Ritte: Another phony bike company

[BroDeal]

http://www.wired.com/playbook/2012/...Index+3+(Top+Stories+2))&pid=304&viewall=true

You have to love how he "convinced" a Taiwanese company to build him twenty bikes. It would not take much convincing to get Jenny at Hong Fu to build me twenty frames.

Someone over at RBR summed it up when he said that for less money than Ritte's steel frame, you can get a Carl Strong.

 

[Granville57]

Based on the irreverence of their wildly entertaining promo vids, I would've half-expected you to be a card carrying member.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uS37-oPMPc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bFOBmHt8ck&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV-jj7-a5Dg&feature=related

 

[Boeing]

http://www.wired.com/playbook/2012/...Index+3+(Top+Stories+2))&pid=304&viewall=true

You have to love how he "convinced" a Taiwanese company to build him twenty bikes. It would not take much convincing to get Jenny at Hong Fu to build me twenty frames.

Someone over at RBR summed it up when he said that for less money than Ritte's steel frame, you can get a Carl Strong.

clearly you let your own personal bias miss the point of this article

now who's "un-american"

 

[DirtyWorks]

http://www.wired.com/playbook/2012/...Index+3+(Top+Stories+2))&pid=304&viewall=true

You have to love how he "convinced" a Taiwanese company to build him twenty bikes. It would not take much convincing to get Jenny at Hong Fu to build me twenty frames.

Someone over at RBR summed it up when he said that for less money than Ritte's steel frame, you can get a Carl Strong.

That article and Ritte is an insult to the people who actually design, test and build bikes.

Just go direct to Russ Denny for the steel/alloy product. Maybe Mr. Denny should change the brand to Russ Van Looy to sell a few more. Flaandria? I can't decide which I like better.

 

[Boeing]

That article and Ritte is an insult to the people who actually design, test and build bikes.

Just go direct to Russ Denny for the steel/alloy product.

If it is such an insult why did Russ Denny take the work?

 

[DirtyWorks]

If it is such an insult why did Russ Denny take the work?

The money. This isn't the first time Russ has built bikes for a business whose sole purpose is marketing expensive bicycles. It doesn't last. As another post mentions, Ritte is plain expensive for a Russ Denny. Sorry, Russ Van Looy.

The offensive part is the "Dude, I just like.... fell into this whole bike business thing... and now I'm designing bikes! Awesome!"

Russ Van Looy is the bike business. It's not sexy and he's not getting rich, but he's delivering good product.

The Ritte dude is having fun now. But, Russ will still be around well after Ritte's vanished because of warranty claims on their carbon fiber 'designs.'

 

[42x16ss]

The money. This isn't the first time Russ has built bikes for a business whose sole purpose is marketing expensive bicycles. It doesn't last. As another post mentions, Ritte is plain expensive for a Russ Denny. Sorry, Russ Van Looy.

The offensive part is the "Dude, I just like.... fell into this whole bike business thing... and now I'm designing bikes! Awesome!"

Russ Van Looy is the bike business. It's not sexy and he's not getting rich, but he's delivering good product.

The Ritte dude is having fun now. But, Russ will still be around well after Ritte's vanished because of warranty claims on their carbon fiber 'designs.'

What's so offensive about all of this????

The guy got his business off the ground by reselling an OEM frame that he liked. Ok, he wasn't the one who developed/designed it but I doubt that it was the first and only frame that was looked at.

Come on, none of us here are naive enough to not know that the same frame is probably sold by a bigger brand(s) for a lot more money than what Ritte are selling their carbon frames for.

By getting Russ Denny on board Ritte are nowat a point where they can develop their own frames from scratch - I say good on them for having a go and not taking everything too seriously. It's refreshing to see a bit of humour in the industry for a change.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

I like Ritte, hope they stay around a while. Their frames are as good as anyone's, plus you've got to hand it to them for injecting humor into a seemingly humorless industry.

 

[ElChingon]

http://www.wired.com/playbook/2012/...Index+3+(Top+Stories+2))&pid=304&viewall=true

You have to love how he "convinced" a Taiwanese company to build him twenty bikes. It would not take much convincing to get Jenny at Hong Fu to build me twenty frames.

Someone over at RBR summed it up when he said that for less money than Ritte's steel frame, you can get a Carl Strong.

Bro, you just jumped the shark. I can't believe you actually thought they were real in any way other than a name.

As for the story, Rock Racing did the same thing so not too unique. Its all in the brand name, it needs to be a cool name otherwise people stay away or if they do have a not so good name they never gain any real cult following which makes the brand have some longevity.

Why this isn't merged with the other Chinese/Chinarello/Black Market Carbon thread ... well somebody should.

 

[DirtyWorks]

By getting Russ Denny on board Ritte are nowat a point where they can develop their own frames from scratch - I say good on them for having a go and not taking everything too seriously. It's refreshing to see a bit of humour in the industry for a change.

That's not how it works. Ritte Dude calls Russ and asks "How much is a 6061-T6 my stickers, my finish" Russ gives him a number. There's no convincing Russ. Either a deal is struck or it's not. It's business. You can do the same thing. It's not hard.

