Thought some of you techno-weenies would find this interesting…The marketing machine behind Ridley and Euro pro roadie team Silence-Lotto (love the sponsor combos, last year it was a what? a pregnancy tester and a lottery. Nice pairing!) has released some info about the bike that their team will use at Paris Roubaix. It’s called the X-fire and is said to be influenced by the years of success that Ridley has had in cyclecross.
The press release says…
For comfort: Arched front fork with 45 mm castor Longer wheelbase Saddle pen with biposition Bigger Vredestein tubulars: 25mm tubulars offer better comfort and absorb better the irregularities. The rolling surface offers extra grip on the wet. The tubulars are extremely flexible and shock absorbing. The inner tube made of 100% medical latex, which practically excludes any possibility of piercing and flat.
For control: Adapted fork angle The longer wheelbase gives better stability and manoeuvrability (sic)
For mud: More room for the Vredestein tubulars in the front and rear forks Normal brake a the front, cross brake at the rearIan
Those Ridley folks should worry about their bike quality before worrying to much about crazy new designs. I have not heard anywhere close as as many complaints from other teams about their bikes as those from the Ridley riders.
That’s one of the CX bikes. Should be a good choice for the race this weekend. Good day to have top tube cable routing. Don’t know about canti brakes though?
Those Ridley folks should worry about their bike quality before worrying to much about crazy new designs. …
What are some of the issues with Ridley bikes?
I’ve got an Excalibur, and love it. Looks like awfully solid constx to me. If it’s good enough for Robbie McEwen, it’s probably good enough for the rest of us.
Ben riding an '05 Crosswind for 'cross/winter riding/training at the cottage, and it seems to be holding up well. Actually planning to bust it out for next weekend’s annual Paris-to-Ancaster race.
