This was my fourth review from you in two days and was amazed with the presentation and knowledge for us wanting to learn average Joe's. Keep em coming.
Super informative review for a bike I have been considering for many of the reasons you stated. Thank you for your well structured/organized and thorough evaluation.
Great review! I set mine up 2x with 700x38. It really is such a comfortable bike. Probably going to get a set of 650b wheels with some chunky tires for the trails!
Great review. I built mine as a mountain bike. 2.1s on 650b. 1x11 and carbon bullmoose bars. It’s sub 8kg and an absolute blast. It motors on the pavement transitioning to gravel. I have 3 young kids so my cycling is typically opportunistic and the outback is ready for anything, anytime!
2023 Outback Breakaway Sram Force axs 2by group with Juin Tech gt mechanically activated hydraulic calipers. Two sets of wheels; 700c Zipp 303 Firecrest running Rene Herse Bon Jon 35c extralites for roadish conditions and 650b Ritchey WCS Zeta gx running Rene Herse Juniper Ridge 48c extralites for blue/green mtb type stuff. Truly a great one bike stable.
Superbly done. One of the best reviews of the 2020 Ritchey Outback, video or written form, that I've seen. Thanks for this. Have ordered one from my LBS, with a GRX 1x group, GRX 650b wheels, 48mm Rene Herse tires. Will try and find Ritchey's FlexLogic post for this, as it seems it would nicely complement the plush ride. But availability is scarce right now.
Thank you kindly! I had briefly considered Campagnolo Ekar 1 x 13, but Shimano GRX 1x is so reliable on my current bike, I decided to stay with it. As for colour: I saw both the green and sunset frames that belonged to other customers at my LBS. Looking at just pics, I would've said green. But having seen the sunset, that's cool too, in an '80's, kitschy way LOL. I told my LBS that whichever colour comes in first in my size in their next shipment, I'll take it! :)
So I have the Break Away Outback for a week now. I didn't think I could find a better bike than my Swiss Cross but I just did! I have it set up 1X (White industries crank/Sun Race 42 x 10-42, Klampers, SRAM Force shifters and the rest all Ritchey. 700c Zeta Classic wheels with Maxxis Rambler 45c. The most comfortable bike I have ever ridden.
Great review! According to Jan Heine, even these differences in chainstay length can hardly affect anything in terms of handling. Sounds like a well thought out bike. I like relaxed and calm style without cuts every 2 seconds. Best of luck to you!✌️
I bought one a few months ago and built it up 1x with the Sram Rival group that came with my Kona Sutra. With my Spinergy GX wheels and Force crank it comes to 21 lb. even with Crank bros Candies. I also sold my cross bike so I'm down to just this (and my townie), light enough for daily rides on mixed surface, and also for loaded trips. I LOVE THIS BIKE. I've had a few carbon bikes and I'm done with them - too stiff and fragile. One review (road.cc I think) said Ritchey told them the middle wall thickness on the top tube is too thin to support braze-ons, so they had to use two cable stops at either end where the butts are thicker. Cable guides would require a braze-on in the middle of the tube so that wouldn't work. Just run a length of housing in the middle and you can run bags.
Nice! Sold on steel then? Fascinating about the cable issue. I just don’t see it being as big a deal as some make it out to be. Right, you could just add a length of housing as a sleeve and call it a day.
Hey Alex - What size front chainring and cassette did you decide to use with your SRAM Rival system (and how do you feel about it)? I am considering a similar Outback v2 build/use case with a 36t in the front and a SRAM 12spd 10-52t in the back.
Regarding running three cables down the downtube and still having a bottle cage mount underneath, check out the Specialized AWOL, it's executed beautifully (imo).
I ended up buying the sunset fade in a medium and the fit is great (was unsure if I would be a small or medium. Ritchey helped with sizing advice). Awesome ride quality.
@@olivierpicon1860 hi, 168cm. Running an 80mm stem. Zero offset post. Been trialling a 90mm stem, also good. Bars are a Pro discover reach is 65mm.. extra stack with the medium works well for me. Hope that helps 🙏
Sorry to bother you again. I'm almost sold on getting an M like you. Just wanted to know: don't you have problems with the standover height? Thank you in advance.
I have the 2020 set up with Campy's 13spd EKAR grouppo and running a pair of 44cm/700c for general gravel and 2.0/650b for more technical trails. The outback is a smooth and comfortable ride and very responsive for having such a long wheelbase. It fits perfectly between my steel Torelli road frame and SOMA analog MTB. It really has become my Leatherman multi-tool bike.
This is such an excellent review, thank you. I'm thinking of getting this bike online, built up by Adrenaline Bikes with the 2x GRX package. The only bummer about not being able to actually demo or even SEE the bike in person before buying is, of course, sizing. I ride a 58 Jamis Exploit now, but I'm 5'10.5" with a 31" inseam so probably the medium, but it does make me nervous not being able to ride the bike first! Anyway, thanks again.
great presentation and really helpful in informing my decision to buy an outback...although being a thru and thru roadie I do have lingering question marks about the longer chainstays / rear triangle compared to that of say a Swisscross. subscribed.
GREAT review. The bike looks AWESOME. Love the color too. The one thing I don’t like is the cables. They should make all cables full housing & put the top tube cable down the bottom so you could put a top tube bag.
Thanks for the great review, nothing like the experience of actually being on the bike to fully understand how it responds. I’ve been considering a Breakaway Outback, do they have the new geometry and features you noted? Do you have an opinion regarding whether the Breakaway Outback and Outback have the same ride characteristics?
This will be my next bike to add to my Road Logic. Just can't decide whether to spring for the outback breakaway or the regular. Was wondering if you have any comment about whether putting a flat bar on the bike would be a bad idea or not.
