Piotr Havik rode to fourth place at the Unbound Gravel 200 aboard what we suspect to be a new Ridley Kanzo Fast fitted with prototype Apidura bags and an eclectic mix of SRAM and Classified components.
The bags are said to be more aerodynamic than not running any bags at all, saving a claimed 3-4 watts.
Our photographer captured the new bike post-race, and it bore all the muddy accoutrements of the Kansas Flint Hills.
Fast = less aero?
In addition to teammates Annabel Fisher and Toby Perry, Havik was riding this unfamiliar Ridley.
Ridley’s flagship gravel bike line-up consists of the Kanzo Fast and Kanzo Adventure. We suspect the new frame to be an update of the Kanzo Fast, only it seems to have got, well, less aero – at least on the face of it.
The tubes look more svelte than the current generation. The fork lacks the aero crown design where it meets the head tube, as well as the nubs that point away from the dropout for an aero advantage.
Both the top tube and seat tube have been slimmed down too and the seatstays look as though they join the seat tube further up too.
Elsewhere, the frame looks to have switched to a SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) dropout, bringing compatibility with SRAM Transmission drivetrains, as well as the unreleased SRAM Red XPLR AXS groupset we spotted at Unbound.
As a result of the slimmer tubes, we expect the Kanzo Fast to be lighter, too.
Finally, Havik is running a 45mm Vittoria Terreno Zero gravel bike tyre at the rear. That’s girthier than the official 42mm tyre clearance of the outgoing Kanzo Fast.
Those Apidura bags
Havik is also running unreleased top tube and frame bags from Apidura.
Speaking to BikeRadar, Ian Carter, Apidura’s head of brand and marketing, explained these bags are a further development of its aero bags teased at Unbound 2022.
Working in collaboration with Ridley, Apidura claims the system, which is designed to work as a pair, saves 3-4 watts over a ‘naked’ bike. This translates to roughly a three-minute time saving on the Unbound 200 course.
The 0.4-litre top tube pack is designed to continue airflow off the back of the stem, with a low stack height. It’s designed to fit items such as gels, rather than a phone, which the brand says a lot of riders like to store there.
The 1.5l frame bag uses Garmin silicone band-style straps to attach to the head tube and fixes to the underside of the top tube via frame mounts. Apidura says this helps the pack hug the frame, minimising airflow disruption.
There’s a stiffening board to the rear of the waterproof frame pack to give it a smooth curvature.
Apidura doesn’t have a firm date for when this product will be released and says these packs came straight to Havik from its factory.
The bags will initally be sold for Ridley bikes, but Apidura will soon introduce bags that can fit other bikes.
Havik also used what appeared to be a new Racing Hydration Vest in the first half of the race. He switched to the current-generation hydration vest for the remainder of the route.
An eclectic build
Havik’s bike uses a whole mish-mash of SRAM components, paired with a Classified rear hub. This two-speed internal gear hub takes the place of a front derailleur.
Unlike other riders, such as Tiffany Cromwell and Keegan Swenson, who we spotted riding the new Red XPLR AXS groupset, Havik used previous-generation components.
Havik’s bike has SRAM Red eTap AXS shifters and brake calipers, and steps down to a Force AXS rear derailleur.
The crankset is particularly interesting – Havik’s running a previous-generation Force eTap AXS crank with a large Alugear chainring. He’s presumably running a larger chainring because it’s more efficient, given the Classified hub allows for a lower gear ratio.
Havik also deviates from using the SRAM Flattop chain to a KMC item.
The Classified rear hub is incorporated into a pair of the brand’s G42 carbon rims. Havik’s running a 44mm-wide Vittoria Mezcal tyre up front and the aforementioned Terreno Zero out back.
Rounding off the build is a Selle Italia Novus 3D-printed saddle paired to Ridley’s own proprietary D-shaped seatpost and integrated bar and stem.
