After greater than 3 a long time, Ritchey WCS says good-bye to its rainbow stripes, in what actually feels to me like the top of an generation.
Whilst it’s at all times bizarre (or feels unsuitable?) to peer novice cyclists driving in a rainbow-striped International Championship reproduction jersey, the a lot more subdued rainbow of Ritchey WCS elements at all times felt like a becoming homage to the top-tier of our recreation. And whilst one of the crucial extra uncommon Ritchey Carbon WCS elements had been continuously slightly pricey, the alloy WCS line at all times delivered a forged worth:efficiency price ratio. Seeing the ones stripes used to be a reminder of high quality that the majority cyclists may just in reality reach.
(Footage/Ritchey)
However Ritchey’s settlement with the UCI to make use of their trademarked association of five colours is completed. So not more International Champion Collection rainbow main points on WCS elements.
Op Ed: Ritchey WCS in monochrome, unfortunately not more rainbows
Ritchey calls it a “get started of a brand new generation for Ritchey WCS“.
“After 30+ years of a logo synonymous with victories at Union Cycliste International (UCI) World Cup and Championship races, the time has come for Ritchey — in accordance with UCI regulations — to retire the iconic rainbow stripes that identify Ritchey’s World Champion Series (WCS) product range. The agreement between the UCI and Ritchey to use the world champion stripes expired at the end of 2024 and is not eligible for renewal. Ritchey would like to acknowledge the decades-long partnership and thank the UCI for the use of the celebrated symbol.”
Ritchey constructed their logo operating intently with mountain motorcycle international champions. They are saying that began with the ‘inaugural’ 1989 International XC Champion Don Myrah a 12 months sooner than the UCI took over MTB Worlds, and led as much as champions like Nino Schurter & Jenny Rissveds who’re nonetheless scuffling with on the height of the game lately. And the International 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 no longer be restricted simply to “a novel focal point on pageant“.
A brand new WCS
Going ahead, the Ritchey WCS sequence is most effective getting a makeover, only a simplified emblem with the ones 5 stripes now in one colour of ‘metallic’ grey. The technical and purposeful efficiency traits of WCS stay unchanged. It’s nonetheless the ‘backbone’ of Ritchey’s product line-up, handing over race-ready high quality that the common bike owner can recognize and have the funds for.
new easy black-on-matte graphics for Ritchey SuperLogic, too! (Picture/Cory Benson)
We already were given a sneak peek at a extra subdued monochromatic glance of Ritchey elements final 12 months when their height ultralight SuperLogic vary changed its pink stripes for gloss black on matte carbon graphics.
The outcome is a simplified aesthetic that’s much less more likely to stand out or conflict with no matter colour motorcycle you trip. Nevertheless it additionally way you’ll higher mix-and-match SuperLogic, WCS, or even Comp elements whilst protecting a extra unified glance in your motorcycle.
That’s nice and all. However truthfully, I’m at all times a little bit unhappy each time we lose a little bit extra splash of colour from our motorcycles. Positive, neon is out. However the whole thing in matte black can also be dull, too…
All new Ritchey WCS elements being made as of January 1, 2025, function the brand new grey graphics, however there most likely will nonetheless be some current rainbow-adorned inventory in retail outlets and on-line shops for the following few months. I suppose that suggests if you need WCS rainbows, hunt them down now, in a different way take care if you’re hoping to get the brand new unified grey search for your up to date part wishes.
RitcheyLogic.com
Isn’t it a bit of bizarre that the UCI so tightly holds blue, pink, black, yellow & inexperienced stripes?
That is simply my very private opinion – however this tight hang at the iconic biking rainbow, it sort of feels a bit of over the top.
I take a look at it extra as a reminder of the way the UCI feels the want to exert its keep an eye on up to imaginable. I imply, did any person significantly confuse a stem, bar, or seatpost with a couple of centimeter-tall rainbow as claiming to belong to a world-champion bike owner? And even much less in order an endorsement by way of the UCI? And used to be that by some means diminishing the worth of the emblem that problems tips for a way International Champion cyclists are allowed to put on the rainbow stripes subsequent to sponsor trademarks on such things as shoe covers, sun shades, and face mask?
I gained’t delve too deeply into what number of other disparate UCI disciplines crown international champions with rainbow stripes. Let’s simply say that there are a number of each and every in highway, observe, XC, DH, enduro, gravel, CX, BMX, trials, a complete vary of para-cycling disciplines, inventive biking, cycle-ball, snow (however no longer fats) cycling, pumptrack, eMTB XC & enduro, and eSports instructor racing… with out going into much more element or bringing up Grasp’s rainbows. If I needed to wager, that could be 250 cyclists topped International Champion of their respective disciplines each and every 12 months, then commemorated by way of being allowed to decorate their equipment with the UCI’s rainbows? After which to a lesser extent having the ability to put that rainbow on their biking equipment for the remainder of their careers,
I say props to each and every one in all them!
A minimum of they’re selective on the place the ones rainbow stripes finally end up…
However, does the mix of blue, pink, black, yellow & inexperienced stripes actually want to be beneath the unique licensing of the UCI with a view to maintain the dignity and worth of turning into a International Champion bike owner? Particularly when Santini will promote you a duplicate International Champion Jersey or a suite of International Champ rainbow coffee cups emblazoned with Santini’s personal emblem.
UCI.org