Nice - a Ritchey lineup! No problems putting a flat bar on. If they're going to be really wide, then perhaps consider a shorter stem, but that's about it. Would be a unique build for sure
Fantastic review! Trying to lock down the sizing for this frame. I see you are 5'8" and ran a small? Do you happen to know your inseam and/or saddle height? I'm 5'8" and some change as well with a tad longish 31" inseam and debating whether the medium would be a better fit. Thanks!
Inseam is roughly 29-30”. Short legs. Consider checking out @pathlesspedaled recent video on bike sizing between sizes. Sounds like you’re #smedium too!
You mentioned the frame was a size medium. How tall are you you? And how did it fit? I'm 5'10" and currently looking to buy this frame. Just wondering what size I would be. Medium looks about right. Thanks!
Hi, I’m also 5’8” and have the opportunity to get a size M. Haven’t been able to check it out, any thoughts on that size for me based on how the size S was for you?
the paintjob is surprisingly good in person. a bit of a matte finish to it comparing it to other shiny finished ones. what groupset would you recommend for a beginner rider for this one? planning on purchasing this as my first serious bike
Beginner or not, it all depends on what type of riding you’ll favor. 1x is honestly sufficient for 90% of riders in my opinion. I’d go with a midrange group, similar to grx600 or the bulletproof 105. No need to drop toms of cash on a high end group set. Better places to spend money on the bike in my opinion.
I like that Ritchey goes their own way. I chose my Marin Nicasio One (lowest on the food chain) because of its straight forward cable routing and many other "outdated" features. Well, that and it was $800 complete...
Right on. Heard great things about the Nicasio. I have a ton of respect for cyclists who ‘earn’ their upgrades by starting basic and learning what components actually improve the ride experience. Too many riders going straight for the top shelf these days.
Nothing beats aesthetics of thin steel tubes. Loved my hardcore hardtail, but for my height it was no go for climbing. Now having Czech small producer RB bike from, model RX - they weld the frames themselves, no outsource - worth checking. But while happy even if Al, i surely would prefer the more comfy steel. Also the size of the tubes is like on some very rough MTB as well. :)
Thanks for responding. I know the Swiss is racier and more agile so wouldn’t that be better for getting around obstacles and overall maneuverability etc? The outbacks more upright and relaxed geometry does sound appealing considering I already own a Road Logic. Thanks!
To a degree, but the point of stretched out slacker geo is to add stability on chunky off road descents. In my experience, ‘agile’ on the road can translate to twitchy and unpredictable off road. Outback I think favors the off road stuff and behaves decently well on the road.
I have a Swiss Cross with a 2X GRX group. It is one of the best bikes I've ever owned (road, mountain, or gravel). I chose it because my rides are a mix of paved and dirt roads, but it can handle the worst of the off road stuff. But, for really long adventures (and if you need racks, bags, fenders and the extra bottle cage) I'd say go for the outback.
Hey I know that "watch your downhill speed" sign and those train tracks! I just did that ride last Sunday. Would you say the outback handled the whole loop well?
I can't tell if you've addressed this in your review, but could you elaborate why you got the Ritchey and how it serves you compared to your Diverge? I'm considering a 2nd bike, if nothing more than a backup to my Diverge if it requires some long-term downtime for repairs. Alternatively, I could have spare parts on hand... but I feel like the retail cost of stocking up on replacement parts to reduce downtime (and potentially all the related specialty tools) could come close to the cost of a new bike. Your thoughts?
The Ritchey was a bike sent over for review. I returned it after the review period was up. The Diverge is my personal bike. Very different bikes, but both aspire to be a do-it-all machine and both do it all pretty well. If I had to summarize in a line, I might say the Diverge is all-road capable, but slightly more road oriented and more nimble, while the Outback is more dirt oriented and more stable
Like a few others, I’d like to see your thoughts about this compared to the Diverge. I’ve got my first Comp Carbon on order to be here some time in March. I selected it as a do everything option for me to train, ride gravel races with my wife, and just enjoy some long trails and rides with her when I’m not doing Triathlon stuff. It will also be my Tribike with added arm rests simply because I’m an age grouper, not a professional. I wanted as little weight as possible for a do everything bike as I get older. The Richey seems very much like a bike suited for some of the amazing trails I’ve been hearing about in Arkansas that has been growing as a biking destination for the gravel crowd. But since you’ve ridden the Diverge in similar conditions as the Richey, thoughts on performance/comfort/ruggedness? Again, another well done video!
Yea interesting comparison. They both do well in off road stuff, but I have to say the Outback plows through the chunk with more confidence. The diverge (as with many modern all road bikes) adopts the short chain stays which I suppose improved road responsiveness, but the longer stays improve off-road stability. Regarding weight, the Outback is actually (marginally) lighter than my carbon diverge! The outback’s butted tubing is really a testament to great material design and the older stigma of steel = heavy can be put to rest. Could probably do a whole video on this, but overall I’d say the Outback favors riders who like 50/50 split of road and gravel, whereas a bike like the diverge seems a bit more biased toward road, but still off road capable.
@@TheBikeSauce Sounds like my initial sense of intended purpose for my own bike wasn’t a bad selection. The reality is that, given my location and Tri-goals, leaning towards road with off road options wasn’t too off base. There are only thousands of options to pick from that ultimately I had a budget, and bought from the local cycle shop I liked best. Thank you for helping me see a bit into the world of Richey!
Big difference is Diverge has tire clearance issues. Depending on rims best I can do is 35mm. Wider is more comfortable on gravel my Salsa Vaya has 45s. Steel nice ride on gravel . Mine have road cranks. Pitched that weenie compact stuff
I want to buy one. But here in Australia the allocated stock belongs to an online retailer. You can't buy one from a shop because they cannot get them.
