After greater than three many years, Ritchey WCS says goodbye to its rainbow stripes, in what actually feels to me like the tip of an period.
Whereas it’s at all times odd (or feels mistaken?) to see beginner cyclists driving in a rainbow-striped World Championship duplicate jersey, the way more subdued rainbow of Ritchey WCS parts at all times felt like a becoming homage to the top-tier of our sport. And whereas a number of the extra uncommon Ritchey Carbon WCS parts had been usually fairly costly, the alloy WCS line at all times delivered a strong value:efficiency worth ratio. Seeing these stripes was a reminder of high quality that the majority cyclists may really attain.
However Ritchey’s settlement with the UCI to make use of their trademarked association of 5 colours is completed. So no extra World Champion Collection rainbow particulars on WCS parts.
Op Ed: Ritchey WCS in monochrome, sadly no extra rainbows
Ritchey calls it a “begin of a brand new period for Ritchey WCS“.
“After 30+ years of a emblem synonymous with victories at Union Cycliste Worldwide (UCI) World Cup and Championship races, the time has come for Ritchey — in accordance with UCI laws — to retire the enduring rainbow stripes that establish Ritchey’s World Champion Collection (WCS) product vary. The settlement between the UCI and Ritchey to make use of the world champion stripes expired on the finish of 2024 and isn’t eligible for renewal. Ritchey want to acknowledge the decades-long partnership and thank the UCI for the usage of the celebrated image.”
Ritchey constructed their model working intently with mountain bike world champions. They are saying that began with the ‘inaugural’ 1989 World XC Champion Don Myrah a 12 months earlier than the UCI took over MTB Worlds, and led as much as champions like Nino Schurter & Jenny Rissveds who’re nonetheless battling on the high of the game as we speak. And the World Champion Collection WCS part line mirrored that ‘pro-level’ standing.
However now, with rainbow stripes prior to now, Ritchey says the WCS line will proceed and never be restricted simply to “a singular give attention to competitors“.
A brand new WCS
Going ahead, the Ritchey WCS sequence is just getting a makeover, only a simplified emblem with these 5 stripes now in a single shade of ‘metallic’ grey. The technical and practical efficiency traits of WCS stay unchanged. It’s nonetheless the ‘spine’ of Ritchey’s product line-up, delivering race-ready high quality that the common bicycle owner can admire and afford.
We already obtained a sneak peek at a extra subdued monochromatic look of Ritchey parts final 12 months when their high ultralight SuperLogic vary changed its purple stripes for gloss black on matte carbon graphics.
The top result’s a simplified aesthetic that’s much less prone to stand out or conflict with no matter colour bike you journey. But it surely additionally means you possibly can higher mix-and-match SuperLogic, WCS, and even Comp parts whereas maintaining a extra unified look to your bike.
That’s nice and all. However truthfully, I’m at all times a bit of unhappy at any time when we lose a bit of extra splash of colour from our bikes. Positive, neon is out. However every thing in matte black might be boring, too…
All new Ritchey WCS parts being made as of January 1, 2025, characteristic the brand new grey graphics, however there probably will nonetheless be some present rainbow-adorned inventory in outlets and on-line retailers for the subsequent few months. I assume which means if you need WCS rainbows, hunt them down now, in any other case take care if you’re hoping to get the brand new unified grey search for your up to date part wants.
Isn’t it a bit unusual that the UCI so tightly holds blue, purple, black, yellow & inexperienced stripes?
That is simply my very private opinion – however this tight maintain on the enduring biking rainbow, it appears a bit extreme.
I take a look at it extra as a reminder of how the UCI feels the necessity to exert its management as a lot as doable. I imply, did anybody severely confuse a stem, bar, or seatpost with a number of centimeter-tall rainbow as claiming to belong to a world-champion bicycle owner? And even much less in order an endorsement by the UCI? And was that by some means diminishing the worth of the model that points pointers for a way World Champion cyclists are allowed to put on the rainbow stripes subsequent to sponsor logos on issues like shoe covers, sun shades, and face masks?
I gained’t delve too deeply into what number of totally different disparate UCI disciplines crown world champions with rainbow stripes. Let’s simply say that there are a number of every in street, observe, XC, DH, enduro, gravel, CX, BMX, trials, a full vary of para-cycling disciplines, creative biking, cycle-ball, snow (however not fats) biking, pumptrack, eMTB XC & enduro, and eSports coach racing… with out going into much more element or mentioning Grasp’s rainbows. If I needed to guess, that could be 250 cyclists topped World Champion of their respective disciplines annually, then honored by being allowed to adorn their package with the UCI’s rainbows? After which to a lesser extent having the ability to put that rainbow on their biking package for the remainder of their careers,
I say props to each one in every of them!
No less than they’re selective on the place these rainbow stripes find yourself…
However, does the mix of blue, purple, black, yellow & inexperienced stripes actually must be underneath the unique licensing of the UCI with the intention to protect the distinction and worth of turning into a World Champion bicycle owner? Particularly when Santini will promote you a duplicate World Champion Jersey or a set of World Champ rainbow espresso cups emblazoned with Santini’s personal emblem.