1988 Ritchey OutBack
I restored this bike for Erin. Based on the Ritchey OutBack page from 1988 Ritchey catalog this bike was designed as an ‘expedition’ bike for both on and off road riding with a bit more relaxed riding posture than MTB’s of the era. This bike has a remarkable frame: its Tange 4130 CroMoly steel tubes are not simply lugged, but also reinforced with brazed pieces in the most important high stress joints and then fillet brazed. It makes frame joints look smooth and seamless.
Most of this bike’s components were heavily modified and upgraded over the years by the previous owner(s). This frame’s original brazed-on U-brakes bosses were cut off, and new bosses were brazed-on for V-brakes – this type of work can only be done by a highly skilled professional bike mechanic.
Click on the photo below to see the unsorted restoration pics.
Historic & Technical references
Upgrades made to this bike before me
- The original brazed-on U-brakes bosses were cut off, and new V-brake bosses were brazed-on.
- The original Tange CD Black headsets were replaced with Dura-Ace sealed headset. Lower bearing was exposed to water and rusted, I am de-rusting it now. Ball bearings will likely have to be replaced with new.
- The original 3-chainrings Biopace crankset (28/38/48T) was replaced with 2-chainrings crankset (38/48T).