Really helpful review! bumped into your channel while looking for outback frame reviews. Also the same height and really struggling to between S and M and after viewing this I'm leaning towards the S, just curious what is your arm length (if you don't mind sharing!)
Nice, I think I could go either way. Just prefer riding smaller frames. Not sure how to measure arm length exactly, but fingertip to shoulder joint is about 28-29"
How do you think this would run with 30mm road tires on it, say, half the time, for road rides? Thinking about a separate 650x2.1 wheelset and swapping for the occasion. Great vid!
Great plan, but may as well go wider for road rides. I might run a 700c x 38 tubeless for dedicated road efforts. Will be just as fast as high pressure skinnies but far more comfortable
@TheBikeSauce: Great review, in fact I am seriously considering buying this bike since I saw it comming out in 2020. My first experience with Ritchey was P-29er cross country mtb and riding it in suitable terrain is very pleasing. My gravel build will be aimed more toward road experience with WCS components, so I am considering 2x system more than 1x and I based on your technical review, and some helpfull comments and answers -- what do you think about SRAM Force eTap AXS? I think I prefer cables and I am ok with external routing for the simplicity, but to have no routing at all ... do you have any insight or experience with AXS?
Sounds like a fun project. No first hand experience with force AXS, unfortunately, but I’ve got a couple of detailed 1x vs 2x videos you might check out before you rule out 1x.
@@TheBikeSauce Indeed I already had :-), great stuff. I especially like what you have said about the lower gears ratio on 1x and 2x system. Though I prefer sram eagle to shimano, this is exactly what shimano is doing better. Anyway: 1x or 2x? I do intend to climb a bit as well as do some long distance flat rides, so I am certain -- I know my hills :-) -- I really need those extra gears for climbing. For me it comes down to this: If 1x, I need eagle range + drop down bars => sram AXS eagle + sram Red/Force AXS shifters + crankset (40 or 42t) to get me the range I want -- no way how to do this with shimano or anyone else I guess? And hence no cables at all. If 2x, I have plenty of options and probably both shimano or sram or anything else decently priced will do the job, no need for AXS there. I definitely consider myself being a smile-per-mile guy, so the exact right cadence and power output are ... not so important. I also love my 1x drivertrain on my Ritchey P-29er since the simplicity and performance is great, however, I do commute on my bike every day and riding the same gears all the time means new gx eagle cassette every year. 2x system will provide more options (more-or-less same ratios across the gear range) and thus less wear overall. But really thanks, your videos made me think it through -- I am writing my own gear-ratio comparison tool now -- just prefer matplotlib to matlab :-) -- and I will go for 1x mullet build with AXS eagle and AXS Force shifters (Red being too pricey). Again, thanks a lot and keep up!
Ha, every bike can be ridden on gravel, but that doesn't mean every bike is FUN on gravel. Perhaps I may try a Road Logic for a while, but a key difference includes 700c x 30 upper limit on tire width on the Road Logic. Makes sense for a pure road bike, but even then, all the science points to wider being faster (even on the road). Then the much shorter chainstays and steeper headtube angle all orient the bike as a quick-handling, nimble road machine. I imagine it would make for some very white-knuckled descents down chunkier off-road stuff, but this is speculation.
Great review! We are of the same height and I was surprised you were riding size small. Wasn't it a bit small for you? Toe overlap? Did you have to extend your stem to say 110mm or just kept it at 90mm-100mm?
Thx for watching. Yea I’m always on the border between small and medium, but I generally prefer the small for better control. Stem is not extended, and fit tends more toward upright rather than hunched and stretched out
Nice review! How much would the built you had in the video cost? Also: I'm currently looking at Fairlights Faran 2.0 or Secan 2.0. How would you compare the Outback to those?
Can’t say exactly, but it had GRX 600 1x, and Ritchey finishing kit. Best guess between $2800-$3200 out the door. I don’t have any experience on Fairlight frames (yet 😆), but they’re in the same genre
Whats the prize? What happened to your specialized? Just realized we have the same size, what Frame Size does your Specialized have and do you think its the right choice or could it be smaller/larger?
Ha, I still have the diverge. This is a review bike loaned to me by Ritchey. At 5’8”, it’s kind of the border between small and medium, but I prefer to ride a smaller frame
I'll second what you say about having a short chainstay: I have a Swiss Cross canti and its chainstay length is 425mm. The bike is *super* twitchy (fun) however that translates to pure fright on descents while riding on the hoods. Since I started descending in the drops, the stability/control greatly increased and now I can descend fast on some super rough stuff without too much fear of dying in a super gnarly accident lol. It's still not nearly as stable as the Outback (or something like a Riv) but I love how responsive it is and the steel provides great dampening and ride comfort on the rough stuff/longer rides.
Thanks for the great review. In terms of bike weight, you said it was sub 21 pounds in this configuration, but it's not clear to me if that is as delivered (with the alloy wheels) or with the Hunt carbon wheels on it. I agree that most people who buy this won't be overly concerned with weight, but I'd like to know what wheels were on the bike when you weighed it to get a feel for weight with a pretty standard build.
I’m in search of a bike..desperately. I’ve been looking for a carbon road frame because of its hype and popularity but I may be swayed to get a steel frame after this review (I’m an average rider) lol
I bought a ritchey logic. Most comfortable bike I've ever rode. If you're not competing seriously, go with steel. The durability and comfort can't be beat.
Yea interesting comparison, but I do have direct experience 😆. If you look at the geometry charts, they’re actually somewhat similar, save for the longer stays on the Outback. They both tend somewhat toward upright. Do a comparison on bikeinsights.com and you can see. Regarding the feel, the Outback is surprisingly compliant with the butted steel tubing. The future shock on the diverge definitely adds more compliance for bigger bumps, as it has 20mm of travel, but the feel of the Outback is comparable in terms of muting out the high frequency chatter.
