"In honor of its 25th anniversary and namesake, Ritchey has created 100 limited edition framesets, crafted in homage the frame Frischi rode to European Cyclocross Championships. Whether it's leading the charge on bell lap or ticking off the grueling miles of a gravel grinder, the new Swiss Cross is more than capable of tackling it all. Yet one thing has remained unchanged: it is still a no-holds-barred race-ready dirt ripper. "Twenty-five years later, the Swiss Cross is still a staple of the Ritchey fleet - now featuring modern standards such as 12mm thru-axles, flat-mount brakes, and higher-volume tire clearance. Captained to numerous victories under Frischi, the Swiss Cross went on to become one of the most revered frames of the Ritchey offering. The first iteration of the Swiss Cross was a no-holds-barred race machine designed for one thing: ripping through dirt like no other. Ritchey says, "Possibly the most iconic frame associated with Ritchey, the Swiss Cross draws its name from early factory rider, cyclocross and mountain bike legend Thomas Frischknecht. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike? Tell us what the frameset is for, and who it's aimed at. Silky smooth steel cyclo-cross bike but not without its limitations But as lovely as it is, unless you're a big Ritchey or steel frame fan, it's hard to see why you would choose this bike over racier CX bikes or more versatile gravel bikes. I love the Ritchey Swiss Cross for its heritage and sublime ride, and traditional timeless aesthetic, and the modernising changes will be appreciated by those who want to do more than just race around a muddy field on a Sunday afternoon. Another choice could be the Condor Gravel Stainless, a high-quality steel frameset with clearance for 40mm tyres – but it'll set you back £3,599.99 for the frameset.Įven Ritchey's own Outback, a more laid back version of the Swiss Cross, doesn't boast the sort of versatility that might be expected of a modern adventure bike. Sticking with steel, one obvious rival is the Fairlight Cycles Secan, which features a steel frame with much wider tyre clearance and more versatility, from extra bottle mounts to mudguard and rack eyelets. > Buyer's Guide: 22 of the best gravel & adventure bikes Given that the tyre clearance edges the Swiss Cross into the category of adventure and gravel bikes there is more choice here, but because the Ritchey doesn't have the same wide versatility, it makes direct comparison a little difficult. > Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best cyclo-cross bikes Look through the review archive and it's mostly carbon fibre and aluminium options, but there is the Light Blue Robinson, now £1,699 for the SRAM 1x build, and for less racy ambitions the Surly Straggler could be an option, at £650 for the frameset (we tested one back in 2014). If you're in the market for a cyclo-cross bike you are spoilt for choice, but the selection narrows considerably if you want a steel frame.
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