Its smaller diameter tubes lean towards one of the more flexible and forgiving cross bikes we ridden in recent memory. The Swiss Cross Disc is certainly a capable bike for trail riding and fast gravel road exploring. That’s mostly where our impression lie with the bike. We were fine with that as the brief test was going to be more trail riding and dirt road exploring, and less of an hour at max heart rate. All of that added up to geometry a bit more upright and slightly more relaxed than most, more race-oriented cyclocross bikes that we test. It also gets 63mm of BB drop (and a standard 68mm threaded BB), which leans towards the high side for a bit more clearance for mixed trail riding. What that means is a 72° headtube/73.5° seattube, with a typical 383mm reach and generally upright 579mm stack for this middle-of-the-road size. The Swiss Cross Disc gets a sloping toptube for what Ritchey calls modern cyclocross geometry. So when I got a chance to take one out again, I jumped on it. It being steel, the bike ended up getting repaired and is reportedly back being ridden again, but our window had passed, so we didn’t get around to riding it then. Unfortunately the test bike we were to be loaned back last winter, belonging to the son of a local Ritchey distributor, got crashed pretty hard about a week before we were supposed to pick it up, so was out of commission for the time we planned to ride it. ![]() The bike is traditional in someways, like its small diameter tubing look and a combination of welded and lugged construction, but with its Ritchey racing pedigree it adds a bit of modern tech, not least of which include the forged and machined headtube with an integrated headset, the full carbon fork, and disc brakes. That being said the $1300 frameset (including frame, fork, and a drop-in bearing headset) still demands a premium over many mass-produced steel bikes. The Swiss Cross Disc, like its glossy red canti brother, is built to be a high quality steel cross racer at a more attainable price. Join us after the break to see what we thought of the bike, as well as our impressions of the new Ritchey tires and bar… ![]() In the end that slightly longer test didn’t happen, so we were happy to get another chance at the end of this summer, even if it was only for one ride. Two of our European testers spend a lot of time on fairly comparable steel disc brake cross bikes – both built by small frame builders, one fillet brazed from Ritchey Logic tubing and the other brazed/lugged from Columbus tubing – so we wanted to compare the ride of a production bike from similar tubing. Cost should be somewhere around $75 dollars.At the end of last winter we had planned to get out for a few weeks to test the newest steel cyclocross bike from Ritchey, the Swiss Cross Disc. The sale does not include the cages ( I can include some Zefal cages), pedals, or bell. Components are work great with minimal wear. The frame is a 9.5 out of 10 with very minimal wear/marks. ![]() Wheels: H Plus Son rims on Chris King hubsĭrivetrain: 9 speed Dura Ace shifter/levers, D/A front derailler, XTR rear derailler The bike was recently tuned up with new cables and fresh Fizik bar tape. The sale includes the suitcase that is in excellent condition also. ![]() This bike will break apart in 2 junctions and fit in a normal sized suitcase. I currently have it set up in gravel mode with 40C WTB Byway tires. This bike rides amazingly well and is a great all around bike for both the road, gravel, and cyclocross. Frame and parts are in excellent condition. Would consider trader for 56 cm gravel bike (willing to trade up or down with cash). I've made it work with a shorter stem and shallow drop but it just is a touch too big. Sadly, the guy who sold it to me measured it wrong. I bought this off Pinkbike and updated it.
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