The diverge comes in 9 different tiers all at different price points. Tough to compare costs without knowing which model. Also the Outback isn’t available as a full build
Every time I ride my gravel bike somewhere a mt bike would be way better,it turns out my mt bike would have been WAY better............."nimble and agile" IS fun! When flying downhill they turn way better and steer quickly. The lively feel is a good part of the fun of a bike. Its all opinion.
This is an excellently detailed review and presented well. The only improvement I would make is to quit it with the jump cuts, they are really distracting and your presentation doesn't require it. You don't need 'em!
Great review. Also wondering how it compares to Diverge, Do you know what speed it is comfortable running at on the road? Too bad it is sold out already.
Haha interesting request from a lot of people since they’re very different bikes. Perhaps I’ll do a comparison, but it would be very apples to oranges. As far as speed, practically speaking, the Outback is as fast as any other bike. 99% of speed is a function of rider power and position on bike. Differences between bikes will be mostly in handling characteristics.
I really wish I got to ride one of these before I pulled the trigger on my Swiss Cross. I was afraid that this bike would be a bit too supple for my lil road jaunts and off road bits near Marin.
I think a lot of cyclists consider the new gravel segment to be early 90s mtb w drop bars. Some truth to it, but gravel / all-road is certainly a standalone segment in its own right
I know it's more easier to service and looks old school, but i really wish steel frames would be available with internal cable routing too, that would make adding accessories much easier.
I love the presentation, the structured format of impressions and analytic approach. Well done! Subcribed.
Thx for the great feedback!
This was my fourth review from you in two days and was amazed with the presentation and knowledge for us wanting to learn average Joe's. Keep em coming.
Very well done review, jam-packed 14 mins! Liked the footages too. I hope you get to review many other bikes in the future!
Too kind! I hope so too.
You had me at Ritchey ! Beautiful Bike 🤘🏼😎
Super informative review for a bike I have been considering for many of the reasons you stated. Thank you for your well structured/organized and thorough evaluation.
Great review! I set mine up 2x with 700x38. It really is such a comfortable bike. Probably going to get a set of 650b wheels with some chunky tires for the trails!
Fantastic bike!
Glad to hear that this can be set up as a 2x. This is a requirement for my riding.
Great review. I built mine as a mountain bike. 2.1s on 650b. 1x11 and carbon bullmoose bars. It’s sub 8kg and an absolute blast. It motors on the pavement transitioning to gravel.
I have 3 young kids so my cycling is typically opportunistic and the outback is ready for anything, anytime!
Great build! Sounds awesome. Two little ones myself, ‘opportunistic’ is such a great way to describe it. Get those miles in when you can!
Are 27.5x2.1 tires the maximum size for this frame and fork? Or maybe 27.5x2.2 possible?
Officially 650b x 2.0, but could vary with rim and tire combo
2023 Outback Breakaway Sram Force axs 2by group with Juin Tech gt mechanically activated hydraulic calipers. Two sets of wheels; 700c Zipp 303 Firecrest running Rene Herse Bon Jon 35c extralites for roadish conditions and 650b Ritchey WCS Zeta gx running Rene Herse Juniper Ridge 48c extralites for blue/green mtb type stuff. Truly a great one bike stable.
Superbly done. One of the best reviews of the 2020 Ritchey Outback, video or written form, that I've seen. Thanks for this. Have ordered one from my LBS, with a GRX 1x group, GRX 650b wheels, 48mm Rene Herse tires. Will try and find Ritchey's FlexLogic post for this, as it seems it would nicely complement the plush ride. But availability is scarce right now.
Oh my, what an awesome build. Green or sunburst?
Thank you kindly! I had briefly considered Campagnolo Ekar 1 x 13, but Shimano GRX 1x is so reliable on my current bike, I decided to stay with it. As for colour: I saw both the green and sunset frames that belonged to other customers at my LBS. Looking at just pics, I would've said green. But having seen the sunset, that's cool too, in an '80's, kitschy way LOL. I told my LBS that whichever colour comes in first in my size in their next shipment, I'll take it! :)
I think I may have found my next bike. Thanks for this review.
Thanks for watching. You won’t be disappointed I think (if you can source one right now)
Very good review, neatly analyzed and categorized. Ride on!
So I have the Break Away Outback for a week now. I didn't think I could find a better bike than my Swiss Cross but I just did! I have it set up 1X (White industries crank/Sun Race 42 x 10-42, Klampers, SRAM Force shifters and the rest all Ritchey. 700c Zeta Classic wheels with Maxxis Rambler 45c. The most comfortable bike I have ever ridden.
Sounds super nice!
Just bought myself this frameset on eBay, can't wait to get it built up.
Great looking bike and a useful, practical review.
I think pretty much every branded frame has logo text on it?
My first good mountain bike was a Breezer I think 1989 with Ritchey Logic tubing, I loved that bike!!!
Great review! According to Jan Heine, even these differences in chainstay length can hardly affect anything in terms of handling. Sounds like a well thought out bike. I like relaxed and calm style without cuts every 2 seconds. Best of luck to you!✌️
Ohh right. Looks like you’ve read his new book? Fantastic overview of all things all-road. Thanks for watching
@@TheBikeSauce Right! It is a nice book for sure and I'm loving those tires. If you haven't yet, give those a try!🙂
Rene Herse tires are on the (ongoing) wishlist 😆
@@TheBikeSauce
Just arrived from a ride with a old school Panasonic mc 6500 with Rat Trap Tires and am still smiling.😍
Legendary. Late 80s or very early 90s, right?
