Ridley Bikes

Gordy6040

Hey folks
Does anyone have experience with Ridley bikes?
I'm in the market for a gravel bike around the 1500€ mark and I like the look of the Kanzo A. There doesn't seem to be many reviews on them.

fat bloke

I don't think anyone would argue that Ridley don't know how to make a good bike.

GlennaMaddy

Gordy6040 wrote: »

Hey folks
Does anyone have experience with Ridley bikes?
I'm in the market for a gravel bike around the 1500€ mark and I like the look of the Kanzo A. There doesn't seem to be many reviews on them.

Solid brand going for many years, can't go wrong

joey100

Check their sizing, usually size up a bit big. Medium in most brands (54) is a small Ridley road bikes.

Gordy6040

Thanks Chaps

Dr_Colossus

Great bikes, I bought a Ridley Excalibur road bike (from RobFowl I think it was) on Adverts a good many years ago (he upgraded to a Ridley Noah at the time). Bike has done at a guess 50-60k km since on all road surfaces including an Audax Super Randonneur, many training spins and then 7k kms per year commuting through the rough streets of Dublin for the past 4 years. I’m pretty heavy at over 100kg but bar consumables (have worn through the sidewalls of two sets of Mavic Ksyriums wheels) the bike itself has been rock solid. They’re not too common either which adds to the appeal.

Gordy6040

Yeah, I like something a bit different. The next challenge is finding one in stock. They don’t ship directly to Ireland.

Wishbone Ash

I have a Ridley Gladius as my main commuter. I bought it shop damaged around 2012 from the liquidation of Cyclelogical. It was subsequently 'written off' in a RTA in 2013 when I T-boned a car which turned across my path. I bought it back from the insurance company for €50 and have been using it ever since. It gets nothing but abuse, gets minimum maintenance, is rarely cleaned but simply refuses to lie down and die. Most of the original components are still going strong including the bottom bracket. It owes me nothing.

fat bloke

Gordy6040 wrote: »

Yeah, I like something a bit different. The next challenge is finding one in stock. They don’t ship directly to Ireland.

Hollingsworth Kilmacud sell Ridley, or at least they used to. A bunch of lads in the Irish Road Club are riding Aero Ridleys bought a couple of years ago.

https://www.mycycle.ie/SearchResults.asp?Search=ridley

I don't see that "Kanzo" listed but worth a call see if they bring one in? They certainly have the CX bikes in stock

TooObvious

Just to weigh in. Like the lads said - size down, I've a medium Noah and it has a 57cm top tube! Also it's deadly. I don't think you can go wrong with Ridley for a gravel bike, they are from the home of cyclocross after all and are well used to making off road drop bar bikes. That Hanzo looks great in the Belgian colours.

By the way Merlin bikes also sell Ridley online, you might be able to snap up a deal there - I know, to the detriment of the LBS.

hesker

I have a 2013 Ridley Damocles with ISP.

Size medium with a virtual top tube of 57cm CC. 100 mm stem. I’m 6ft and it fits perfectly. I was debating getting a large and I’m glad I didn’t.

I’m not sure about the size up suggestion. I think you have to study the geo charts for the bike and make your own call.

Ridley make very good bikes as others have said. New bike on the way which is also Belgian. But I won’t be letting the Ridley go. Likely will get a new groupset for it.

TooObvious

TooObvious wrote: »

By the way Merlin bikes also sell Ridley online, you might be able to snap up a deal there - I know, to the detriment of the LBS.

I believe that the Merlin own brand bikes are made by Ridley as well.

outfox

I've Ridley Xtrail gravel bike. Cannot fault it. Very solid. I think they purchased Merckx recently, FWIW.

funnights74

Gordy6040 wrote: »

Yeah, I like something a bit different. The next challenge is finding one in stock. They don’t ship directly to Ireland.

Not sure where you are but Victoria's Cross Cycles in Cork have a long standing partnership with Ridley, i'm not sure if they are official stockists but they always have plenty in stock and have contacts with the Ridley factory in Belgium.

funnights74

Same as most of the above, i've had a Ridley for 6 or 7 years now, never a problem, good solid bike, if you choose to a sound purchase.

Gordy6040

Just as a follow up, I mailed Ridley and they came back to say they’re out of stock for a year.