Steel frames built for electronic shifting occupy a narrow slice of the market, and Ritchey's Outback Di2 Frameset works that gap with internal wire routing designed around Shimano's semi-wireless setup. The frame is built from heat-treated, triple-butted Ritchey Logic steel tubing, TIG welded, with stealth wire routing for semi-wireless drivetrains and DSP internal routing through the seat tube. It runs only with Shimano's Di2 EW-SD300 wire for 12-speed, and the proprietary triple-butted tubeset was drawn specifically for the TIG welding process to Tom Ritchey's specifications.

The 2025 Outback brings a handful of meaningful updates over previous editions. Internal routing now accepts a 27.2mm dropper post, and the carbon Adventure Fork adds internal dynamo routing for riders running a hub dynamo on long, self-supported days. A new XXL joins the range, sized for taller riders, so the full lineup now spans XS to XXL. Aurora and Winter Sage are the headline colorways for the model year. One detail worth noting before you plan a build: the fork crown mount does not accept a rack, lights, or accessories, so route your front-load and lighting plans through the fork-leg mounts instead.

Geometry follows the Outback's established formula — a long wheelbase that settles the bike on rough surfaces, paired with reach numbers that keep it from feeling sluggish. The chainstays are notably long for the category, producing a wheelbase that runs past most gravel rigs, and the bottom bracket sits lower than a cyclo-cross frame. The result puts riders in a position more upright than a road bike but sportier than many adventure-focused gravel bikes, which is why the platform has held its reputation across multiple generations.... Read More