I bought one a few months ago and built it up 1x with the Sram Rival group that came with my Kona Sutra. With my Spinergy GX wheels and Force crank it comes to 21 lb. even with Crank bros Candies. I also sold my cross bike so I'm down to just this (and my townie), light enough for daily rides on mixed surface, and also for loaded trips. I LOVE THIS BIKE. I've had a few carbon bikes and I'm done with them - too stiff and fragile.
One review (road.cc I think) said Ritchey told them the middle wall thickness on the top tube is too thin to support braze-ons, so they had to use two cable stops at either end where the butts are thicker. Cable guides would require a braze-on in the middle of the tube so that wouldn't work. Just run a length of housing in the middle and you can run bags.
Nice! Sold on steel then? Fascinating about the cable issue. I just don’t see it being as big a deal as some make it out to be. Right, you could just add a length of housing as a sleeve and call it a day.
Hey Alex - What size front chainring and cassette did you decide to use with your SRAM Rival system (and how do you feel about it)? I am considering a similar Outback v2 build/use case with a 36t in the front and a SRAM 12spd 10-52t in the back.
Very nice. Stance and geometry looks great to the eye.
As pilots say about airplanes, if it looks right, it flies right.
Like what I see and the fresh green colour
Right on!
Well done mate! I own several Ritchey steel bikes. I sell them too and I’m always thinking “these things should sell for a lot more!”
Ha, right on!
Well..... Don't talk to loud, so they maintain the affordable price!!!!!
😆
Regarding running three cables down the downtube and still having a bottle cage mount underneath, check out the Specialized AWOL, it's executed beautifully (imo).
I ended up buying the sunset fade in a medium and the fit is great (was unsure if I would be a small or medium. Ritchey helped with sizing advice). Awesome ride quality.
Niiiiice! Happy nbd
I'm also hesitating between M and S. I'm 1,70 m. Could you tell me your height as a guide?
@@olivierpicon1860 hi, 168cm. Running an 80mm stem. Zero offset post. Been trialling a 90mm stem, also good. Bars are a Pro discover reach is 65mm.. extra stack with the medium works well for me. Hope that helps 🙏
@@andrewhamilton3486 thank you very much. It helps indeed.
Sorry to bother you again. I'm almost sold on getting an M like you. Just wanted to know: don't you have problems with the standover height? Thank you in advance.
I really like this bike, great video dude, cheers.
I have the Ritchey Road Logic roadie. If I could find one of these frames for sale I would buy it in a heartbeat.
I have the 2020 set up with Campy's 13spd EKAR grouppo and running a pair of 44cm/700c for general gravel and 2.0/650b for more technical trails. The outback is a smooth and comfortable ride and very responsive for having such a long wheelbase. It fits perfectly between my steel Torelli road frame and SOMA analog MTB. It really has become my Leatherman multi-tool bike.
Dude. Baller!
Great review for an amazing bike!
Super review!
Just waiting for my Granite + Snow to arrive, pretty sure I had the last one available in the UK! ✌️
This is such an excellent review, thank you. I'm thinking of getting this bike online, built up by Adrenaline Bikes with the 2x GRX package. The only bummer about not being able to actually demo or even SEE the bike in person before buying is, of course, sizing. I ride a 58 Jamis Exploit now, but I'm 5'10.5" with a 31" inseam so probably the medium, but it does make me nervous not being able to ride the bike first! Anyway, thanks again.
Those long chain stays are calling me.
I wonder how is outback compared to Trek 520 Grando. I hope the outback can handle front racks well.
Is the cockpit all Ritchey? The bars look much more comfortable than the Beacon bars.
Yea this bike was setup with a Ritchey finishing kit. Bars are VentureMax. Really great bars for mixed terrain riding
Is the carbon outback discontinued?
amazing analysis smd review of one of my favorite bikes. may I ask you what frame bag you're using?
GREAT Review! 🤘🤘🤘
Great review! ✌️
great presentation and really helpful in informing my decision to buy an outback...although being a thru and thru roadie I do have lingering question marks about the longer chainstays / rear triangle compared to that of say a Swisscross. subscribed.
Right on. 2 different bikes for sure, both are pretty awesome
Great review, well articulated 👍
Thanks for the feedback!
Phenomenal Review - where can you get this bike fully built ?
I don’t think they offer it as a full built. It’s fun to build it up from the frame though!
GREAT review. The bike looks AWESOME. Love the color too. The one thing I don’t like is the cables. They should make all cables full housing & put the top tube cable down the bottom so you could put a top tube bag.
Thx. Others have the same concern, but it’s easy enough to run full housing yourself if needed.
Bad idea. Hidden cables make it difficult to work on a bike.
Thanks for the great review, nothing like the experience of actually being on the bike to fully understand how it responds. I’ve been considering a Breakaway Outback, do they have the new geometry and features you noted? Do you have an opinion regarding whether the Breakaway Outback and Outback have the same ride characteristics?
This will be my next bike to add to my Road Logic. Just can't decide whether to spring for the outback breakaway or the regular. Was wondering if you have any comment about whether putting a flat bar on the bike would be a bad idea or not.
Nice - a Ritchey lineup! No problems putting a flat bar on. If they're going to be really wide, then perhaps consider a shorter stem, but that's about it. Would be a unique build for sure
Thanks for the review! How much did this setup weigh? (I didn't hear you mention it in the video but I might have missed it).
Fantastic review! Trying to lock down the sizing for this frame. I see you are 5'8" and ran a small? Do you happen to know your inseam and/or saddle height? I'm 5'8" and some change as well with a tad longish 31" inseam and debating whether the medium would be a better fit. Thanks!
Inseam is roughly 29-30”. Short legs. Consider checking out @pathlesspedaled recent video on bike sizing between sizes. Sounds like you’re #smedium too!
Hi. Nice work. What is your saddle height? Could you ride a medium??
Perhaps, but I think I’d few too stretched out
@@TheBikeSauce thanks. Any thoughts on the ritchey ascent yet??
