and unfold like a city foldable. That is how we define "compromise." Or at least how I and Webster's define compromise. <br /><br />As it stands, glad I have it, but I'm still riding the Gunnar at home, still paying the checked luggage fees for remote races when an aggressive bike is required, and encouraging others to shop carefully based on their needs.<br />Maxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07722786211652015559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538361619679101786.post-81611160223417563692014-04-16T08:09:35.439-07:002014-04-16T08:09:35.439-07:00That's an awesome record of airline savings.That's an awesome record of airline savings.samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16215727841155911987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538361619679101786.post-55693143778730617612014-04-15T18:53:23.946-07:002014-04-15T18:53:23.946-07:00Ritchey now has carbon Breakaway version as well.
...Ritchey now has carbon Breakaway version as well.<br /><br />I am surprised at some of your complaints. <br />First, I definitely agree you should have bought the frame and built it up yourself. It would have taught you a thing or two about assembly/disassembly and choice of components.<br /><br />Some of your complaints are cosmetic and not about function. Paintjob? This is a travel bike and will get scratched up. I never had a problem with the seat postthreads, but it sounds like you stripped the threads somehow. This could happen on any thread.<br /><br />Many of your complaints are about externally obtained components, rather than the frame - not matching silver crankset to black 105 color (???). Ok, why didn't you get matching parts? I wouldn't care much anyways, it's minor detail.<br /><br />I have owned a Breakaway for years and never had any issues with skewers or frame pump - works perfectly fine for me. <br /><br />As to packing - if you know what you are doing, with some basic experience you can pack the bike in about 10min flat - most of it spent wrapping components. Same for assembly from the case to riding - 10min, 15 tops if you want to take your time and tune it all up. No need to deflate the tires. Use v-brakes instead of cantis. Works well for both cross and road grifters.<br /><br />The frame can accept up to 40mm tires, not just 32mm.<br /><br />And if you are worried about getting charged (I had over 50 trips and no charges), you can always get S&S case - which is airline legal, but then you MUST deflate tires and it's much heavier, and you might have to take off cranksets. So if it takes you 30min to assemble your bike NOW, it may be over an hour with S&S airline legal case. The case is also more expensive.<br /><br />For your calculation of savings - it depends on whether you treat it as another bike and another set of components, or if you need a CX/travel/steel bike anyways. In my case, I had most components just laying around, and just needed a case and a frame, so I see it as $1,100 frame investment. You can at the very least swap wheels and seatpost/seat from your "regular" bike, so all you need is a gruppo and handlebar/stem.<br /><br />In my 2.5 years of owning Breakaway (never had to pay a luggage fee for my 62" Breakaway bag), my airline fee savings are $3,700, based on 42 trips (8 are foreign, the rest are domestic - most on United and Southwest which are somewhat reasonable as far as bike fees go).<br /><br />More info - bikeaway.tumblr.com<br />NONEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10714684038171784902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538361619679101786.post-25182957434841273672014-04-09T04:27:54.379-07:002014-04-09T04:27:54.379-07:00Yes, I wish I had bought the titanium frame, in pa...Yes, I wish I had bought the titanium frame, in particular because I don't yet have one. And of course you know I will have one one way or the other soon enough.<br /><br />Rationale for cross frame was tire clearance/general perception of touring bike chops. I would say I was doing my best not to repeat the two nice metal road bikes I have. From a fit perspective I think the road version would be better. Top tube on the cross 60 cm. is 58 cm., top tube on the road 60 cm. is 59 cm.<br /><br />The skewer does close, but you cannot tighten/loosen by spinning the lever. Instead you have to work the nut (which is also a tight fit) until you can close the lever. <br /><br />Ritchey does make a breakaway frame for single speed/fixie use! Steel only, I think. $999 at BDUSA.<br /><br />Good point on the grade for the packing. I should revise. In other words, the Dahon-style 30" fold is the A+. Adding a step beyond packing a normal bike and doing little to improve the packing hurts this bike on that vector. Will revise.<br /><br />Check the dimensions. (http://ritcheylogic.com/frames/break-away-road/break-away-ti-carbon-road-frame.html) The road has a longer top tube than does my Gunnar, which you have ridden (though not far). On the other hand, that would mean you just bought a second version of your Hab.Maxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07722786211652015559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538361619679101786.post-54520075296821710162014-04-08T18:58:41.617-07:002014-04-08T18:58:41.617-07:00Great review.
* I note that the Ti version saves ...Great review.<br /><br />* I note that the Ti version saves you 1.5 pounds on a 56cm frame. Not trivial for a travel bike. Not sure that alone warrants the cost, but in conjunction with the paint issue, it comes close.<br /><br />* Remind me -- did you opt for the cross frame primarily for the tire clearance?<br /><br />* Great find on those wheels. Good grief. I remember when a $200 wheelset seemed like a steal. <br /><br />* LMAO about the bottom bracket. I suppose it makes sense that a messed up crank would do that to a BB over 150 miles. Good thing we quit early.<br /><br />* The bikes look fantastic. P's paint job is really fetching.'<br /><br />* I've always had the same experience with cantilevers as you. They work fine, but they just don't feel crisp.<br /><br />* Would the skewers work better with the lever facing down (so the bulge on the cam is on the open portion of the dropout)? Agreed that Shimano skewers should work on any frame.<br /><br />* Several of the issues you mention are resolved if one makes it a travel-fixie. Of course that limits the travel you'd want to do with it.<br /><br />* From your description, I'd rate the break-down as a C+. For a bike tailor made for breakdown, I'd have expected the bags to be a bit more structured than "stuff it all in". I get that same experience from my Performance travel case (though granted without the luggage savings.<br /><br />* If the 60cm is a tight fit for you, I worry that I may want a non-existent 62cm.<br /><br />It sounds to me like this is a worthy investment /if/ it can completely replace another bike in the stable, but probably not as an additional bike. Not like that's any reason not to get one of course!samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16215727841155911987noreply@blogger.com