Restoring a Vintage 1991 Ritchey Ultra Mountain Bike

[@miltono.1152]

Last year I bought a cheap bike because I didn't know better. I started watching you fix and restore bikes and decided to invest in tools, and upgraded my bike, I swapped almost everything because they were just low quality parts, making a bunch of different noises and wanted to experience doing it myself. Now I use it more than ever, super smooth riding, and I'm even fixing bikes for people at my Church, please keep making this kind of videos, it gives much more than you think, God bless you!

[@thomaseisen304]

This never gets old , you see an old part full of dirt , grime and stuff , clean it up and it's good to go for the next 20 years ! Then you know that those parts were made with heart and soul ! Just seeing the old Shimano STX RC steering bearing bring back so many memories . So for all the folks out there who think it's not worth it to restore a bike like this ...YOU are missing out ! THX Oldshovel for this video and have fun with that old beauty !

[@josephhertzberg2734]

I love my Ritchey Logic cranks!!

[@felixjackson2670]

One of the nicest steel framed MTB’s ever made. Built a Cannondale with Campagnolo Centaur groupset in late 1980’s. Very well engineered. The XT stuff was far better back then than now! Love your passion for these wonderful old bikes.

[@matt_squires_og]

It's a beauty - cant believe you took it out in the snow and muck =)

[@alfredneuman7665]

to clean bottom bracket threads, I take a 12 gauge brass cleaning brush in an electric drill, and run it both directions, works really well (with solvent)

[@bjoernbrandt5497]

Thank you for your great work and thank you for not playing much background music in your video and just letting the pure mechanics speak!

[@komoonkh]

New Oldshovel video = instant like before even watching it.

[@thingsilike7341]

I love that no matter the project you put true effort in and you do the process right. It is truly a pleasure to watch

[@marshallaver693]

Agree painting this would be crazy it has a beautiful light patina that shows its history... Refinishing it would wipe all that away.......survivors like this will be rarer than full restorations.

[@gilerd77]

Ahh the flite saddles of old. With the old school riding geometry and saddles like that back in the day, it helped being 100 lbs lighter 😁

[@JoshuaYoungsma]

what a great find! I love that you kept it original for the most part and just wanted to ride it. Great winter riding footage too!

[@ride_of_a_life1830]

Nice job! Recently found the channel and love watching. I am a bike shop owner and have been a bike mechanic for 31 years. Still love anything bike, both new and old. If my memory serves me correctly, that Alsop Suspension Stem would be period correct, and was a staple parts on Team Ritchey bikes in the early 90's!

[@garymoen930]

I love this. I've got a 87 Ritchie Enduro that I still love to take out and ride. True classics. Thanks for reminding me again why I'm glad I've kept it all these years.

[@MrSchattka]

Thanks for another awesome video. My steel-frame MTB from the same era has the same bullet-proof 3X7 shifters. They're 30 years old but work flawlessly.

[@badger67]

Me too mate, and I wouldn't change them for the world.

[@michaelhaney3388]

I have a 1984 Competition fillet brazed Tom Ritchy handmade frame. Will build it up 2024.

[@oldshovel]

Wow awesome. I’m still on the hunt for a fillet brazed Ritchey. Awesome

[@michaelhaney3388]

@@oldshovel Mine is a 21inch frameset I bought from a pro 10 years ago, He said he won 3 races back in 85,86. I can keep my eyes out for a fillet brazed Ritchey, Here in socal I've seen Ritcheys.

[@jakefinnegan1932]

It would be cool to see the original stem in action! It really ties this bike together. Love your music choice, btw.

[@johnnydoe66]

Once again another fantastic opportunity to give something "old" new life....good job keeping it "original"

[@isaachazim3589]

I'd take that bike ! as is, over a $5,000.- carbon monstrosity any day ! Awesome ! 👍👍👍

[@johnthemainguy9059]

Fantastic! Those Ritchey's are almost as special as Bontrager's. 😉 Thank you for not putting 3' wide bars on it and saving it for another generation of riders.

[@marcelocastrolapocha]

You kept the TRIPLE!!!!

[@scotthughes29]

I’ve got two Bridgestone MTB’s from this same era, same forks…and I absolutely love them. Great find!

[@quantumskg4742]

Your channel makes me a little happier. Thanks.

[@saipuakivikaupias]

Love that you kept the paint original on this one Rob. Early 90s bikes are my personal favorite. Love the rigid simple bikes. Love Eme & Gary

[@bozstitch]

Another great job. Man, you are so lucky to live where you do. That scenery is awesome!

