Ridley has two new Area monitor bikes, at reverse ends of the velodrome racing spectrum. Decide the aluminum Area A and also you get a no-nonsense train on the inexpensive simplicity of a monitor bike. Or go to absolutely the different excessive with the total carbon Ridley Area Quick, a pro-level monitor racer the likes of which has been ridden to set the Hour Document in its earlier iteration…
Ridley Area monitor bikes in inexpensive Alloy or Quick carbon
A brand-new 250m indoor wooden velodrome lately opened in Belgium simply 10km from Ridley’s headquarters on the biking well-known Zolder Circuit. Whether or not you want to race automobiles, street bikes, cyclocross, or BMX, Zolder has you lined. And now, should you don’t wish to chilly, moist & muddy on cross bikes in the course of winter, you possibly can prepare and race inside on the brand new monitor.
So to have fun the opening of Flanders’ new Heusden-Zolder Velodroom Limburg, Ridley debut two new monitor bikes.
Inexpensive aluminum Area A
In my thoughts, the Ridley Area A is definitely probably the most attention-grabbing of the 2, since only a few common cyclists are simply going to exit and purchase a brilliant high-end carbon frameset and construct up some tremendous monitor bike. However a contemporary UCI-approved race-worthy alloy monitor bike is comparatively inexpensive, and quite a lot of enjoyable.
Purchase certainly one of these for below two grand, and you’ll prepare by way of the winter on the brand new Zolder velodrome for simply 13€ per two hour session.
Alloy Tech Particulars, Pricing & Availability
The Area A is an easy triple-butted 7005-T6 alloy body alloy body with subtly aero hydroformed formed tubing for max stiffness. Pair that to an aero full carbon 4Za aero fork for a stiff experience, optimized to experience in counter-clockwise circles on completely clean picket boards.
It is available in 4 inventory sizes (XS-L) with steep, aggressive track-proven geometry.
The alloy Ridley Area A is out there completely in a single full bike construct for 1900€, with an alloy Miche Pistard construct package & DT Swiss wheels. You possibly can order one now out of your native Ridley seller. Supply is slated for about 5-6 weeks from now in mid-December.
Area Quick
Now, placing budgets apart, the brand new Ridley Area Quick will almost definitely make your laps across the monitor noticeably faster. Developed in parallel with this summer time’s all-new Dean Quick time trial bike, the Area Quick cuts a really related profile.
Maxed out throughout the newest UCI technical rules, the group developed the quickest monitor bike attainable. Most significantly, the newly allowable 8:1 tubing profile rule. Designed in CFD, then confirmed within the Bike Valley wind tunnel that’s actually subsequent door to Ridley HQ, the Area Quick ought to be, nicely… quick.
Carbon Tech Particulars
The core overarching design ideas have been optimized aerodynamics, maximized stiffness, and unwavering energy switch.
Key to the aero efficiency are the deep F-tubing aerofoil shapes after all.
However the Ridley Area Quick additionally inherits the F-Floor Plus grooves alongside the frontal profile of its headtube and fork. Breaking boundary layer airflow over the bike makes for smoother aerodynamics.
Stiffness and energy switch in the end come all the way down to a cautious combine of 4 grades of Torayca 24-60T carbon fibers. Pair that to a tapered 1.125-1.125″ headset and a PF30 backside bracket for slender however stiff connections.
Adaptability & Most UCI-Allowable Geometry
Ridley created the Area Quick as a single adaptable carbon frameset to have the ability to race throughout all monitor disciplines. Numerous cockpit setups, even forks with axle flip-chips, and naturally completely different wheelsets can tweak the Area Quick for all the things from dash to pursuit racing.
The brand new monitor race bike incorporates a typical 1 1/8″ higher steerer set down into the toptube or above with customized spacers, for normal bar+stem compatibility. However after all, probably the most aero setup is Ridley’s personal modular flush-fit 1-piece stem and base bar cockpit.
The total carbon Area Quick fork is out there in tremendous slender 70mm hub spacing or commonplace 100mm. And every additionally incorporates a flip-chip on the bolt-on entrance axle. That mainly lets riders decide 35mm or 45mm fork offset for his or her superb dealing with really feel. And even thru-axle appropriate flip-chips, too.
Out again, wheel customization (and future-proofing) is similar story, with built-in chain tensioners for the horizontal fork ends. And likewise bolt-on or 12mm thru-axle wheel compatibility.
Ridley solely makes the Area Quick in two body sizes (M & L). However, they are saying it gives sufficient variation to suit most elite athletes. They usually created the Massive to offer the longest allowable entrance heart dimension below UCI regulation, “maximizing bike size below present rules”.
Ridley Area Quick monitor bike – Pricing, Choices & Availability
The brand new carbon Ridley Area Quick monitor bike is out there completely as framesets. So, decide from the 5000€ Dash setup with simply the body, fork, headset & seatpost.
Or decide the 6000€ Pursuit frameset. It then provides within the smooth basebar cockpit topped off with a set of Deda Jet2 aerobar extensions.
Now the limiting issue is availability.
Formally, the brand new carbon monitor bike just isn’t but in-stock, with no official supply date given. However, Ridley has invited professional riders, biking groups, and nationwide federations to get in contact. Purchase the brand new Area Quick monitor bike, and Ridley “can supply monitor and wind tunnel testing to optimize the [rider’s] efficiency“, benefiting from the Bike Valley tunnel and new Zolder Velodrome.
