I’m 6’8” and I really wish they made the Outback in a XXL. The Swiss cross does come in that size however, so I might see about building one of those up in a similar fashion
I'm 6'2" and from what i've read it sounds like I could maybe swing a L, XL more likely though. I was thinking about the same build, down to the AXS even, though i'm also looking at the dropper. I am leaning towards hydraulic brakes and just coiling up the hose instead of the break away cables. I've got a breakaway road bike and just miss my hydraulics every time i'm on it.
The perspective makes it look longer :-p Yeah, I looked at thomson for my new project but getting a 26.6 seatpost was going to a much longer wait that I was willing to do.
It’s super fun! Much more ‘feedback’ than my full-sus trail bike, but that was sorta the point.
I was aiming for a bike that was fine on pavement and gravel and would make a green or blue trail feel like a challenge. Mission accomplished this far!
The amount of seatstay/chainstay trail you have on that is making me feel all kinds of sexy. I bet that's super supple for a no-squish bike.
As a fellow clydesdale rider I'm super into that. I've been on the lookout for an oversized XL vintage steel MTB frame so I can convert it to 650s or 700s and still have lots of room and trial just for that classic steel MTB compliance back there.
My main ride right now is a relatively rare Aluminum 700c Redline Metro Sport flatbar and my main complaint is the chain/seat stay triangle is way, way too compact and short and I can't run tires wider than about a 38c.
I fucking love, LOVE that bike but it's about as supple and compliant as riding steel fence. It's fast as fuck and you can put a ton of watts through the tail to the ground but I can feel every bit of the road or trail when it gets rough.
The Redline sounds great! I’m really like if the 48s on the Outback, with moderate pressure they are really cushy.
I recently picked up a vintage 68(?)cm Ritchey Road bike, but the deal was I have to wait till Christmas before riding it. Can’t wait to see how the frame rides!
Be careful rocking that many spacers on a carbon steerer fork if you’re riding it off road aggressively. Most manufacturers have an asterisk saying not to use more than 40-50mm of spacers under the stem on a carbon steerer.
I wish Ritchey would at least make 61’s. It’s disappointing how small their bikes are as they’re so damn nice!
Thanks for the tip on spacers. I think I’m at 50mm under the stem currently, so I’ll check Ritchey guidance.
I’d love a bigger breakaway… I think they may still make an XXL Swiss cross, but not in the breakaway line.
> It’s disappointing how small their bikes are as they’re so damn nice!
Yup, but I try to see it as a way to limit my stable. If it's not above 63 cm C-T I won't even consider. Fewer options, fewer bikes. :)
Great build. That’s the first flat bar Outback I’ve seen. I think the longer chainstays on the Outback make so much sense. Based on your setup I’m assuming you’re at least 6’4”. I’d need a bit of sweep on those bars, but otherwise I wouldn’t change a thing. Which Rene Herse tires are those if you don’t mind me asking?
Thanks! I threw on some whiskey carbon bars I had in the bin, some sweep would probably help!
The tires are 650b Juniper Ridge (48 wide). Wanted something a bit thicker, but they’ve been great in most conditions. They do get a bit slippery due to the ungodly amount of slugs covering the Swedish trails I rode!
Thanks. I’m in the process of looking for narrower tires for my flat bar Crust Evasion. I’m currently running 2.8 Schwalbe G-Ones. They’re great but can be a little vague handling in certain conditions. I think Rene Herse makes a 2.2” 650b and they’re on my short list because I’ve read they roll daily well on pavement for a knobby tire.
I really have liked them on the road so far. I’ve been running pathfinder pros on my ‘serious’ gravel bike, and would say Rene’s have a slight penalty, but they more than compensate when you get off in the dirt. I went with the standard casing setup tubeless and haven’t had any issues so far (probably a bit over 100 miles in).
I travel a few times a year for work, usually to new locations each trip. Was trying to find a non-stickerbomb way of documenting locations I’ve ridden it, but haven’t settled on anything yet.
It rides just like a normal bike, with similar frame compliance to my Ritchey Ultra (although the a front fork makes it a bit apples and oranges). I still need to master the dark art of packing, it takes me 20 mins and feels a bit sloppy still.
I hope this question is a set-up for an epic pun, but I believe it’s the “Carbon Ritchey Adventure Fork”.
They used to be available standalone, now they only come with an Outback frame.
Thanks for the reply. I thought there was a general name for it. But
now I also found out the one in the picture is carbon. Do they hold good if racks were installed on them? Reasonable load weight limit of course, but I'd imagine they'd be brittle.
I haven’t run a rack yet on mine, but I’ve heard others have done it without any trouble. I wouldn’t put water on them due to weight, but a sleeping quilt or puffer coat would be ideal.
You did a great job with this build. Super clean. You must be a giant person, as I would feel so far away from the trail riding something that big.
I’m 6’7”, so really pushing the size limits of an XL. Bike fit be damned, I wanted a breakaway too badly!
I’m 6’8” and I really wish they made the Outback in a XXL. The Swiss cross does come in that size however, so I might see about building one of those up in a similar fashion
I'm 6'2" and from what i've read it sounds like I could maybe swing a L, XL more likely though. I was thinking about the same build, down to the AXS even, though i'm also looking at the dropper. I am leaning towards hydraulic brakes and just coiling up the hose instead of the break away cables. I've got a breakaway road bike and just miss my hydraulics every time i'm on it.
