Pro bike: Jürgen Roelandts' Ridley Fenix Classic

Pro bike: Jürgen Roelandts' Ridley Fenix Classic

New Ridley machine takes third in Flanders debut

James Huang/BikeRadar

Published: April 2, 2013 at 6:35 am

In a world where unyielding stiffness, ultralow weights, and slippery aerodynamics are seen as requisite ingredients for performance, a frame made of mid-grade carbon fiber weighing 1,200g hardly seems noteworthy. Yet for Lotto-Belisol's Jürgen Roelandts, Ridley's new Fenix Classic was more than up to the task at the Tour of Flanders, carrying him to an impressive third-place finish.

Ridley introduced the Fenix as a mid-range model earlier this year with an impressively attainable price tag of US$3,610/£2,326 with a Campagnolo Chorus group and Rotor crankset – about a third less than what Sky and Movistar's Pinarello Dogma K frameset sells for on its own. The Ronde van Vlaanderen's short but bumpy cobbled climbs put less of a priority on weight and more on smoothness and durability, though, and Ridley contends the Fenix's smoother ride and more damage-tolerant 24-ton carbon fiber is a worthy trade-off.

Jürgen roelandts' (lotto belisol) ridley fenix classic features a tapered 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in head tube: jürgen roelandts' (lotto belisol) ridley fenix classic features a tapered 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in head tube - James Huang/BikeRadar

Ridley uses plugs on the tapered head tube to convert from mechanical to electric

Key features on Ridley's latest model include a tapered 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in front end, an oversized BB30 bottom bracket shell, internal cable routing that's convertible for electronic or mechanical drivetrains, and flattened sections on the seat stays to promote vertical flex on rough ground. Aside from that, it's a fairly standard modular monocoque frame that nonetheless found itself on the podium of one of the most prestigious one-day road races in the world.

Roelandts' frameset may have been mid-range but the build kit was decidedly high-end, including a Campagnolo Record EPS electronic group and matching Bora Ultra Two deep-section carbon tubular wheels wrapped with 25mm-wide, team-only Continental Competition Pro Limited ProTection tires. The Belgian rider's cockpit was also on par with the rest of the peloton with a forged aluminum Zero 100 stem, carbon fiber Superzero seatpost, and aluminum Newton Shallow traditional bend handlebar – in an increasingly common 40cm width for aerodynamics and double-wrapped with Lizard Skins DSP tape – all from Deda.

Ridley keeps the chain stays pretty big on the fenix classic for drivetrain efficiency. note the glued-on magnet just behind the bottom bracket for the srm crankset that isn't currently installed: ridley keeps the chain stays pretty big on the fenix classic for drivetrain efficiency. note the glued-on magnet just behind the bottom bracket for the srm crankset that isn't currently installed - James Huang/BikeRadar

The beefy drivetrain chain stay sports a magnet for a power meter

Even so, there were still a few nods to workhorse-level gear such as the all-steel Campagnolo Chorus cassette, Xsilite-railed Selle San Marco Regale saddle, and Look KéO 2 Max pedals.

All told, it added up to a 7.72kg/17.02lb package without the SRM PowerControl 7 computer – heavy by modern superbike standards but clearly still plenty fast thanks to the legs that powered it.

You can check out the other bikes of the 2013 Tour of Flanders podium on BikeRadar, including Fabian Cancellara's Trek Domane 6-Series and Peter Sagan's Cannondale Synapse Evo Hi-Mod.

Jürgen roelandts (lotto belisol) rode ridley's new fenix classic to a third place finish at this year's ronde van vlaanderen: jürgen roelandts (lotto belisol) rode ridley's new fenix classic to a third place finish at this year's ronde van vlaanderen - James Huang/BikeRadar

Roelandts rides the same mid-level frameset available to consumers, but with Campy EPS

Complete bike specifications

Frame

Ridley Fenix Classic, size M

Fork

Ridley Fenix Classic

Headset

FSA Orbit integrated, 1 1/8-to-1 1/2" tapered

Stem

Deda Zero 100, 130mm x -8°

Handlebars

Deda Newton Shallow, 40cm (c-c)

Tape/grips

Lizard Skins DSP, double wrapped

Front brake

Campagnolo Record D Skeleton dual-pivot w/ carbon-specific pads

Rear brake

Campagnolo Record D Skeleton dual-pivot w/ carbon-specific pads

Brake levers

Campagnolo Ergopower Ultra-Shift Record EPS

Front derailleur

Campagnolo Record EPS

Rear derailleur

Campagnolo Record EPS

Shift levers

Campagnolo Ergopower Ultra-Shift Record EPS

Cassette

Campagnolo Chorus 11 speed, 11-25T

Chain

Campagnolo Record 11 speed

Crankset

Campagnolo Record Ultra-Torque 11 speed, 172.5mm, 53/39T

Bottom bracket

Campagnolo Record Ultra-Torque OS-Fit

Pedals

Look KéO 2 Max

Wheelset

Campagnolo Bora Ultra Two tubular

Front tire

Continental Competition Pro Limited ProTection tubular, 25mm

Rear tire

Continental Competition Pro Limited ProTection tubular, 25mm

Saddle

Selle San Marco Regale w/ Xsilite rails

Seat post

Deda Superzero

Bottle cages

Tacx Tao aluminum (2)

Computer

SRM PowerControl 7

Critical measurements

Rider's height

1.85m (6' 1")

Rider's weight

78kg (172lb)

Saddle height, from BB (c-t)

778mm

Saddle setback

70mm

Seat tube length, c-t

540mm

Seat tube length, c-c

500mm

Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem)

583mm

Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical)

106mm

Head tube length

175mm

Top tube length

565mm (horizontal)

Total bicycle weight

7.72kg (17.02lb) without computer

Array