Reassembly after each flight was straightforward and the bike was ready to ride right out of the case. The Break-Away came through two domestic flights in the USA and one intercontinental flight from the USA to Asia via Europe unscathed. The tricky bit was getting the handlebars into the case, and lining up the front wheel such that things like the bottom bracket fit between the spokes. The first time it took quite a while to wrap all the tubes in the supplied pads, and to get all the pieces properly aligned in the case so that the lid would close. I prefer the S&S packing sequence, which is actually for an S&S coupled bike, but works very well for the Ritchey Breakaway too. Ritchey also has step-by-step videos on their website. Ritchey includes an instruction sheet with the bike. There are a number of suggested ways to fit all the pieces into the case. The hard case weighs more, but the added durability and protection is worth that extra kilo or two. I recommend it over the Ritchey soft case, which is universally panned in all the reviews I have read. I opted for the S&S Edge Pull Butterfly Latch Hard Case. Well within the limit of 23 kg / 50 lb for a checked bag in economy class. Speaking of weight, bike and case weigh 15 kg / 33 lb. They tagged the case and sent it on its way without a second glance. The staff at the check-in counters at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Denver International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport in New York City didn’t bat an eyelid when I put the case holding the Ritchey onto the weighing scales. The ability to fit into a case that meets airline size specifications for checked luggage. That brings me to the differentiating characteristic of this bike. Top marks for the Ritchey Break-Away as an excellent bike to ride. Even at better than 65 kph / 40 mph down the relatively straight Smithville Hill during the BP MS150, and close to that on the switchback descent from Genting Sempah. There were no vibrations or unexpected wobbles. Nothing worked itself loose during my rides. This simple design uses just three bolts tightened to 4Nm to hold the front and rear triangles together. That bracket holds the rear brake housing stop slightly away from the top tube. ![]() What looks like a connection between the lower bolt and the top tube in the photograph below is actually a bracket welded to the lower bolt housing. One bolt above the seam between the tubes and another bolt below the seam lock the tubes together. The top tube and seat tube are held in alignment by the seat post. I think another part of the answer is in how well the Ritchey design eliminates flexing at the joints. If I tested bicycles for a living my senses would be developed enough to feel some differences. Perhaps my senses are not tuned enough to pick up the difference. After all the Ritchey frame is in two pieces, connected at the seat tube / top tube junction and just in front of the bottom bracket. ![]() Logic tells me the Break-Away should not be as stiff as the Alchemy. ![]() I don’t feel a difference between the titanium Alchemy and the Break-Away. I love the ride quality of the Ritchey Break-Away too. They are very comfortable, even on the chip sealed back roads of Texas. I am no road racer but I can make the steel frame flex under pedaling load. A little less road chatter gets transmitted through the titanium frame. The only differences that I can discern between the two Alchemys are that the titanium bike has a more ‘damped’ feel to it, and the steel bike has more flex. on the ride quality of said bike frame materials. In the hope that it heads off a potential firestorm amongst all you aficionados out there around the relative virtues of steel versus titanium as a bike frame material, and the effect of tire choice, frame geometry, tube size etc. I include all that detail as a prelude to describing the differences between these bikes. All have Ritchey carbon seat posts and cockpits. The tube lengths and angles of the Ritchey are as close to those of the Alchemys as dammit is to swearing. My other bikes are a steel framed Alchemy with carbon chain stays and fork, and a titanium framed Alchemy with carbon seat stays, chain stays and fork. There has been about 7,100 meters / 23,300 feet of climbing. Although by default any rides that involve significant travel will now be on the Ritchey. I do try to be fair and alternate between my three bikes. I have had my Ritchey Break-Away for exactly two months.
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