Ritchey Commando

[Oldschooler]

previous owner: TOM RITCHEY?!

or am I reading wrong lines as one?

 

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

Believe I remember some thread on this bike from a year or so back saying it had been repainted..can anyone confirm that?

 

[Martin]

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=66551&highlight=ritchey+commando

Here's a thread with a smaller size and pictures. Still the 'commando'decal on the toptube looks strange.

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=66551&highlight=ritchey+commando

Here's a thread with a smaller size and pictures. Still the 'commando'decal on the toptube looks strange.

that Commando in that thread is gorgeous; this one here, not so much.

It didn't go that high afterall; $1134 is about right, and maybe a little low for ebay. He relisted it as a "Yeti Cantina" with a bunch of chichi parts.

 

[yo-Nate-y]

I like this one better, actually. If I weren't in a bit of a sell-off mode I would have bid higher on it.

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

I like this one better.

Care to elaborate on that opinion? I'm just curious.

 

[yo-Nate-y]

A couple things:

* Bigger size--would fit me and 'looks' better proportioned to me. The other is too small.

* I like the lighter camo + black logos better than the former.

* I actually dig the yellow "Commando" decal.
The premise behind the bike is kind of silly/unnerving --basically I read it as part of the 1980s Cold War "kill a commie for mommy" aesthetic. Salsa's poof-de-flage is a spot-on send up of the Ritchey. That said, the fact that the yellow decal looks a little silly makes it work for me.

* I liked that the larger bike was a tad less pristine. I would want to ride it, naw mean?

* I liked that the larger one had canti front/rear instead of U-brake.

* Granted, nicer cranks on the other one.



Had I won it I would have swapped the saddle and been done

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

A couple things:

* Bigger size--would fit me and 'looks' better proportioned to me. The other is too small.

* I like the lighter camo + black logos better than the former.

* I actually dig the yellow "Commando" decal.
The premise behind the bike is kind of silly/unnerving --basically I read it as part of the 1980s Cold War "kill a commie for mommy" aesthetic. Salsa's poof-de-flage is a spot-on send up of the Ritchey. That said, the fact that the yellow decal looks a little silly makes it work for me.

* I liked that the larger bike was a tad less pristine. I would want to ride it, naw mean?

* I liked that the larger one had canti front/rear instead of U-brake.

* Granted, nicer cranks on the other one.



Had I won it I would have swapped the saddle and been done

Never quite saw the Ritchey Commando as a tie in to the army propaganda machine of the early 80's. I've always seen it more as a tongue in cheek homage to the would be american wilderness man. Growing up in the midwest around a bunch if hunters/farmers, they took it very seriously. Then also growing up in NYC, I'd witness the city folk going upstate for a weekend of hunting garbed in their pristine camo outfits. The country folk from the part of my life, would have a laugh at their expense. The Commando was probably not going to be bought by any rural wilderness hunter types, but more likely the weekend warrior with a taste for the outdoors. I believe the Ritchey brochure had a Yuppie in a suit carrying it to work, or something like that.

The bigger size; that's a given.

I, too, like the bold bubble print yellow commando decal, not neccessarily better than the later decal, but it's cool, and very 80's. Bubble/block letter print was totally awesome in the 80's.

We also agree about the crank; the SR Sakae, though black, isn't anything special.

I need a couple U-brake MTB's in my collection, so the U-brake is welcome. It's not like I'll be buying a Potts or Ham anytime soon. I have a sweet IRD U-brake/rollercam that will be going on a Commando one day soon.

Agreed, would be hard to ride the mint one on a dirt trail; that's why I would need two; one to ride, and one to admire.

Thanks, for going a little further into, Nate- knew it would be interesting.

 

[Oldschooler]

was sent today...

I think Christmas is coming nearer and nearer

 

[yo-Nate-y]

nicely done! If you ever want to send it down the line, let me know.