Ridley’s first-ever Campagnolo-equipped bike to land in the US, the Fenix with mechanical Record - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
Campagnolo Record 11-speed mechanical adorns the limited edition of 50 bikes for the US market - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
The Fenix Classic has been raced this year by Lotto-Belisol in the ProTour – unusual for a $1,795 frameset, Ridley North American manager Todd Schmidt points out - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
While the parts package isn’t exactly team spec, it’s close, including a Selle San Marco Concor saddle - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
Fulcrum Racing 5 clinchers with Michelin Pro 4 Comps help take the edge off the price, compared to Campagnolo tubulars - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
The Campagnolo Record Fenix has a pricetag of $5,295 - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
This particular show bike is equipped with a compact 50/34 crank - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
All bike companies that want their frames raced in elite competition have to pay the UCI to test their frames - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
Deda provides the cockpit with its 35 line - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
The American version of the new X-Night comes in either SRAM Red 22 hydraulic (shown here) or Shimano Ultegra mechanical - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
Ridley is disc-only across its US cyclocross line beginning this year – although a few cantilever frame will be available - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
The US version of the X-Night differs a bit in parts from its European counterpart. For instance, the US version gets Stan’s tubeless wheels and Challenge Grifo rubber - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
A chain catcher comes standard on the new SRAM Red 22, as does the ‘trimless’ front derailleur - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
Cyclocross with disc brakes – Ridley is all in - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
The first-ever Ridley bicycles with Campagnolo parts have landed in the warehouse of American distributor Quality Bicycle Products (QBP), the dominant parts & accessories wholesaler in the US. A limited edition of 50 Campagnolo Record Ridley Fenix models with a suggested price of $5,295 will be at shops July 1.
The bikes are “close” to ProTour team spec, said Ridley US manager Todd Schmidt, with a Deda 35 cockpit, a San Marco Concor and a full Campagnolo Record group. Instead of high-dollar Campy wheels, however, QBP has chosen to spec Fulcrum Racing 5 wheels.
Campagnolo record 11-speed mechanical adorns the limited edition of 50 bikes for the us market: campagnolo record 11-speed mechanical adorns the limited edition of 50 bikes for the us market - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
Campy and Ridley, together for the first time in the US
A 56cm Ridley Fenix with the above wheels tops the scales at 16.6lbs.
The frameset alone is $1,795
“There is no other frame that we know of that is anywhere near close to this price that is raced at the ProTour-level,” Schmidt said.
Ridley’s first-ever campagnolo-equipped bike to land in the us, the fenix with mechanical record: ridley’s first-ever campagnolo-equipped bike to land in the us, the fenix with mechanical record - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
Only 50 of these bikes will be sold in the US. A 56cm bike weight 16.6lb
Ridley Cyclocross goes all in on discs
For 2014, QBP will only sell disc-brake ’cross bikes in the US. While canti framesets will still be available, every bike from the $1,695 X-Bow on up with come with disc brakes.
The american version of the new x-night comes in either sram red 22 hydraulic (shown here) or shimano ultegra mechanical: the american version of the new x-night comes in either sram red 22 hydraulic (shown here) or shimano ultegra mechanical - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
Not red, white and blue, but... this is one of two color schemes for the US X-Night
As noted in our earlier reporting, Ridley tweaked the geometry for the X-Night with a lower bottom bracket, a lower head tube and a more aggressive position.
“We’re seeing more manicured, less psychotic World Cup courses than in years past,” Schmidt said. “Now that the American public can view courses through YouTube or Steephill.tv or whatever, they are getting a real sense for the incredibly fast type of racing that is done at the elite level — which is what these bikes are built for.”
Cyclocross with disc brakes – ridley is all in : cyclocross with disc brakes – ridley is all in - Ben Delaney/Future Publishing
Ridley is all in with disc brakes for cyclocross this season
“The original is based on the [Ridley] Damocles, with a threaded alloy BB, tube-to-tube construction and an integrated seatmast,” Schmidt said. “For 2014, gone are all of those things. Now we have a monocqoue chassis with a 27.2 seatpost and a design that’s based off of our Helium SL.”
The X-Night starts at $4,695.
In a refreshing change for cyclocross-bike availability, the full Ridley line will be available July 1.
Ben Delaney is a journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for and editing some of the biggest publications in cycling. Having studied journalism at the University of New Mexico, Ben has worked for Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, VeloNews and BikeRadar. He has also previously worked as Global Brand Communications Manager for Specialized. Ben covers all things road and gravel, and can be found logging big miles in the Rocky Mountains that nestle alongside his home in Boulder, Colorado. He has covered the most important bike races in the sport, from the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders, to the Unbound gravel race, and specialises in tech content, showcasing what the pros are riding and putting everyday equipment through its paces.
This website is owned and published by Our Media Ltd. www.ourmedia.co.uk
