The time-tested, highly regarded Ritchey Road Logic frame has had minor updates over the years but is still the great riding steel design that fans and Tom himself love. Built here into a complete bike featuring Shimano Ultegra R8000 11-speed and Ritchey kit items, you'll be hard pressed to find a better value in a terrific road bike designed for all day rides that inspire the next one.

Much has been written and said about steel frames, and for those who grew up with them instead of aluminum or carbon, the nostalgia factor is high. One should keep in mind that for over 100 years, steel was essentially the only frame material used, so generations grew up with steel bikes as the only option known. Just as there are numerous grades and quality levels of carbon bikes, steel frames also featured different material blends and construction methods. So while "steel is real", steel is not a monolithic entity. Why else does the Road Logic, decades after it's development, produce subtle ride qualities and unexpected performance that still sells frames today and brings smiles to faces.

The Ritchey Logic tubeset is known for it's strength and elasticity, which may seem contradictory and potentially bad for riding, but there is more to it. The newest version of the frame features heat-treated and triple-butted tubes. The heat treatment strengthens the steel without damaging or weakening it. The butting process utilizes hot rolling and cold drawing to create internal multi-thickness tubes that reduces material where you don't need it, keeping full wall thickness where needed- generally at junction zones. Tom spec'ed aggressively short-butted sections optimized for TIG welding. The process and technique saves weight and improves ride quality. Tubes can react and respond to surface inputs, but the welded joints are stable and strong, with no flex. There is minor torsional movement in the main triangle, but it feels natural and provides compliance. The tubes seem to sing, on some emotional level with the effort and input of the rider, as well as from the road. It does feel like music- music you feel but can't hear. Augmenting the tube system and construction, the proprietary forged-and-machined integrated head tube adds stiffness and incredible strength. It is precise and stiff, allowing the use of drop-in headset bearings. The stiffness translates to the full carbon fork steerer tube, which is in and of itself can flex as necessary, but is precisely positioned and controlled at all times. Ritchey's headset bearings carry the steerer load and in the Road Logic, we almost never see a worn or damaged bearing. The system works- exceptionally well.

For the rear triangle, the Road Logic, capable of accommodating 700x30 tires, employs the classic Fastback design. This feature uses the seatstays and seattube junction to create a seatpost clamp. It is a great way to lighten up the frame while providing extra clearance for wider tires, yet is also strong, and has a clean, defining look. The seatstays are subtle and have some mild shaping that offers comfort and vibration damping. A stylish brake bridge adds some lateral stability. The chainstays again change shape as function dictates, narrowing with thicker internal walls back to the dropouts. Ritchey's dropouts are about as bombproof any every made. The integrated Drop-In rear derailleur hanger aligns perfectly, and is remarkably resilient. It is rare it bends in a mild impact, but can be reliably straightened as needed. The heat treated steel shows it's value here. AT Excel we have sold Ritchey frames and bikes for decades and have seen very few broken hangers over time. Steel frames have another virtue- they can generally be repaired.

Simple and eloquent cable routing with brilliant welds and a stellar paint job complete the Road Logic frame. A painted-to-match Ritchey full carbon fork with matching frame-size rake rounds out the package. Like the frame, it accepts 700x30 tires, though keep in mind most road calipers can only handle 28's on modern rims. If you know you will push to a 30mm tire, you will likely need long reach brake calipers. Taken as a whole, the Road Logic frameset offers a smooth, precise ride that is ideal for the smoothest pavement or hardpack dirt roads. Many cyclists who have purchased Ritchey frames and bikes from Excel are repeat buyers, adding Break-Away for travel, or an Outback model for rougher roads and new adventures, but the Road Logic remains the centerpiece of their road cycling experience.

As a complete bike Ritchey has updated the group to Shimano's excellent and reliable Ultegra R8000 11-speed. The Dual Control mechanical levers, brakeset, clamp-on front derailleur,GS rear derailleur, and 50-34T Hollowtech II crankset/BB are all R8000. For the chain and cassette Ritchey opted for R7000 105 models, an 11-32 cassette and chain. Many cyclists opt to step down here with the primary wear items, with no drop in shifting performance.

Not surprisingly, the Ritchey WCS component line forms the basis for the kit, with the 27.2x350mm WCS Alloy Seapost, WCS C220 stem, and WCS Curve alloy handlebar. A Ritchey Skyline saddle and bar tape close out the cockpit. That leaves the Zeta wheels, which are high quality Ritchey rim brake models, with a box section rim (OCR on the rear) and the amazing WCS Phantom Flange hubset. The hubs appear to be for straight pull spokes, but are actually for j-bend, with a flange covering the interface. J-bends are much easier to find and replace, but Ritchey designed the hub to be sleeker and more aero. The machined brake track delivers excellent stopping power and consistency. To finish out the build the Ritchey Tom Slick road tires were spec'ed in the 700x27 size, with tubes. The wheels and tires combine to offer a smooth ride quality that becomes symbiotic with astounding feel of the Road Logic frameset.

If you are looking for a change, simply love the ride qualities of steel, want to augment your stable, or simply find the one bike road bike for your love of cycling, we highly recommend the Ritchey Road Logic Bicycle, and so does everyone we know who has one. Or two.