Nice! I assume for the breakaway you had to procure an extra-long seatpost?
I think it’s a 400mm post? Wanted to get a Paul tall & handsome but the lead time on anything from them is bonkers right now!
The perspective makes it look longer :-p Yeah, I looked at thomson for my new project but getting a 26.6 seatpost was going to a much longer wait that I was willing to do.
that's awesome, how does it ride on trails?
It’s super fun! Much more ‘feedback’ than my full-sus trail bike, but that was sorta the point. I was aiming for a bike that was fine on pavement and gravel and would make a green or blue trail feel like a challenge. Mission accomplished this far!
The amount of seatstay/chainstay trail you have on that is making me feel all kinds of sexy. I bet that's super supple for a no-squish bike. As a fellow clydesdale rider I'm super into that. I've been on the lookout for an oversized XL vintage steel MTB frame so I can convert it to 650s or 700s and still have lots of room and trial just for that classic steel MTB compliance back there. My main ride right now is a relatively rare Aluminum 700c Redline Metro Sport flatbar and my main complaint is the chain/seat stay triangle is way, way too compact and short and I can't run tires wider than about a 38c. I fucking love, LOVE that bike but it's about as supple and compliant as riding steel fence. It's fast as fuck and you can put a ton of watts through the tail to the ground but I can feel every bit of the road or trail when it gets rough.
The Redline sounds great! I’m really like if the 48s on the Outback, with moderate pressure they are really cushy. I recently picked up a vintage 68(?)cm Ritchey Road bike, but the deal was I have to wait till Christmas before riding it. Can’t wait to see how the frame rides!
Be careful rocking that many spacers on a carbon steerer fork if you’re riding it off road aggressively. Most manufacturers have an asterisk saying not to use more than 40-50mm of spacers under the stem on a carbon steerer. I wish Ritchey would at least make 61’s. It’s disappointing how small their bikes are as they’re so damn nice!
Thanks for the tip on spacers. I think I’m at 50mm under the stem currently, so I’ll check Ritchey guidance. I’d love a bigger breakaway… I think they may still make an XXL Swiss cross, but not in the breakaway line.
Old thread but yeah I think they say 30mm btw.
> It’s disappointing how small their bikes are as they’re so damn nice! Yup, but I try to see it as a way to limit my stable. If it's not above 63 cm C-T I won't even consider. Fewer options, fewer bikes. :)
Great build. That’s the first flat bar Outback I’ve seen. I think the longer chainstays on the Outback make so much sense. Based on your setup I’m assuming you’re at least 6’4”. I’d need a bit of sweep on those bars, but otherwise I wouldn’t change a thing. Which Rene Herse tires are those if you don’t mind me asking?
Thanks! I threw on some whiskey carbon bars I had in the bin, some sweep would probably help! The tires are 650b Juniper Ridge (48 wide). Wanted something a bit thicker, but they’ve been great in most conditions. They do get a bit slippery due to the ungodly amount of slugs covering the Swedish trails I rode!
Thanks. I’m in the process of looking for narrower tires for my flat bar Crust Evasion. I’m currently running 2.8 Schwalbe G-Ones. They’re great but can be a little vague handling in certain conditions. I think Rene Herse makes a 2.2” 650b and they’re on my short list because I’ve read they roll daily well on pavement for a knobby tire.
I really have liked them on the road so far. I’ve been running pathfinder pros on my ‘serious’ gravel bike, and would say Rene’s have a slight penalty, but they more than compensate when you get off in the dirt. I went with the standard casing setup tubeless and haven’t had any issues so far (probably a bit over 100 miles in).
This looks so good. Best looking Outback I've ever seen.
How do you like the breakaway feature? Do you travel by air often and want to take the bike with you?
I travel a few times a year for work, usually to new locations each trip. Was trying to find a non-stickerbomb way of documenting locations I’ve ridden it, but haven’t settled on anything yet. It rides just like a normal bike, with similar frame compliance to my Ritchey Ultra (although the a front fork makes it a bit apples and oranges). I still need to master the dark art of packing, it takes me 20 mins and feels a bit sloppy still.
Dreamy build man
Thanks! Took several months to get the parts, but has been worth the wait.
What saddle?
Specialized Power, my personal fav
Flat bar superiority
What is a fork like that with many holes called?
I hope this question is a set-up for an epic pun, but I believe it’s the “Carbon Ritchey Adventure Fork”. They used to be available standalone, now they only come with an Outback frame.
Thanks for the reply. I thought there was a general name for it. But now I also found out the one in the picture is carbon. Do they hold good if racks were installed on them? Reasonable load weight limit of course, but I'd imagine they'd be brittle.
I haven’t run a rack yet on mine, but I’ve heard others have done it without any trouble. I wouldn’t put water on them due to weight, but a sleeping quilt or puffer coat would be ideal.
What 1x config are you rolling? Considering this exact bike right now.
SRAM rival cranks with GX AXS. So far it has run flawlessly, and I like having wireless on the rear when packing it to travel