Video in the works. Either this week or the following week. Thanks!
Great review, interested to know if you would have preferred a medium size.
You mentioned the frame was a size medium. How tall are you you? And how did it fit? I'm 5'10" and currently looking to buy this frame. Just wondering what size I would be. Medium looks about right. Thanks!
I’m 5’8” and I actually think the test bike was a small
Why choose a small over a medium?
Hi, I’m also 5’8” and have the opportunity to get a size M. Haven’t been able to check it out, any thoughts on that size for me based on how the size S was for you?
You can probably make it work fine. I prefer slightly smaller bike but I could’ve gone either way too
the paintjob is surprisingly good in person. a bit of a matte finish to it comparing it to other shiny finished ones. what groupset would you recommend for a beginner rider for this one? planning on purchasing this as my first serious bike
Beginner or not, it all depends on what type of riding you’ll favor. 1x is honestly sufficient for 90% of riders in my opinion. I’d go with a midrange group, similar to grx600 or the bulletproof 105. No need to drop toms of cash on a high end group set. Better places to spend money on the bike in my opinion.
At your height (173cm) how did you feel on a size SMALL of the Ritchey Outback?? I am 175cm...and I think I'm about to purchase a MEDIUM size. Thanks.
Got one!!! Turned up yesterday. Now, to find the drivetrain components... That might be even harder than finding the frame.
Yes! congrats! Green or Sunset fade? Tough question for sure.
@@TheBikeSauce Had no choice, green or nothing! :-)
There’s no wrong choice
I like that Ritchey goes their own way. I chose my Marin Nicasio One (lowest on the food chain) because of its straight forward cable routing and many other "outdated" features. Well, that and it was $800 complete...
Right on. Heard great things about the Nicasio. I have a ton of respect for cyclists who ‘earn’ their upgrades by starting basic and learning what components actually improve the ride experience. Too many riders going straight for the top shelf these days.
curious if how does this compare to the midnight special??
If I can get my hands on one, I’ll review it and report back!
@@TheBikeSauce awesome mate, new sub here and enjoying your content.
Much appreciated!
Where do you go to find these bikes completely built? Just checked Ritchey’s website and they are sold out of the frames. Thanks.
This was a fully built demo unit sent over by Ritchey . In general they only sell frame sets
What frame bag is that around the 11min mark?
Outershell half frame bag
Whats body size you need for a M?
Thanks a lot
Maybe 5’9” and taller, but it’s down to preference as wel
Nothing beats aesthetics of thin steel tubes. Loved my hardcore hardtail, but for my height it was no go for climbing. Now having Czech small producer RB bike from, model RX - they weld the frames themselves, no outsource - worth checking. But while happy even if Al, i surely would prefer the more comfy steel. Also the size of the tubes is like on some very rough MTB as well. :)
This or SwissCross?
Ha pretty loaded question. I’d say Swisscross for miles per hour, Outback for smiles per mile
Thanks for responding. I know the Swiss is racier and more agile so wouldn’t that be better for getting around obstacles and overall maneuverability etc?
The outbacks more upright and relaxed geometry does sound appealing considering I already own a Road Logic. Thanks!
To a degree, but the point of stretched out slacker geo is to add stability on chunky off road descents. In my experience, ‘agile’ on the road can translate to twitchy and unpredictable off road. Outback I think favors the off road stuff and behaves decently well on the road.
I have a Swiss Cross with a 2X GRX group. It is one of the best bikes I've ever owned (road, mountain, or gravel). I chose it because my rides are a mix of paved and dirt roads, but it can handle the worst of the off road stuff. But, for really long adventures (and if you need racks, bags, fenders and the extra bottle cage) I'd say go for the outback.
I’ve got one of these with 650b x 2.1 tires, it just begs to tear shit up.
Hey I know that "watch your downhill speed" sign and those train tracks! I just did that ride last Sunday. Would you say the outback handled the whole loop well?
Outback crushed the Floop. Could probably handle more depending on how spicy you’re feeling
How large a 700c do you think it will spin. We have a bit of sand around here and I would favor 700x50 to 55.
It does depend on the rim width, but I'd say you could easily stuff a 50mm in there without fenders.
Hi - what’s the length of your handlebar?
Usually 40 or 42cm
I can't tell if you've addressed this in your review, but could you elaborate why you got the Ritchey and how it serves you compared to your Diverge?
I'm considering a 2nd bike, if nothing more than a backup to my Diverge if it requires some long-term downtime for repairs.
Alternatively, I could have spare parts on hand... but I feel like the retail cost of stocking up on replacement parts to reduce downtime (and potentially all the related specialty tools) could come close to the cost of a new bike. Your thoughts?
The Ritchey was a bike sent over for review. I returned it after the review period was up. The Diverge is my personal bike. Very different bikes, but both aspire to be a do-it-all machine and both do it all pretty well. If I had to summarize in a line, I might say the Diverge is all-road capable, but slightly more road oriented and more nimble, while the Outback is more dirt oriented and more stable
Great review, what brand/model of handle bar bag is shown in your review?
It’s a Lead Out bar bag
Great review, nice looking bike. Have you compared this Ritchey bike to their Swiss Cross cc bike? If so, how does it compare or differ?
Thx. Haven’t ridden the Swiss cross, but geo chart would suggest it would be a little less relaxed and more nimble.
Nice in depth review.
Thx for watching
Which is better this ritchey steel or winspace g2?
They couldn’t be more different, really hard to compare. Depends on how you ride a bike
Like a few others, I’d like to see your thoughts about this compared to the Diverge. I’ve got my first Comp Carbon on order to be here some time in March. I selected it as a do everything option for me to train, ride gravel races with my wife, and just enjoy some long trails and rides with her when I’m not doing Triathlon stuff. It will also be my Tribike with added arm rests simply because I’m an age grouper, not a professional. I wanted as little weight as possible for a do everything bike as I get older.
