Submitted by
satanas
a Cross Country Rider
from oz
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2010
Strengths: Beautifully made by Sugino, low Q factor, durable, light for the time. Compact MTB cranks have good ankle clearance too. All were available in 170/172.5/175/177.5/180mm.
Weaknesses: Not much clearance between crankarm and outer ring, so hard to stop MTB front derailleurs contacting the crank; fine with road derailleurs though. No longer made :-(
Bottom Line:
The first pair of these went on the bike I rode PBP on in 1991, and they are still going strong with zero problems after many, many thousands of km. The MTB cranks are vastly more comfortable for me than more recent cranks due to the lower Q factor and the range of lengths available.
Similar Products Used: Many, including assorted Shimano, Campagnolo, etc, etc
Bike Setup: I have these on various MTBs and road bikes with both double and triple rings.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Zack
a Cross Country Rider
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2005
Strengths: Strong, light, looks great, very durable and the chainrings can take a beating!!!
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
This crank rocks! Only ever replaced the middle ring after 8 years of hard riding. Big ring has hit rocks hundreds of times, still shifting perfect!!! I've bashed it, crashed it, tortured it, hung it up on rocks...it's beat up bad and just keeps going. Very sleek, classy design. AMAZING!!! I'm 200lbs and it handles me fine...if you want reliability, buy it!
Submitted by
Dave Everett
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix, Az
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2004
Strengths: You can pick them up cheap and they look cool
Weaknesses: None that I am aware of
Bottom Line:
I can not think of a single reason why more people are not using these on thier bikes. They look way better then most of the other products out there, don't weigh more, and come from a company that most people who know what they are talking about like.
I talking about cranks so I can't come up with anything that they do or don't do well but the bottom line is that they are well worth the money that you can pick them up for.
Bike Setup: 98 Klien pulse, Mostly xt parts, Black Elite forks
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
bufo marinus
a Cross Country Rider
from oz
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2002
Strengths: Elegant, cold forged by Sugino, low Q factor, range of sizes -- not just 170/175mm.
Bottom Line:
I have 4 sets of Ritchey cranks: 2x110/74 standard triple, 1x110 road double, 1x94/58 compact triple. The first set (110/74) is now over 11 years old, still with no problems. There's not much to say really; they sit there and work, they are the right length (172.5mm for me), they don't stick out much (my knees like this), they take standard chainrings, there's no outrageous flex. Like all good Sugino-made products they don't break.
Unless I was going to splash out on a set of Record carbon road cranks, I can't see how changing would be any benefit. Most current MTB cranks are useless to me since (1) I can't get them in the length I need and (2) the excessive bend in the arms makes the Q so high I can't spin, and also causes knee problems.
Of course, the Ritchey's aren't trendy or a funny colour -- that's probably why they appear to be out of production...
Strengths: Light, utilizes splined bottom bracket, Logo won't wear off because its printed in the recess.
Weaknesses: Creaking is annoying, most slpined cranks do it, though. drab look, Shimano chainrings shift better
Bottom Line:
****NOTE:The crank pictured is not the one I am reviewing. I have the 2002 Ritchey WCS cranks. With that said, lets go... First off, these cranks are lighter than XTR and XT (by 6 grams; whoopee) Thats what made me like them. The chainrings that come on them are decent, but not amazing. I replaced the stock middle 32t with a 34t, and I like the ratios better. The crank looks pretty passe, but then again, there's no paint to rub off or chip, so they'll never look any different. If I ever need new cranks, I'll preobably go with XTs, just because of their better rings. If you happen to find these at a good price, then get them and upgrade the rings as they wear out(you should only need to upgrade the big ring; I'm using a middle ring w/o shift ramps or pins, and it shifts fine)
Weaknesses: Chainrings s*ck, mine were all gone within 6 months of riding.
Bottom Line:
The crankarms are perfect, but I had to change the chainrings within 3 months. These cranks are even beter than standard LX/XT but change the blades before riding it. I have changed them with TA's wich perform superb.
Similar Products Used: Shimano Cranks (LX, old style XT with Biopace, argh!)