As for 'developing from scratch.' that will lead to more warranty issues if Ritte Dude is just pulling tubing specs out of thin air. Guys like Russ Van Looy tend to protect guys like Ritte Dude from themselves in this regard because they know Ritte Dude will blame Russ Van Looy for Ritte's bad specification decisions. So, there's lots of back-and-forth rejecting Ritte Dude's ideas that would blow up in Russ Van Looy's face. You can do it too. It's not hard.

What the Ritte dude designs is stickers. That puts him in the same league with Felt, Blue, Motobecane, Fuji, Jamis, Kona and others. Chinarello is about right. Nothing special going on in Ritte-ville.

 

[Boeing]

The money. This isn't the first time Russ has built bikes for a business whose sole purpose is marketing expensive bicycles. It doesn't last. As another post mentions, Ritte is plain expensive for a Russ Denny. Sorry, Russ Van Looy.

The offensive part is the "Dude, I just like.... fell into this whole bike business thing... and now I'm designing bikes! Awesome!"

Russ Van Looy is the bike business. It's not sexy and he's not getting rich, but he's delivering good product.

The Ritte dude is having fun now. But, Russ will still be around well after Ritte's vanished because of warranty claims on their carbon fiber 'designs.'

Russ is a big boy and he can make his own business decisions and I am sure he has considered the ramifications of his decisions pro and con

Dirt, come on man you can't make a dogmatic statement assuming malicious intent buy these guys guessing they will not warranty. borderline liable man. Have you read their 3 year crash replacement policy? Also it is borderline racism to put a blanket label on all things made in china

we all know the purpose of this thread is for one stoic self-proclaimed patriarch of the industry to sit back and admire his thread. whether as a sock puppet hating on Rapha or this the classic and predictable “I like it the way it is/was” "I don't like new" argument ignores the fact that all things – Business, objects and cultures alike – atrophy and die over time if they aren’t replaced or renewed. one reacts because the new negates a person’s value as a human. it hurts ones Vibe

I dig the new vibe Ritte brings to the game. and just for shytes and giggles I am buying one and putting the yellow SRAM Red group I have sitting in the bottom of a messy garage

 

[42x16ss]

That's not how it works. Ritte Dude calls Russ and asks "How much is a 6061-T6 my stickers, my finish" Russ gives him a number. There's no convincing Russ. Either a deal is struck or it's not. It's business. You can do the same thing. It's not hard.

As for 'developing from scratch.' that will lead to more warranty issues if Ritte Dude is just pulling tubing specs out of thin air. Guys like Russ Van Looy tend to protect guys like Ritte Dude from themselves in this regard because they know Ritte Dude will blame Russ Van Looy for Ritte's bad specification decisions. So, there's lots of back-and-forth rejecting Ritte Dude's ideas that would blow up in Russ Van Looy's face. You can do it too. It's not hard.

What the Ritte dude designs is stickers. That puts him in the same league with Felt, Blue, Motobecane, Fuji, Jamis, Kona and others. Chinarello is about right. Nothing special going on in Ritte-ville.

That may all be well and true, but Ritte freely admit that they are still learning about the industry.

The thing that you have conveniently forgotten is that Ritte only started as a business because people liked the bikes and custom kits that Spencer Canon ordered for himself and his friends when they started their team.

Hardly Canon's fault is it? If I had a chance to get something similar off the ground I know I'd take it.

 

[purpletezza]

Come on.....

Wow, how serious are we?

What Ritte are doing is cool. They are having fun selling products that people want to buy. They must be doing something right to be a successfull start-up and increase sales dramatically when so many long established others are going bust.

I presume the USA laws do not allow them to put a "MADE in USA" sticker on their bikes otherwise they woud be just like all those "Made in" Italy, France, Spain, Germany Euro brands so at least they are being honest about the source of thier products.

Besides Ritte wouldn't be the first company to have image and culture as the basis of their sales and marketing would they? (otherwise we would never have seen Giant, Specialized, Trek etc doing single speeds eh?)

Smart guys.

 

[BroDeal]

Another choice bit:

Most recently, the company unveiled the 1919TT, a super-aero time trial bike that hits the market next month.

Super-aero? Really? How much money do you think a company that sells a few hundred rebadged frames spent on wind tunnel testing? I think the writer meant "super aero looking time trial bike."

Bro, you just jumped the shark.

Nope. This is the same as Rapha. I know BS when I smell it, and this article reeks like those trucks carrying liquid cow sh!t that is spread on fields next to some of the valley roads I ride in the spring. When that stuff spills on the road it is nasty. The whole article is filled with crap.

Race ready bike at an affordable price? So they are going to help out the racers by taking a $300 open mold frame then selling it for a couple grand? Way to do a bro a solid. Thanks.

Or how about this gem, "...but the emphasis is on refining the product line and ironing out the manufacturing process." What manufacturing process? They don't manufacture anything.

