The biggest head tube of 2025? Up close with the new Ridley Noah Fast

Ridley's fastest ever road bike goes on show at Velofollies

The cockpit is moulded to fit the immense head tube.

Jack Luke / Our Media

Jack Luke

Published: January 17, 2025 at 12:41 pm

The Ridley Noah Fast is claimed to be the brand's fastest ever road bike, with a slab-like head tube and integrated cockpit contributing to an 8.5-watt reduction in drag versus the outgoing bike.

On show at Velofollies in the brand's home country of Belgium, the new bike will be raced by Uno-X Mobility in 2025.

The Noah Fast 3.0's standout feature is its giant head tube, which takes full advantage of the UCI's revised 8:1 tube shape rule. This enables brands to design tubes that are up to eight times longer than their width.

This, in part, has enabled brands to develop the likes of the striking Colnago Y1Rs and Koga Kinsei.

Pictured is the top-spec Dura-Ace build and the pro build of Uno-X rider, Tobias Johannessen.

New Ridley Noah Fast at Velofollies 2025 — The bike looks resplendent in its fabulous red paint. Jack Luke / Our Media

New Ridley Noah Fast at Velofollies 2025 – head tube — The cockpit is moulded to fit the immense head tube. Jack Luke / Our Media

New Ridley Noah Fast at Velofollies 2025 — The bottom bracket junction is similarly chunky. Jack Luke / Our Media

New Ridley Noah Fast at Velofollies 2025 — Tobias Halland Johannessen's bike was also on show in team colours. Jack Luke / Our Media

New Ridley Noah Fast velofollies 2025 — The bike can clear tyres up to 34mm wide. Jack Luke / Our Media

New Ridley Noah Fast velofollies 2025 — When slammed, the cockpit looks very sleek. Jack Luke / Our Media

New Ridley Noah Fast velofollies 2025 — Is it an aero bike in 2025 if it doesn't have dropped seatstays? Jack Luke / Our Media

Digital editor

Jack Luke is the digital editor at BikeRadar and has been utterly obsessed with riding and bike tech for his whole life. Jack can primarily be found whizzing about at a moderate pace on his array of road bikes from his home in Bristol, but his greatest passion is for cycle touring, bikepacking and ill-advised gravel-flavoured long-distance hike-a-bike-peppered adventures. Jack is also interested in fixed-gear bikes, tandems and anything else that’s a wee bit weird. With a near-encyclopedic knowledge of cycling tech – ranging from the most esoteric retro niche to the most cutting-edge modern kit – Jack takes pride in seeking out stories that would otherwise go unreported. After years spent working in bike shops, and as a photography technician and tutor, Jack joined BikeRadar in 2016. He’s now responsible for shaping the overall output of BikeRadar, editing, planning and – when he gets the chance – writing content for the site. Jack’s also a regular host on the BikeRadar YouTube channel and BikeRadar Podcast, and has contributed to articles for the Guardian and been a guest on BBC Radio Scotland.

Height: 181cm
Bike size: 56cm/Large