[@iQuincyboy]

Please do not paint this one, keep it well-maintained just as it is. As always - a stellar job!

[@BICIeCOMPUTERconGabriele]

Our just paint it like the original color

[@nightkids4687]

Agree. This is awesome bike. Make it original as possible...

[@GABRIEL_CRAFT]

Please don't paint this one 🙏

[@evanbyrne4433]

Its only original once@@BICIeCOMPUTERconGabriele

[@byrondot]

As always, an amazing work! I think that there are a couple brands that their frames has a soul,and Ritchey bikes is one of those brands.All that this beauty was needing is a coat of love, and will be ready to meet the mountain as you showed us. Great video, and thatks for share it with all us. Big hug!

[@8827180]

So much love and passion for this great vintage bike.

[@jamesrigby2271]

Another wonderful find! I agree with Hassler and others... keep and protect the original paint/pattina. I'd say its worth a gentle polish of the crank, a better condition Flight saddle and that STX part on the headset is out of place. Best video in ages, old school Old Shovel - 🙂

[@Mikemalone7873]

Awesome Rob! Pre-hyper glide and all. Those XT derailleurs we’re looking for those thumb shifters. It’s only original once and I think you got it as close as possible. Thanks for sharing!

[@RyansuBike]

Oh that stubborn non drive side bb cup! I have struggled with those on old bike refurbs, gorgeous Ritchey and great parts. Fun!

[@Fallington]

Awesome, and that’s quite a location for the test ride too!

[@fasterducky]

The 90s were the best years for mountain biking.

[@vernerjuliussen2071]

Truly a significant upgrade for the brake and gear levers. A perfect mix of old and new components on this bike. Fantastic build.🤙

[@underacheiver2000]

Another Sunday morning well spent watching Old Shovel breathe new life into old steel.

[@mountainsnmoore256]

Crazy how things like this work out...I have been restoring my dad's mountain bike that he bought in the early 90's, when he retired, for his upcoming 77th birthday. It uses this same type of brake pad, and I had been having trouble finding this exact type. I get up this morning and decide to watch your latest video, rather than continue my search for the pads...and BAM! There they were. Went through the link in your description and found them on Jenson USA's site in no time. Will be placing my order soon. Thanks!

[@GABRIEL_CRAFT]

So glad you kept the original paintwork. Coming from auto detail background you can do paint touchup / correction and the ceramic coating and maintain this original paint work. It really is in too good of condition to start over and lose this original paint work. Would really be a shame in my humble opinion.

[@MorryB]

Yeah, its sometimes painful to see vintage paint being stripped only to be replaced with spray can coatings. Would be more interesting to see someone fixing the chips and scrapes and then sealing the old coating like you said.

[@eucalyptusregnans7741]

I agree. I would prefer the original paint and decals preserved.

[@ilves6664]

Awesome! And Spring is coming..Even here in Finland ..

[@williampike5173]

I really enjoy these videos from the music to the build. I have been doing some bike builds myself, but they take more than 20 minutes..haha. keep up the great work! love to see these old classics back on the road. thanks again old shovel.

[@lukehendrickson3669]

I just sold my 2014-ish Ritchey Swiss Cross Canti and bought a Japanese-made Ritchey Ascent from 1985. Damn dude. I get the hype about these older mountain bikes. I also love ditching the 1x drivetrain and using a mountain triple. This rips up steep stuff and is super fun to cruise around on here in San Francisco. Stoked to hit Marin with it soon, too.

[@philjungels7617]

I love your "Project" bikes. As always, a real treat.

[@jackiegammon2065]

That was about the time frame that I started working at bike shops, and I've always wanted a Ritchey frame!! Just loved watching this video and had never seen the Campy mtn bike group, thanks for sharing!!

[@noelbrown6771]

I have a bike exactly like this bike without the Ritchey graphics. An original KHS team with the Ritchey logic tubeset ( decals intact) only tig welded instead of brazed. Rides wonderfully. Perhaps you could look for one of these to experience the Ritchey ride on the cheap as I've done. Just a thought.

[@LeFrere72]

That was a blast from the past! Tom Ritchey knows how to build a frame (riding a road logic myself). I'm amazed you got the BB bearings up and running again - well done 👌🏻

[@kimdavis5522]

Back in the day I always wanted a Ritchey bike.

[@aaronwaderides7209]

Man you sound just me all the time deep rooted love for bikes .