The Richey seems very much like a bike suited for some of the amazing trails I’ve been hearing about in Arkansas that has been growing as a biking destination for the gravel crowd. But since you’ve ridden the Diverge in similar conditions as the Richey, thoughts on performance/comfort/ruggedness?
Again, another well done video!
Yea interesting comparison. They both do well in off road stuff, but I have to say the Outback plows through the chunk with more confidence. The diverge (as with many modern all road bikes) adopts the short chain stays which I suppose improved road responsiveness, but the longer stays improve off-road stability.
Regarding weight, the Outback is actually (marginally) lighter than my carbon diverge! The outback’s butted tubing is really a testament to great material design and the older stigma of steel = heavy can be put to rest.
Could probably do a whole video on this, but overall I’d say the Outback favors riders who like 50/50 split of road and gravel, whereas a bike like the diverge seems a bit more biased toward road, but still off road capable.
@@TheBikeSauce Sounds like my initial sense of intended purpose for my own bike wasn’t a bad selection. The reality is that, given my location and Tri-goals, leaning towards road with off road options wasn’t too off base. There are only thousands of options to pick from that ultimately I had a budget, and bought from the local cycle shop I liked best.
Thank you for helping me see a bit into the world of Richey!
Big difference is Diverge has tire clearance issues. Depending on rims best I can do is 35mm. Wider is more comfortable on gravel my Salsa Vaya has 45s. Steel nice ride on gravel . Mine have road cranks. Pitched that weenie compact stuff
"A road ride"- spoken like a true fullerton resident.
😆 didn’t know that was specific to the Fullerton vernacular
@@TheBikeSauce a lot of fullerton roads are in desperate need of repair.
Haha got it.
I want to buy one. But here in Australia the allocated stock belongs to an online retailer. You can't buy one from a shop because they cannot get them.
Mm. Bummer. When they come back in stock on Ritchey’s site, perhaps jump on one then?
Really helpful review! bumped into your channel while looking for outback frame reviews. Also the same height and really struggling to between S and M and after viewing this I'm leaning towards the S, just curious what is your arm length (if you don't mind sharing!)
Nice, I think I could go either way. Just prefer riding smaller frames. Not sure how to measure arm length exactly, but fingertip to shoulder joint is about 28-29"
How do you think this would run with 30mm road tires on it, say, half the time, for road rides? Thinking about a separate 650x2.1 wheelset and swapping for the occasion. Great vid!
Great plan, but may as well go wider for road rides. I might run a 700c x 38 tubeless for dedicated road efforts. Will be just as fast as high pressure skinnies but far more comfortable
@TheBikeSauce: Great review, in fact I am seriously considering buying this bike since I saw it comming out in 2020. My first experience with Ritchey was P-29er cross country mtb and riding it in suitable terrain is very pleasing. My gravel build will be aimed more toward road experience with WCS components, so I am considering 2x system more than 1x and I based on your technical review, and some helpfull comments and answers -- what do you think about SRAM Force eTap AXS? I think I prefer cables and I am ok with external routing for the simplicity, but to have no routing at all ... do you have any insight or experience with AXS?
Sounds like a fun project. No first hand experience with force AXS, unfortunately, but I’ve got a couple of detailed 1x vs 2x videos you might check out before you rule out 1x.
@@TheBikeSauce Indeed I already had :-), great stuff. I especially like what you have said about the lower gears ratio on 1x and 2x system. Though I prefer sram eagle to shimano, this is exactly what shimano is doing better.
Anyway: 1x or 2x? I do intend to climb a bit as well as do some long distance flat rides, so I am certain -- I know my hills :-) -- I really need those extra gears for climbing. For me it comes down to this:
If 1x, I need eagle range + drop down bars => sram AXS eagle + sram Red/Force AXS shifters + crankset (40 or 42t) to get me the range I want -- no way how to do this with shimano or anyone else I guess? And hence no cables at all.
If 2x, I have plenty of options and probably both shimano or sram or anything else decently priced will do the job, no need for AXS there.
I definitely consider myself being a smile-per-mile guy, so the exact right cadence and power output are ... not so important. I also love my 1x drivertrain on my Ritchey P-29er since the simplicity and performance is great, however, I do commute on my bike every day and riding the same gears all the time means new gx eagle cassette every year. 2x system will provide more options (more-or-less same ratios across the gear range) and thus less wear overall.
But really thanks, your videos made me think it through -- I am writing my own gear-ratio comparison tool now -- just prefer matplotlib to matlab :-) -- and I will go for 1x mullet build with AXS eagle and AXS Force shifters (Red being too pricey).
Again, thanks a lot and keep up!
Great! Sounds like you’ve done your research!
Any chance you can do a review of the Logic.. in comparison of the outback?
Cause.. “every bike is a gravel bike”
Ha, every bike can be ridden on gravel, but that doesn't mean every bike is FUN on gravel. Perhaps I may try a Road Logic for a while, but a key difference includes 700c x 30 upper limit on tire width on the Road Logic. Makes sense for a pure road bike, but even then, all the science points to wider being faster (even on the road). Then the much shorter chainstays and steeper headtube angle all orient the bike as a quick-handling, nimble road machine. I imagine it would make for some very white-knuckled descents down chunkier off-road stuff, but this is speculation.
@@TheBikeSauce I can squeeze some Continental 700x32s on my Road Logic but it is a close fit.
Great review! We are of the same height and I was surprised you were riding size small. Wasn't it a bit small for you? Toe overlap? Did you have to extend your stem to say 110mm or just kept it at 90mm-100mm?
