Ritchey Outback 2021 Sunset Fade - Review

I had a chance to demo a 2021 Ritchey Outback for a week and this video sums up my thoughts on the bike. I owned the previous version of the Outback which was a pretty different bike, so riding this one was quite a different experience. I also compare it to my Santa Cruz Stigmata. That's a lot of gravel bikes.

Below are links to the other bike reviews:
2017 Ritchey Outback
2019 Santa Cruz Stigmata

[cyclist]

Have owned this since fall ‘21 and it’s remarkably fun and capable on just about any terrain.

[malcolmjcullen]

Have just bought myself this frameset in green. Have an Ekar groupset to go on it, need to get wheels... Thinking Ritchey WCS Zeta.

[themindunset]

I love this bike. I want one. I have a Fargo now and love it too. Not a weight weenie (obviously) but it seems that the Outback will be more like a bike I can use when I'm not off-road touring but... should I find a cool dirt road or double track, I won't be skittish to take it. Thanks for the review

[RobEinaudi]

Great review! Both of these bikes are on my short list, though now it looks like I'm going custom....

[WordupG]

The bike looks great. I just wish they placed that upper cable elsewhere, at least on the lower side of the top tube.

[stevepark]

How do you find the Outback after building your own with a nicer build kit? Did that make it more of what you wanted? The Outback v Stigmata comparison resonates with me because your comparison relates directly to my own dichotomous bikes... relaxed steel gravel bikes as well as zippier carbon gravel bikes (Stig, Open, etc). I'm sure others enjoy a variety of bikes too.

[tariqkamil]

Almost in the same boat. Oredering the current outback as soon as I can move my Giqnt hybrid(Covid purchase bike). Quiver killer is the aspero(not the 5) also a Covid purchase and they had my size (58). In Malaysia( I’m local) I’m freaky tall (187cm 60% legs 😂) But I wanted something less roadie more composed and steady

[yayakuza]

Can you do a bike check on Benj swiss cross? Both the geared and the single speed versions

[KOL]

Nice. I do want one of these. I was worried that the long chain stays would result in slippage on super steep climbs as your weight is not as over the back wheel as it would be with short stays? Also is that an XL in the vid? Thanks

[sloppydom]

Could part of the slowness be attributed to the 700c wheelsize and large tires. I have a singular peregrine which, when running lightweight wheels with700c x 48 tires feels sluggish, but when running 650b x 50 just feel more lively, even though the smaller wheels are heavier.

[dimash]

Wanna ask what size of clamp fd adapter

[ritcheydesign]

To be fair, nothing approaches Rivendale long. 😹

[arvinl]

why steel bikes cost so much? $1500 frame about 3k complete.

[yayakuza]

wished Ritchey frames have Di2 routing like Mason & Fairlight 😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔😔

[andreamantovani]

Put on some light tires and light conponents and enjoy one of the best bikes in the market. much better than your soulless stigmata

[gunnarguggs]

Slow because the groupset was heavy?? You are lost in your biases and expectations... I hope you get out of there...