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Ridley X-Night 20 Disc Complete Cyclocross Bike
The Ridley X-Night was already one of the most dominant cyclocross framesets in the world " so what happens when a new 'cross season rolls around and the company slaps some fancy new parts on it? It gets even better, and the 2015 Ridley X-Night 20 Disc Complete Bike is a great example of this.
Let's start with the frame first. The X-Night was redesigned recently, and Ridley's engineers wanted their newest X-Night frame to be the lightest yet. To that end, they used 30 and 24-ton high modulus carbon fiber for the frame layup. The 24-ton designates that the carbon is able to withstand 24 tons of pressure per square inch. And while a 24-ton rating may seem a bit much for a bicycle frame, using such a strong weave allowed Ridley to engineer a frame that draws upon inspiration from the Helium SL Road Frame. Using a 24-ton weave allows engineers to design tubing that is stronger and lighter " the stronger the material, the less is needed. So, in this case, less really is more.
Additionally, Ridley removed the integrated seatmast " a welcome change to taller riders who pack their bikes often " and replaced it with a removable 27.2mm seatpost. This seemingly simple design change then translates into slimmer seatstays and tubing. Thinner stays result in vertical compliance that makes the frame more comfortable to ride on a rutted cyclocross course. The junctions have been further trimmed down and all of these design changes have led to a frame that is under 1kg. That means Ridley shaved an amazing 350 grams off of the frame. The geometry changes made last season, namely a lowered bottom bracket (3mm) and shorter wheelbase (9mm) have remained. The latter provides faster handling while the former gives smaller riders more top tube clearance. The lowered head tube means that riders who prefer a more aggressive cockpit position have the flexibility to lower their handlebars accordingly.
The build sheet specs on the X-Night 20 will reveal some new parts in Ridley's arsenal of in-house bits from its 4ZA brand, all of which come with the pedigree of being developed by a company with the most CX championship titles, ever, to its storied name. Notably, there's the tough and light new 4ZA Cirrus Pro T30 Disc tubular wheelset that gets wrapped in Challenge Grifo 33mm tires, so right off the bat, the 20's rolling stock is top-notch. A 4ZA Cirrus alloy handlebar and stem keep things solid up front, and the Cirrus carbon seatpost holds up the Cirrus Pro saddle with Cr/Ti rails. The drivetrain is motivated by a Rotor 3DF dual-ring crankset, turning a Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronically-shifting drivetrain, which has dominated 'cross circuits in its last few seasons with its consistency and imperviousness to the muck and grime of even the nastiest courses. Shimano's RWS785 hydraulic disc brakeset hauls down the pace on a dime when necessary, and like the drivetrain, it's as durable and reliable as they come.
The Ridley X-Night 20 Disc Complete Cyclocross Bike comes in five sizes, from 50cm to 58cm, and in a Carbon/grey/blue color scheme. Pedals are not included. We also strongly recommend checking out Ridley's geometry charts for its cyclocross frames before ordering, as they run very large.
Price: $4139.99 (39% Off!)
Regularly: $6899.00
Buy Now
The Ridley X-Night was already one of the most dominant cyclocross framesets in the world " so what happens when a new 'cross season rolls around and the company slaps some fancy new parts on it? It gets even better, and the 2015 Ridley X-Night 20 Disc Complete Bike is a great example of this.
Let's start with the frame first. The X-Night was redesigned recently, and Ridley's engineers wanted their newest X-Night frame to be the lightest yet. To that end, they used 30 and 24-ton high modulus carbon fiber for the frame layup. The 24-ton designates that the carbon is able to withstand 24 tons of pressure per square inch. And while a 24-ton rating may seem a bit much for a bicycle frame, using such a strong weave allowed Ridley to engineer a frame that draws upon inspiration from the Helium SL Road Frame. Using a 24-ton weave allows engineers to design tubing that is stronger and lighter " the stronger the material, the less is needed. So, in this case, less really is more.
Additionally, Ridley removed the integrated seatmast " a welcome change to taller riders who pack their bikes often " and replaced it with a removable 27.2mm seatpost. This seemingly simple design change then translates into slimmer seatstays and tubing. Thinner stays result in vertical compliance that makes the frame more comfortable to ride on a rutted cyclocross course. The junctions have been further trimmed down and all of these design changes have led to a frame that is under 1kg. That means Ridley shaved an amazing 350 grams off of the frame. The geometry changes made last season, namely a lowered bottom bracket (3mm) and shorter wheelbase (9mm) have remained. The latter provides faster handling while the former gives smaller riders more top tube clearance. The lowered head tube means that riders who prefer a more aggressive cockpit position have the flexibility to lower their handlebars accordingly.
The build sheet specs on the X-Night 20 will reveal some new parts in Ridley's arsenal of in-house bits from its 4ZA brand, all of which come with the pedigree of being developed by a company with the most CX championship titles, ever, to its storied name. Notably, there's the tough and light new 4ZA Cirrus Pro T30 Disc tubular wheelset that gets wrapped in Challenge Grifo 33mm tires, so right off the bat, the 20's rolling stock is top-notch. A 4ZA Cirrus alloy handlebar and stem keep things solid up front, and the Cirrus carbon seatpost holds up the Cirrus Pro saddle with Cr/Ti rails. The drivetrain is motivated by a Rotor 3DF dual-ring crankset, turning a Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronically-shifting drivetrain, which has dominated 'cross circuits in its last few seasons with its consistency and imperviousness to the muck and grime of even the nastiest courses. Shimano's RWS785 hydraulic disc brakeset hauls down the pace on a dime when necessary, and like the drivetrain, it's as durable and reliable as they come.
The Ridley X-Night 20 Disc Complete Cyclocross Bike comes in five sizes, from 50cm to 58cm, and in a Carbon/grey/blue color scheme. Pedals are not included. We also strongly recommend checking out Ridley's geometry charts for its cyclocross frames before ordering, as they run very large.
Price: $4139.99 (39% Off!)
Regularly: $6899.00
Buy Now