Thx for watching. Yea I’m always on the border between small and medium, but I generally prefer the small for better control. Stem is not extended, and fit tends more toward upright rather than hunched and stretched out
solid content
Nice review! How much would the built you had in the video cost?
Also: I'm currently looking at Fairlights Faran 2.0 or Secan 2.0. How would you compare the Outback to those?
Can’t say exactly, but it had GRX 600 1x, and Ritchey finishing kit. Best guess between $2800-$3200 out the door. I don’t have any experience on Fairlight frames (yet 😆), but they’re in the same genre
Whats the prize? What happened to your specialized? Just realized we have the same size, what Frame Size does your Specialized have and do you think its the right choice or could it be smaller/larger?
Ha, I still have the diverge. This is a review bike loaned to me by Ritchey. At 5’8”, it’s kind of the border between small and medium, but I prefer to ride a smaller frame
That’s a very good review.. as a german I value your factual videos a lot..thanks :)
I love this bike! 🤓
I'll second what you say about having a short chainstay: I have a Swiss Cross canti and its chainstay length is 425mm. The bike is *super* twitchy (fun) however that translates to pure fright on descents while riding on the hoods. Since I started descending in the drops, the stability/control greatly increased and now I can descend fast on some super rough stuff without too much fear of dying in a super gnarly accident lol. It's still not nearly as stable as the Outback (or something like a Riv) but I love how responsive it is and the steel provides great dampening and ride comfort on the rough stuff/longer rides.
Great job. Thanks
Appreciate the kind words!
will it fit 3x ?
Sure
Where do you ride? Looks pretty cool
Mostly within a 30 mile radius of Fullerton, CA
@@TheBikeSauce I figured it might be around Fullerton. I'm from Bakersfield. Lots of gravel out here.
Thanks for the great review. In terms of bike weight, you said it was sub 21 pounds in this configuration, but it's not clear to me if that is as delivered (with the alloy wheels) or with the Hunt carbon wheels on it. I agree that most people who buy this won't be overly concerned with weight, but I'd like to know what wheels were on the bike when you weighed it to get a feel for weight with a pretty standard build.
That weight was with the hunt carbons and gravel king sk (43mm) tubeless. Probably marginally heavier with the zeta alloys.
Thanks for the prompt reply!
I’m in search of a bike..desperately. I’ve been looking for a carbon road frame because of its hype and popularity but I may be swayed to get a steel frame after this review (I’m an average rider) lol
Haha yea slim pickings right now. Best of luck. Bug your local shops persistently haha
I bought a ritchey logic. Most comfortable bike I've ever rode. If you're not competing seriously, go with steel. The durability and comfort can't be beat.
Happy belated NBD!
Good review, thanks! I'd really like to know how you feel it stacks up against the Diverge.
Yeah, me too. Did you miss the future shock??
Yea interesting comparison, but I do have direct experience 😆. If you look at the geometry charts, they’re actually somewhat similar, save for the longer stays on the Outback. They both tend somewhat toward upright. Do a comparison on bikeinsights.com and you can see. Regarding the feel, the Outback is surprisingly compliant with the butted steel tubing. The future shock on the diverge definitely adds more compliance for bigger bumps, as it has 20mm of travel, but the feel of the Outback is comparable in terms of muting out the high frequency chatter.
The diverge comes in 9 different tiers all at different price points. Tough to compare costs without knowing which model. Also the Outback isn’t available as a full build
Every time I ride my gravel bike somewhere a mt bike would be way better,it turns out my mt bike would have been WAY better............."nimble and agile" IS fun! When flying downhill they turn way better and steer quickly. The lively feel is a good part of the fun of a bike. Its all opinion.
Until you get on the road, then a mtn bike is a dud. I ride on roads/gravel to smooth single track. Gravel bikes can't be beat for that.
This is an excellently detailed review and presented well. The only improvement I would make is to quit it with the jump cuts, they are really distracting and your presentation doesn't require it. You don't need 'em!
If you saw the raw footage, you'd see that I really need them 😆
Nice gravel 😜
Great review. Also wondering how it compares to Diverge, Do you know what speed it is comfortable running at on the road? Too bad it is sold out already.
Haha interesting request from a lot of people since they’re very different bikes. Perhaps I’ll do a comparison, but it would be very apples to oranges. As far as speed, practically speaking, the Outback is as fast as any other bike. 99% of speed is a function of rider power and position on bike. Differences between bikes will be mostly in handling characteristics.
#smilespermile , love that!
the best cycling metric!
@@TheBikeSauce If you’re not already using that as a catchphrase, claim it and run with it! Best of luck.
Gosh I want it so bad, sold out :(
@ritcheydesign is announcing something big on Monday.. maybe keep tabs on their page! 💁♂️
@@TheBikeSauce woah thanks for the heads up!!
20.3 pounds built up with some not super light components? That's pretty amazing. Not that most people will care.
I really wish I got to ride one of these before I pulled the trigger on my Swiss Cross. I was afraid that this bike would be a bit too supple for my lil road jaunts and off road bits near Marin.
Too.. supple..?
Il peux être très beau même magnifique tout est de super gamme, moi j ai pas les moyens 👍
I guess nobody remembers Ritchey's P-23, P-22, P-20. It's a tweak of a lightweight steel mountainbike with dropbars.
I think a lot of cyclists consider the new gravel segment to be early 90s mtb w drop bars. Some truth to it, but gravel / all-road is certainly a standalone segment in its own right
I built mine as a mountain bike. 2.1 650b and bullmoose bars. Sub 8kg It’s a weapon 😃
I know it's more easier to service and looks old school, but i really wish steel frames would be available with internal cable routing too, that would make adding accessories much easier.
9:56 and on... wtf?
The priceeeeeeeee
rigid ride feel is not comfortable. mis statement. !!