[@johnsonjay60]

1991 is vintage now where did all the time go !? I was born in 85 but still 😆 ty for another sunday upload

[@jasondunlap9823]

Awesome. Back in the day. What a great find. Enjoyed!

[@caesar2164]

NICE! That's a Campagnolo Euclid crankset. (Campagnolo made MTB groupsets in the 90s) It's rare and cool! (It's also quite valuable!)

[@caesar2164]

Those brakes are very interesting. They're obviously Campagnolo as well, but they don't look like the Euclid geometry...

[@MrJonas2255]

Anything mountain from campy is pretty rare, they didn't stick with it very long

[@thegrommechanic6265]

nice too see that you kept the 3x it really gives a wild look to the bike

[@WantonSoup192]

Beautiful. I have a slightly older Ultra also in Black with stock deore xt. Same m732 you put on. Bulletproof shifters. Brakes down low like your Ascent. Such fun bikes. Lightweight, agile. Lively without punishing you. Nice to see you do the resto to close to original parts. Yes go ride it.

[@p1010paul]

I love how you joined that chain old school, keep it real!

[@Simtar123]

Bikes are just so nice! Simple and efficient! Easy to fix and maintain.

[@cbh76]

Wow. This brings back memories. Always loved these.

[@drewsenthused6079]

What is the difference between your BB grease and headset grease?

[@nickmassey9104]

Great bike ,patience and time pays dividends when offering new life to old things 😀

[@BluecollarBackcountry]

I really like that you kept the old paint and what a fun bike. Yesterday I bought a 26" Doritos mtb. Yes, Doritos. Bahahaha, it's a total cheap piece of crap but I'm going to do the same you have done with this one. I'm going to have so much fun with it. ✌ COME ON SPRINGTIME

[@shawnwakeman6324]

Absolutely fantastic! What a great video. I do enjoy a nice clean up that still showcases that the bike has lived a life.

[@jaimegomezgarcia7599]

A fantastic restoration! That almost complete Campagnolo set brings back wonderful memories. To keep the 3x7 drivetrain is a great idea. Also, that 48T? chainring is a beauty. (You can guess my age from the comments... :) )

[@paolocarta8075]

Great video great bike and awsome ride landscape.i own a 2023 rigid singlespeed ultra.i m in love with her.my very first Ritchey bike.a dream came true.un abbraccio dall italia.grazie per il tuo lavoro.CIAO! Paolo

[@Jaydad4701]

I had the same stem on my 89 Specialized S Works back then it was a game changer! Yes I’m old

[@derekneumann]

You are so lucky to live next to such a plethora of bikes in the SLC area Collective. That must be awesome..... I would have bought that Ritchey on site.

[@Jinedan]

I need to ride a 90s steel hardtail again ... what a terrific bike you scored!

[@dominichui8280]

Thanks for sharing this beautiful restoration, great bike👍

[@BrianSJoe21]

Really nice bike, love the old bikes.. would love to get one

[@prozacforall]

I'd never seen those campy brakes before. Crazy how much they look like Paul components style brakes. If they were anodized I would've just assumed they were.

[@petersmedley459]

Thank you for telling me what they are! I thought they looked like a Grafton Speed Controller look alike...

[@sylvol]

Very good job! The oldschool Ritchey ride better than some new bikes. Your movies and job its awesome! Ths and enjoy!

[@donaldfranklinjr7087]

The old bikes were made to take a abuse and keep on going great build old shovel

[@davedelarosa319]

Right before the world went sideways, I found a Gary Fisher Aquila that I picked up for $40. It was the 2nd bike I tore down and rebuilt complete, plus a retromod update. That frame rode a dream and the Genesis geo was a playful blast. Granted it's not the same vintage, but vintage nonetheless. And I wholeheartedly endorse riding older bikes. I sold it last summer and somewhat regret letting it go, but I was able to apply the funds to a Specialized Fatboy which I dearly love, so emotional and financial equity moved forward.

[@mattharding7649]

I like the videos with more commentary! Great build as always.

[@colincurtis633]

Amazing what some cleaning, time and a bit of TLC can do to an old bike. Great work! Really love tuning in and watching these videos. How was the ride?

[@kiltymacbagpipe]

I was literally thinking the same thing as he cleaned up that drivetrain.

[@jacobskees1365]

Never underestimate the power of a clean bike

[@gerdhermannwinkelhaus9879]

Looks like my Stevens with xt and Ritchey Parts.

[@walterpierowski7976]

I used to have a softride stem on a 92 trek 830, loved it. So much fun!

