Ridley is a brand steeped in racing heritage. With numerous World Cups, National Championships and World Championships won aboard a Ridley, the Belgian brand’s reputation precedes itself on the race course.
We’ve had first-hand experience with Ridley’s purebred race machines, reviewing, and walking away impressed by the the X-Night 30 in Issue 27. But what about other times of the year? Where warm weather and ample sunshine beckon riders to take to the woods and back roads?
Ridley has increased their 2016 offerings with an impressively-complete line of bikes for not just cyclocross racing, but gravel, adventure riding and commuting. Although the recent iteration of the gravel “movement” may have American roots, Ridley is proof-positive that European companies are now fully embracing it with bikes like the X-Trail.
While we already got a sneak peak of Ridley’s 2016 bikes at IceBike and at Press Camp 2015, today we’re taking a closer look at Ridley’s 2016 line of cyclocross, gravel and versatile Allroad bikes in the two slides below.
Use the slider below to take a closer look at Ridley’s 2016 cyclocross and Allroad bikes. Stay tuned as we plan to test both a 2016 cyclocross and 2016 Allroad bike from the Belgian company.
More information: ridley-bikes.com.
2016 Ridley Cyclocross Bikes
The biggest change for 2015 is the elimination of the X-Fire and the introduction of a more affordable X-Night, while the top-end ultralight X-Night becomes the X-Night SL. We highlight some of the newer models below.
Michael Vanthourenhout used his X-Night SL to blow apart 2015 Cross Vegas. © Cyclocross Magazine
X-Night SL
The X-Night SL is the crown jewel of the 2016 Ridley cyclocross bike line. Featuring a sub-1000 gram frame constructed of Ridley’s high-modulus 30t-24t HM/HR Unidirectional carbon and a carbon Oryx 15mm thru axle fork, the X-Night SL has been raced to the front of CrossVegas under Michael Vanthourenhout, and was recently piloted by Kevin Paulwels (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) to the top step of the Elite Men’s Podium at Superprestige Ruudervoorde.
We took a closer look at a few of Ridley’s 2016 X-Night SL offerings.
X-Night SL 10 Disc
The 2016 Ridley X-Night SL 10, at the top of the Ridley cyclocross lineup this year, will come with the SRAM CX1 group. © Philip Ingham / Cyclocross Magazine
The X-Night SL 10 disc features a SRAM Force 1 build kit, sporting hydraulic disc brakes and a World Cup fitness-requiring 42-tooth chain ring with an 11-28 cassette.
Ridley’s house brand 4ZA provides the wheels—their Cirrus Pro T30 tubular rims are laced to DT Swiss 350 hubs, and shod with Challenge Grifo tubulars. 4ZA also provides the cockpit, with their Cirrus Pro carbon handlebar, seatpost and aluminum stem.
The World Cup-ready Ridley X-Night SL 10 Disc has an MSRP of $5170 and a claimed weight of 16.53 pounds.
A canti version, aptly named the X-Night SL 10 Canti is also available with an MSRP of $5500 and squeaks over the UCI weight limit with a claimed weight of 15.21 pounds.
X-Night SL 20 Disc
The matte black and white Ridley X-Night SL 20 is the only other superlight model for 2016, and will be equipped with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 drivetrain and hydraulic brakes. © Philip Ingham / Cyclocross Magazine
Well equipped, but slightly more budget-minded than its World Cup winning-siblings, the X-Night SL 20 disc features a full Shimano Ultegra Di2 11-speed hydraulic disc brake build, equipped with R785 STI shift levers, hydraulic disc brakes and 6870 front and rear derailleurs. A 46/36 Ultegra 6800 crankset is paired with an 11/28 cassette to give the SL 20 disc a bit more of a wide range for when things get steep.
A DT Swiss R23 Spline DB wheelset is equipped with Challenge Grifo Plus 32mm clinchers. 4ZA rounds out the build with their Cirrus handlebar, stem, saddle and carbon seatpost.
The X-Night SL 20 Disc comes in at a claimed weight of 19.18 pounds, and will set you back $4290.
X-Night
What about those who want race-winning geometry, but don’t have a World Champion’s budget?
Fret not, Ridley offers their X-Night line of cyclocross bikes for those who are less gram-concious. The switch to lower-modulus 24t HM/HR Unidirectional carbon on the frames saves money at the expense of a few more grams.
We took a closer look at the X-Night 60 Disc, which offers a smart spec and for those that want a world-class carbon ‘cross bike without breaking the bank.
X-Night 60 Disc
The 2016 Ridley X-Night 60 keeps Ridley’s race-proven geometry, but uses a smart parts spec and slightly heavier carbon layup to keep the price lower.© Cyclocross Magazine
The Ridley X-Night 60 disc falls squarely in the good bang for your buck category. Featuring a mixture of Shimano 105 components, a FSA crankset, and TRP Spyre Disc brakes, the X-Night 60 gets it done with tried and true components that offer high performance at a price that doesn’t break the bank.
Ridley’s 2016 bikes feature ample mud clearance on their Oryx 15mm thru axle fork. © Cyclocross Magazine
Fulcrum Racing Sport disc brake wheels equipped with Challenge Grifo Plus tires keep the X-Night 60 rolling, and the 4ZA alloy handlebar, stem and seatpost round out the build.
The X-Night 60 disc has an MSRP of $2420, and a canti version is offered at the same price.
X-Ride
Ridley’s Aluminum cyclocross race bike, the X-Ride 30 retails for $1650. © Cyclocross Magazine
If you’re an aluminum lover, a commuter or a budget-oriented racer, Ridley has got your back with the X-Ride. Sporting very similar geometry to the X-Night bikes, the X-Ride offers Ridley’s high-performance cyclocross bike design at a price that doesn’t break the bank.
The X-Ride 30, shown in photos below, retails for $1650.
Shimano 105 STI shift levers are paired with 105 front and rear derailleurs to keep the shifting crisp on the 2016 Ridley X-Ride 30. © Cyclocross Magazine
The X-Ride 30 features Shimano 105 STI shift levers that are mated to 105 front and rear derailleurs. An FSA crankset is spec’d to keep the X-Ride 30 on-budget, and 4ZA provides the handlebar, stem and seatpost.
Fulcrum Racing Sport disc wheels are shod with Challenge Grifo Plus tires on the 2016 Ridley X-Ride 30. New graphics remind you your pain will be over in an hour or less. © Cyclocross Magazine
Similar to other bikes in Ridley’s cylocross line, the X-Ride 30 comes with Fulcrum Racing Sport disc wheels shod with Challenge Grifo Plus tires.
