Bikes Of The Bunch :: Ridley Noah FAST

February 11, 2013

At the races yesterday I noticed my mate Adam Murchie and some of his BikeBug teammates riding these brand new Ridley Noah FAST bikes. I've seen these bikes around and they're possibly the most interesting bike in the peloton at the moment with their fully integrated brakes and aero design. I just had to take a closer look and arranged to photograph it this morning. Have a look...

This Ridley Noah FAST is the bike being ridden by the Australian domestic Bikebug Forza Capital team headed up by long time racer Adam Murchie. They’re a bunch of middle-aged riders who are simply out to have fun, race hard, and manage to rip up the local crits every week. Frank Fortuna, owner of FRF Couriers and BikeBug, sponsors this team and for years he’s been a massive supporter countless other activities in the cycling community. In case you haven’t heard, the Colnago Erik Mather Cup is being held this Sunday, February 17th, presented by Waratah Masters CC. It’s sponsored by BikeBug and Colnago and is in memory of Erik Mather – a well-respected friend and rider in the cycling community.

This 2013 Ridley Noah is equipped with Dura Ace 9000 11spd, Fulcrum Speed XLR80 tubular wheelset, 3T bars & stem, and Specialized Romin saddle. All up, only 7kgs. Not bad for a bike that’s not designed to be “light.”

: The 2013 Ridley Noah FAST equipped with Dura Ace 9000 11spd, Fulcrum Speed XLR80 tubular wheelset, 3T bars & stem, and Specialized Romin saddle. All up, 7kgs. Not bad for a bike that’s not supposed to be “light”

: The most interesting piece of this bike are the integrated brakes (F-brake) and aero fork. (F-splitfork). The F-Splitfork leads the headwind away from the spokes and moves the airflow away from the wheels. The influence of the air flow on the spokes is said to be reduced with less turbulence and drag as a result. The F-Brake a fully integrated brake mounted on the rear side of the fork. Ridley says that a normal caliper disrupts the aerodynamics of a bike, but this integrated brake improves the air flow. The integrated brake allows the F-Splitfork to be extended from dropout to fork crown, so drag can be reduced even further.

: The rear F-brake. It’s basically a flexible piece of carbon that work similar to V-brakes. The fork and seat stays are nearly double the width and it’s only the top section that is the brake mechanism. If the brake is damaged it won’t cost you an entire new fork, but just this top section can be replaced. Brakes are compatible with SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo.

: 2 Fast 4U

: The integrated seatpost

: Placed on the downtube, headset, seatpost are small strips which Ridley say act in much the same way as dimples on a golf ball, allowing air to travel smoothly around the frame instead of creating turbulence.

: (Left) The mechanism shown here is the brake release. (Right) Underneath the bottom bracket are the cable guides for the fully integrated cables.

: Lotto-Belisol are on this same frame for their second season now with the main difference being they are running the EPS groupset and Campy wheels (note that Campy owns Fulcrum).

Full Disclosure: BikeBug advertises on CyclingTips but has had nothing to do with the writing of this post.

jules

what a beast! if i had one of these i’d definitely be mixing it up in A grade. no doubt ;)
- pureroadie
  
  yep and santa is real
  - jules
    
    you leave santa out of this
stevo

hideous
George

I guess radars don’t detect it…
Steel

It’s an imposing looking machine. If there was a bike a bad guy could ride in a movie, it would be this one.
- Steel
  
  Actually, I think it reminds me a little bit of Darth Vader’s helmet with the curves, vents, swoops and black glossy finish. If there was an indoor velodrome on the death star, Darth would be on this thing.
Phil

Not really a fan of how any of the Ridley bikes look to be honest. I mean, I’m sure it’s quick… but it’s never going to make my wish list.
Phil

Not really a fan of how any of the Ridley bikes look to be honest. I mean, I’m sure it’s quick… but it’s never going to make my wish list.
Loughlin Hunter

I would seriously consider this over a Venge. Looks the goods!
http://www.facebook.com/pmark1bike pmark1bike

It caught my eye at the racing yesterday also, tuff looking bike. Those Fortuna’s do a lot to support cycling in Aus, its always great to see companies giving back to the cycling community.
Tricky Dicky

I think I prefer this with the Lotto (Campagnolo) set-up. Good luck on getting it in the bike bag too (that looks a meaty seatpost (with, shock horror, a Specialized saddle on top?). It is an imposing piece of kit. However, with my pathetic power output, its “aggressive stiffness” (ooh err) would be wasted on me.

PS. For those that didn’t know Erik (Mather) referred to in the piece, he was one of the nices blokes you could ever meet. A pretty handy rider too. Taken from his lovely family far too young.
Tricky Dicky

I think I prefer this with the Lotto (Campagnolo) set-up. Good luck on getting it in the bike bag too (that looks a meaty seatpost (with, shock horror, a Specialized saddle on top?). It is an imposing piece of kit. However, with my pathetic power output, its “aggressive stiffness” (ooh err) would be wasted on me.

PS. For those that didn’t know Erik (Mather) referred to in the piece, he was one of the nices blokes you could ever meet. A pretty handy rider too. Taken from his lovely family far too young.
Mark

Question, with all that aero styl’n what the hell does having the brake cables stick so far out do to it?
Mark

Question, with all that aero styl’n what the hell does having the brake cables stick so far out do to it?
Anonymous

Watched Greipel monstering his Noah recently in Adelaide, these two were made for each other.
Anonymous

What’s the braking performance like with those V-esque brakes? TRP have done mini-Vs for CX bikes, and many who’ve tried ‘em say they have a tonne of power but don’t have the modulation of a good caliper.
Anonymous

What’s the braking performance like with those V-esque brakes? TRP have done mini-Vs for CX bikes, and many who’ve tried ‘em say they have a tonne of power but don’t have the modulation of a good caliper.
Anth73

Have been riding Ridley’s for a couple of years now and they’re very much an underrated and under-represented brand in our market. Though that’s a good thing in my view as it means you’re riding something a little different from the masses on their Giants, BMCs, etc. An aero fork from Forza (owned by Ridley) with the integrated brake on my Damocles would be a nice touch. The bike flies as it is already :)
dan01294

cost anyone..?
- Wombat Jones
  
  Under $5k for the frameset. About $11-$13k for Dura-ace depending on which shop/exact components. IIRC wiggle have an Ultegra version for $9k.
il Postino

It’s an aero frame but most aero wheels won’t fit it.
Max brake width of the frame is 23mm but most aero wheel rims are 24-27mm wide.
- 27 years old
  
  27mm? almost 3cm??
  - 27 years old
    
    yes, you’re right. there are even 28mm wide rims (Mavic Cosmis CXR 80 Aero)
  - 27 years old
    
    yes, you’re right. there are even 28mm wide rims (Mavic Cosmis CXR 80 Aero)
Mark

Ridley continues to fine-tune PERFECTION! Only those who have ridden one understand….
Wombat Jones

Oh that’s awesome! I need a drink from dooling too much…..
Better go and get an overdraft, I just found my new bike!

Bikes Of The Bunch :: Ridley Noah FAST

February 11, 2013

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