[@lcollingwood5959]

Reminds me a lot of my 91 green and yellow rocky mountain equipe. It has ritchey dropouts on it. Nice video

[@marcpauly8699]

What a find! Dream bike!

[@donchev]

Could you tell me why you never wash the bike with water before disassembly (or at least wash the frame when all components are taken off). Using a rag on a dirty frame introduces new scratches to the paint layer - that's for sure.

[@johnwilmott8063]

Really a nice classic bicycle, an excellent clean up and reconstruction. Though you might do that paint job, it certainly deserves it!🚴‍♂️

[@Basement_CNC]

agree , il love to see a raw(clearcoat bcause steel) and black decals

[@Basement_CNC]

agree , il love to see a raw(clearcoat bcause steel) and black decals

[@silver_c1oud]

the music is earsore

[@hardware4computer]

XT thumbshifters 👍

[@malcolmjcullen]

Titanium Flite, still the coolest saddles available. Got one on my Ritchey P650B, got one on my Salsa Vaya, got one on my Colnago Tecnos. Still got a couple more lying around in boxes for future use!

[@simmuborgir3337]

I've become addicted to this Chanel👍👍🚵‍♀️

[@jbaillie]

Your last few have been just insane 🔥🔥🔥

[@YuriKuzyk]

Beautiful! I think that this bike harkens back to the era where everything could still be fixed - unlike now where, if it breaks, you need to go buy a new bike...

[@mjjohn7715]

Loved watching this video was thinking the same thing about painting the frame. Look forward to that video when it comes out.

[@DM-yh6ok]

I am a fan the classic richey mtb. But the campagnolo cranks are too much eye candy for this frame. Also it needs a chunkier Selle Italia saddle, the flight is too low profile. Otherwise a personal top 10 bike dream bike for a riding collection.

[@abhaychoudhary2790]

Thanks!

[@markanthonyespiritu3023]

Watching from Philippines!

[@badger67]

What a gorgeous bike.

[@Papieck37]

Loving the bike and eager to see how she looks with a pair of period correct Gumwall Tires like the Terraone's

[@Abandon7d]

Thank you!!!! No repaint :-)

[@kleinking364]

Loving those campy record or brakes, yum

[@sonalmalhotra07]

LOVELY VIDEO. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

[@dazzasp3]

Love these kind of builds 👍🏼

[@СергейГромов-ю1п]

Спасибо за видео. Велосипед получился хороший, особенно переключатели на руле понравились. Смотрю все ваши видео Сам недавно собрал old mtb MARIN 1992-г

[@GrAYvTrAnE]

I have a 91' Diamond Back Sorrento in that mean teal color :). Its a lower spec, it uses a shimano GS drivetrain, but i was completely amazed that it has oval chainrings. It gets complimented by anyone who rides it.

[@meadows408]

Thanks for saving another old bike. I'm wondering if it was originally equipped with Campagnolo derailleurs too? The triple is awesome.

[@nicow.7323]

I guess it could habe been compleately equipped with Campy. This mix between Campagnolo and Shimano wouln't make sense. Well, but I'm not totally sure about that, because these parts are from different years. The Cankset is Campy Euclid (1988), the bottom bracked too, because the Euclid crank needed a special very lon axle. The brakes are not Euclid, they could be Record o.r. or Icarus but from a different year (I assume 1993 or 94). The Shimano 7 speed XT stuff is from 1989 until 1993, except the exchanged Shimano (not XT) shifter and brake levers, they were pretty new (and cheep), maybe 2010. I don't know what year the Ritchey frame comes from. I guess it should be early 1990s. So the 1988 Euclid Crankset wouldn't make sense.

[@daledubose3032]

Love it. I really want a new Ritchey Ultra

[@stuartmisfeldt3068]

Which would work better, cantilever or v-brakes for that era rebuild?

[@jasonjavelin]

A coworker just gave a me a Raleigh M50 Mountain sport. Do you know much about it? I tried to find some info but couldn’t dig up much. I have modernized a 96 Gary Fisher Big Sur and am thinking about doing the same with this M50 thanks to your inspiring videos!

[@frog-spit-182]

beautiful bike. what a find

[@paulcresswell6268]

Nice bike, shame about the unnecessary 'musical' interludes. How did the drivetrain perform under load? What brand of gear sprockets were those? (IIRC Shimano never made separable sprockets.)

[@stevehassler]

please keep the original paint. maybe clear (matte) coat it for protection.