Dylon's Ritchey Garden City

Dylon's Return to Steel

Some bikes stay with you long after they have left the garage.

For Dylon, that bike was his Supernaut fixed gear. Long after it was gone, he found himself missing the directness, simplicity, and connection that only a well-sorted fixed gear can offer. So when Ritchey unveiled the Garden City again this year, the decision came naturally.

Not because he needed another bike, but because it felt like the right one.

Dylon has always been drawn to Ritchey's understated approach to bicycle design. The slim steel tubes, classic proportions, and timeless aesthetic have long been part of the brand's appeal. While previous Ritchey models never quite aligned with what he was looking for, the Garden City immediately stood out.

As Ritchey's first dedicated fixed gear and singlespeed platform, it offered something unique. Built from quality steel tubing and equipped with mounts for brakes and bottle cages, it combines the simplicity of a traditional fixed gear with a level of versatility rarely found in the category. More importantly, the geometry strikes an impressive balance between responsiveness and comfort, creating a bike that feels equally at home on daily rides or longer adventures.

For Dylon, however, specifications were never the deciding factor.

What matters most is connection. He gravitates toward metal frames ;  steel, titanium, aluminium. Not because they are superior on paper, but because they carry a sense of honesty and character that carbon rarely offers him.

Much of the build was carried over from his previous bike, allowing familiar components to find a new home. The most notable additions were a new crankset and chainring, chosen to complement the personality of the frame and complete the build as envisioned.

On the road, the Garden City has delivered exactly what he hoped for. Responsive, lively, and endlessly enjoyable, it possesses the qualities that have earned steel bikes their enduring reputation. It feels eager when accelerating, composed when cruising, and rewarding every time it leaves the garage.

Asked what advice he would offer someone considering a Ritchey, particularly the Garden City, Dylon keeps it simple with a more considered tone.

For riders who have never spent meaningful time on a steel bike, he believes the Garden City is an ideal introduction to what makes the material so special. Not because it is nostalgic, but because it delivers a ride quality that continues to resonate long after trends fade.

His final reflection is straightforward: life is too short to ride poor bikes. And even shorter not to ride ones that feel right.

For Dylon, the Garden City is exactly that. A reminder that the best bikes are not always the most advanced or complicated, but the ones that create the strongest connection between rider and machine.

And in that regard, it feels right at home.

Built for the ride ahead.

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