![]() ![]() Our 52cm tester had a somewhat average 73.5-degree head tube angle but a rather low 72mm bottom bracket drop for excellent high-speed stability. Handling leans toward the more stable end of the spectrum. If you’re really after a cushy feel, it’s worth noting that most 28mm tires will squeeze through as well. But that was largely remedied by swapping to 25mm tires – we recommend these for most riders for their faster roll and surer grip, anyway. Road texture comes through more prominently than on most full composite chassis we’ve ridden, particularly up through the bars. That being said, the Ritchey’s titanium main frame doesn’t soak up small-amplitude, high-frequency buzz in the same way as carbon. It’s a feature we especially appreciated while riding unfamiliar roads in far-off lands. Whereas most carbon bikes stiffen up on especially rough surfaces, such as washboarded dirt roads, the Ritchey eats them up with barely a whimper. The upside of the softer backbone is additional comfort, which the Ritchey offers in spades. Likewise, we’ve certainly piloted bikes that handled more precisely but the Ritchey still felt confidently planted at speeds approaching 75km/h (47mph). In most conditions that extra flex wasn’t much of an issue – we generally used the Ritchey for more steady-state rides, not full-blown hill repeats. There’s a similar degree of flex from the rather traditionally proportioned front end when you’re sprinting out of the saddle. ![]() That’s particularly the case on steeper climbs when you’ve got no choice but to muscle away ruthlessly. There’s noticeable flex in the drivetrain when you really put the power down, and a subsequent delay between effort and output. Despite the carbon rear stays and included all-carbon fork, it’s quite a different feel from the all-carbon chassis that dominate the current landscape. True to form, the Ritchey Break-Away Road Ti/Carbon delivers a classic titanium ride, with a resilient and springy feel under power and a distinctly smooth quality on rough roads. ![]()
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