Bike Setup: Klein Pulse Comp, Judy Sl, King, Thomson, LX/XT. 22 LBS of pure fun
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Peter Thorsness
a Cross Country Rider
from Laramie, WY
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2000
Strengths: Light, low Q factor, not trendy
Weaknesses: Nothing obvious
Bottom Line:
I have an older pair of Ritchey cranks on my single speed. Rode them for about 6 years as my primary crank before getting a new bike. They worked for _thousands_ of honest to goodness off-road miles in the rocky mountains and held up fine. Love the low Q factor, but that's partly a function of the older frame with a 130mm rear axle length.
I just built up a new frame and put on a new Ritchey Logic compact crank. I spend a lot of time in the big ring with this set up, but that's fine by me. As a famous guy once said -- "I know how to pedal a bike so I don't need those big gears". Anyway, it shifts wonderfully and does have a narrower Q factor than most other cranks. Unless they were to bend, I can't see why I'd ever need anything else. I have them mated to a Phil Wood titanium bottom bracket -- works like a charm! No significant flex detected, but them I'm a spinner and not a masher. I like the fact that it isn't found much on other bikes. Just say no to raceface!
Similar Products Used: Older XTR cranks Various road cranks
Bike Setup: Just like I like it!
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
P
a Cross Country Rider
from Bay Area, CA
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2000
Strengths: Low Q, clean lines...not bulbous and gawdy like some aftermarket cranks, uh...that's all.
Weaknesses: Low strength.
Bottom Line:
I bought these cranks because they were lighter than what I had used previously, they had a nice low Q factor, and they lokked very nice...classic. I weigh 190 and put a lot of torque through the pedals especially when climbing. I don't abuse my equipment, however. I bent the drive side arm and/or spider. There is no weight limit on these cranks as far as I know but they didn't work out for me. Sorry Tom. Hello XTR.
Submitted by
Nue
a Cross Country Rider
from Minnesota
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2000
Strengths: fairly cheap
Weaknesses: looks cheap
Bottom Line:
these things where good for a few years, then they cracked on the none drive arm right down the middle lenght wise, where the arm connects to the bottom bracket. they felt like your average shimano lx, no big deal.
Submitted by
tmb
a Cross-Country Rider
from denver,co
Date Reviewed: December 2, 1999
Strengths: Inexpensive Very stiff with no flex Smooth shifting
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Okay, so I've already reviewed these cranks before. Just built up a M2 S-Works and put these cranks on- they rock!!! For the money, these are the best cranks to buy. Got them from Universal Cycles (great customer service too) for $129. They shift nice and they work. They're not trendy, but they have a classic design that won't ever go out of style. Five flamers for this one!
Bike Setup: Specialized M2 S-Works Marzocchi Atom Bomb
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
tmb
a Cross-Country Rider
from denver,co
Date Reviewed: November 12, 1999
Strengths: Stiff Smooth shifting Great value
Weaknesses: Not well known
Bottom Line:
For the money, these are the best cranks you can buy. They don't flex or they don't squeak. The rings are pinned and ramped; thus, shifting is smooth. Like these cranks so much ordered a new set for a new M2 S-Works. Like most of Ritchey products, the cranks have a classic design- they won't ever go out of style.
Submitted by
Hobiecat1
a Cross-Country Rider
from Illinois
Date Reviewed: October 8, 1999
Strengths: Strong
Bottom Line:
Strong crank, no flex, Had problem at first with chain suck but some work on front der. and pins took care of that. Now it's flawless and for $129 frrom Universal Cycles I can't complain.
We're riding a set of Ritchie tandem cranks on our FS rig and they have been great. This is the second tandem we have that's running them. Nothing to complain about and the cost was a complete steal compared to everything else we were looking at.
Submitted by
rob perkins
a cross-country rider
from germany
Date Reviewed: October 29, 1998
Bottom Line:
Ritchey 100/74mm Triple Crank: An absolutely high-quality crank. Allows for a very low q-factor (no wider than a typical road double crank). Nice shape and polish. The best crank I've owned from classic looks. Using it with a 115 mm spindle, which is too short, but I've been able to modify the front derailleur to work with it. Cold Forged, which is good. Made by Sugino; I have heard that the Ritchey crank has been discontinued, but the Sugino Mighty is similar.
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