Ridley introduces cheaper versions of its Helium SLX and Noah Fast race bikes
Ridley introduces cheaper versions of its Helium SLX and Noah Fast race bikes
Look to most of the bike brands raced in the WorldTour and you’ll see that while the pros always race the top-tier version, there’s often a replica model built with a more affordable, albeit heavier, carbon layup.
Until now Ridley’s top-level race bikes, the Noah Fast Disc (aero road) and Helium SLX Disc (light all-rounder road), have only been available with the same premium lay-up that the pros of Lotto Soudal race on. Today the Belgium bike company announced more affordable carbon-copy versions of both the Noah Fast and Helium SLX – named the Noah Disc and Helium Disc respectively.
The new Noah Disc and Helium Disc share the same carbon moulds as their respective top-tier offerings, and as a result, they offer identical shaping, frame features, and geometry. That also includes the use of Ridley’s “F-Steerer” steerer tube that is used to internally guide the brake hoses and gear cables (if applicable) through the Deda HSE headsets on both models.
The frames may be identical on the outside, but it’s an invisible difference in carbon lay-up that helps to bring the price down. Ridley’s top-level race machines are typically built with a mixture of four different-modulus carbon fibre materials throughout – where the higher modulus materials achieve higher stiffness with less material. By contrast, Ridley’s new “Essential”-level frames feature a lower modulus carbon fibre layup that requires more layers of material to meet the same stiffness goal.
Ridley claims the new Helium Disc frame weighs under a kilogram (size medium), about 120 grams more than the 820 g Helium SLX Disc frame. The Noah Disc frame is quoted at 1,160 g (size medium), approximately 140 grams more than the premium Noah Fast Disc. The forks on both new models add roughly 20 grams over the premium versions.
The Helium Disc starts from €3,199 / £2,909 / US$TBC for a bike equipped with a Shimano 105 2×11 groupset and Shimano R171 wheels. The aero Noah Disc starts from €3,699 / £3,369 / US$TBC with an equivalent spec.
The Helium Disc is also available with a SRAM AXS Rival 2×12 groupset and improved wheels (€4,399 / £3,999 / US$TBC). While the Noah Fast is available with a Shimano Ultegra 2×11 (mechanical) groupset for €4,499 / £4,099 / US$TBC. And in addition to the stock options, Ridley is offering both models via its Ridley Configurator program that lets you adjust the design, paint, and specifications for a nominal fee. The first shipments of bikes are expected to land with dealers between March and May.