Then there is this, '“We have a lot more control over the design,” he said. “I’ve designed the new Crossberg. We’ve completely redone the tubes.”' So the dude who knows nothing about carbon is designing the new bike. Nice. That should be a winner. I think they meant designing the appearance of the tubes, i.e. the cosmetic design.

And it goes on and on. I guess we need Ritte for balance. The east coast has Rosetti, a bike company based in Florida that pretends to be Italian. Why not a west coast company pretending to be Belgian?

This whole "we're just some bros having fun" sounds as phony and as scripted as anything that Rapha has ever come out with.

 

[Boeing]

One might even argue that this type of marketing and business model circumvents the dreaded Grey Market

God Bless America

and back in the good old day steel bike companies never ever put a label on an outsourced frame. Nutuhh nota once cuz they was dignified and proud peoples

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Wow, how serious are we?

I presume the USA laws do not allow them to put a "MADE in USA" sticker on their bikes otherwise they woud be just like all those "Made in" Italy, France, Spain, Germany Euro brands so at least they are being honest about the source of thier products.

What French bikes are made in Taiwan but have "Made in France" stickers on them?

Ritte is just the middle man between you and Deng Fu. But yeah, they're smart enough to realize that there are a lot of clueless dolts willing to pay extra for a paint job and the illusion that the frame has one iota to do with Flanders.

 

[Race Radio]

Didn't Russ start out with Fusso? Those guys made a ton of frames that were re-branded or used by various teams.

 

[Boeing]

I saw and African American and a Hippie on a Ritte. they shouldn't be able to vote if they ride a Ritte

 

[42x16ss]

Another choice bit:



Super-aero? Really? How much money do you think a company that sells a few hundred rebadged frames spent on wind tunnel testing? I think the writer meant "super aero looking time trial bike."



Nope. This is the same as Rapha. I know BS when I smell it, and this article reeks like those trucks carrying liquid cow sh!t that is spread on fields next to some of the valley roads I ride in the spring. When that stuff spills on the road it is nasty. The whole article is filled with crap.

Race ready bike at an affordable price? So they are going to help out the racers by taking a $300 open mold frame then selling it for a couple grand? Way to do a bro a solid. Thanks.

Or how about this gem, "...but the emphasis is on refining the product line and ironing out the manufacturing process." What manufacturing process? They don't manufacture anything.

Then there is this, '“We have a lot more control over the design,” he said. “I’ve designed the new Crossberg. We’ve completely redone the tubes.”' So the dude who knows nothing about carbon is designing the new bike. Nice. That should be a winner. I think they meant designing the appearance of the tubes, i.e. the cosmetic design.

And it goes on and on. I guess we need Ritte for balance. The east coast has Rosetti, a bike company based in Florida that pretends to be Italian. Why not a west coast company pretending to be Belgian?

This whole "we're just some bros having fun" sounds as phony and as scripted as anything that Rapha has ever come out with.

Holy crap man! Relax....

It's not like 2/3's of the bike industry who do the EXACT SAME THING but worse, claiming that they developed their OEM frames themselves. At least Ritte are up front with the fact that they are importing frames made in Asia that any brand can source if they wish. How many other brands admit that they do this?

No, I wouldn't buy a Ritte myself - for the reasons you said. However I wouldn't have an issue with someone who did. Save the hate for the brands that deserve it - Trek, Specialized, Cervelo and Speedplay for starters.

Relax and have a drink

 

[Race Radio]

Another choice bit:


Super-aero? Really? How much money do you think a company that sells a few hundred rebadged frames spent on wind tunnel testing? I think the writer meant "super aero looking time trial bike."

I know for a fact they did a lot of wind tunnel testing. Here is some video

http://vimeo.com/16808027

That is about high tech as it gets

 

[42x16ss]

I know for a fact they did a lot of wind tunnel testing. Here is some video

http://vimeo.com/16808027

That is about high tech as it gets

LMAO! It's refreshing to see a bike company not take themselves too seriously.

Brodeal, are you somehow scared by the fact that these guys might actually be what they say they are??? You are normally the first person to turn around and say that things like wind tunnel testing a bike is OTT and most manufacturers claims are just a load of BS

 

[Boeing]

I think I'll hook them up with SuperCo so they can do a 26" BMX or DJ frame. that would look sick in those colors

 

[Boeing]

LMAO! It's refreshing to see a bike company not take themselves too seriously.

Brodeal, are you somehow scared by the fact that these guys might actually be what they say they are??? You are normally the first person to turn around and say that things like wind tunnel testing a bike is OTT and most manufacturers claims are just a load of BS

scared indeed

 

[purpletezza]

What French bikes are made in Taiwan but have "Made in France" stickers on them?

Ritte is just the middle man between you and Deng Fu. But yeah, they're smart enough to realize that there are a lot of clueless dolts willing to pay extra for a paint job and the illusion that the frame has one iota to do with Flanders.

Oops, should have said Time made in Morrocco.

 

[marathon marke]

I know for a fact they did a lot of wind tunnel testing. Here is some video

http://vimeo.com/16808027

That is about high tech as it gets

LOL! I REALLY needed to see that today! Thanks, RR.