Excel Sports has conceived and built several Swiss Cross 50th Anniversary framesets with Shimano's GRX Limited Edition silver groupsets and Ritchey's own classic silver components for an evocative throwback aesthetic. The traditional steel frame in Ritchey red and sleek silver components stand out versus the all-black component visual we are so accustomed to today.

When Ritchey updated the Swiss Cross to a more contemporary cyclocross geometry for cantilever brakes, Ritchey traditionalists struggled with need to do this, but it made the bike fit better for more people, and Ritchey added a superlative WCS carbon fork, improving the experience for riders. That geometry was then adapted for the disc brake revolution, which again, offered more cyclists better control in the harsh conditions of cross. Now the geometry and disc brake design is not only accepted but embraced and for riders seeking a very capable, forgiving steel-framed cyclocross bike, the Swiss Cross Disc offers the best design and construction for the money. That evolutionary process with one of the most significant nameplates from Ritchey's early years represents the true essence of Tom Ritchey- never being afraid to develop something unique to the the brand, but not resting on his laurels. In celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Ritchey, this specially painted, limited edition Swiss Cross Disc 50th Anniversary Frameset carries the best of Ritchey's core values in the next decade of the eponymous company.

The Swiss Cross nameplate it'carries forward one of Tom Ritchey's most notable designs, with a results-driven palmares. Possibly the most iconic frame associated with Ritchey, the Swiss Cross draws its name from early factory rider, cyclocross and mountain bike legend Thomas Frischknecht. The first iteration of the Swiss Cross was a no-holds-barred race machine designed for one thing: ripping through dirt like no other. Captained to numerous victories under Frischi, the Swiss Cross went on to become one of the most revered frames of the Ritchey offering. Many years later, the heat treated, triple-butted Ritchey Logic II tubeset equipped CrMoSwiss Cross is still a staple of the Ritchey fleet, only now it features a progressive geometry and the expected 12mm thru-axles, flat-mount disc brakes, and 700x40mm tire clearance. One thing has remained unchanged: it is still a no-holds-barred race-ready dirt ripper. Whether it's leading the charge on bell lap or ticking off the grueling miles training for season, the new Swiss Cross is more than capable of tackling it all.

In honor of its 25th anniversary and namesake, Ritchey has created 100 limited edition framesets, crafted and finished in homage the frame Frischi rode to European Cyclocross Championships. Each frame is numbered for added uniqueness. Shimano's 1x11 speed GRX 810-LE components are functionally the same as their gray/black siblings, yet offer s bright look and fresh feel with exacting, reliable mechanical shifts and the power and control of hydraulic disc brakes. The 40T chainring is matched with an 11-42T cassette for excellent range with simplified shifting. The choice to build a more cyclocross-oriented kit was driven by the celebration of the frameset, but you can always add up to 40mm tires for a more all-around fast gravel or dirt road experience. Make no mistake about it, the Swiss Cross frameset was purpose built, yet hundreds or thousands of Ritchey riders have been riding "gravel" on this design for years. While supplies last, Excel Sports is also offering the frameset-only, so if you prefer a different type of build, reach out and we'll work with you to create your own Swiss Cross 50th Anniversary bike.