For some Ridley is an enigma; the name suggests the USA, whilst in fact it's
a company that is firmly rooted in Belgian cycling. Ridley was formed in 1990 by Jochim
Aerts, who's grounding in cycling was taking part in Junior racing in the hardest
arena of them all, Belgium.
Jochim may not have made his mark riding his bike, but he did when he formed
Ridley, and soon the company was supporting grass roots teams and riders in
Belgium, including Tom Boonen when he won the Belgian U23 championship in 2001.
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Erwin Vervecken's 2006 World Cross Championship winning
bike |
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The 2008 Noah |
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The frames arrive naked and plain |
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One of a number of paint booths |
So why a Belgium company with a USA sounding name? Jochim named his bike company
after Film director Ridley Scott, because the name sounded right and added an
international tone in a region featuring a number of cycle manufactures.
In just over 17 years Ridley has grown to be the most famous of Belgium brands,
Merckx fans may shout 'foul' at this point, and with Robbie McEwen, Cadel Evans
and the Davitamon-Lotto pro-race team starring in the Tour de France and across
the race calendar the company's light continues to shine brightly.
In addition the winning exploits of World Cyclo Cross Champions Erwin Vervecken
and Bart Wellens in cross, where in Belgium and Holland cross draws crowds a UK football
club would enjoy, was another driving factor as Ridley moved into number one
spot in the Benelux countries. Jan Guesdon of Ridley told us that the companies
interest in the Tour de France has now made it a player across the World.
Ridley are based East of Antwerp on an industrial estate in Tessenderlo, beware
though as you have to cross a teeth crunching sleeping policeman to reach the
factory. That's if you survive the motorway turn off!
On entering the factory you are welcomed by a wall of pictures of McEwen and
Vervecken, and graffiti left by Evans thanking the company. Another sense is
tickled as you sniff the air and smell paint and machinery, instantly you realise
this is a working place and once across the threshold and into the factory proper
you are amidst workers and the sound of power tools whistles through the air.
Ridley design the carbon moulds and framesets 'in house', before manufacture
takes place in the far east. Once built they arrive at the factory to be quality
checked, framesets prepared, painted and made whole.
We watched each of the processes conducted at the factory and the attention
to detail and to quality was impressive to witness. Present employees include
Tom Boonen's mum and dad. You can also find many Ridley employees riding each Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the nearby Zolder motor racing circuit at two weekly cycles only sessions.
In 2003 Ridley released its first full carbon road frame, the 'Damocles', and
it was this model that launched the company onto the world stage at the Tour
de France. The bike's signature sharp angled lines and oversized head tube has
continued through to the latest bikes, including the 'Noah' which was introduced
in 2006 and includes an integrated seat post (Featured above), the latest of
the top end range.
The monocoque frames are made from high modulus carbon, on which Ridley pay
high regard to the direction in which the carbon fibers are arranged. The Noah
features 30-ton high modulus carbon fibre reinforced with 40-ton carbon with
a 3K multidirectional carbon finish. It has fully replaceable CNC dropouts.
Straight-blade full carbon 30-ton carbon monocoque fork. Ridley's top end cross
bike is the the X-Night, a full carbon bike with an integrated seat post and
follows on from the World Championship winner Cross Fire.
Huge thanks to Jan Guesdon and all at Ridley for their kindness.
Website
More Ridley informantion at - http://www.ridley-bikes.com/
Your bike - we want to feature your bike, whatever type it is - contact
us, john@londoncyclesport.com
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Almost ready for paint |
Frames are painted after careful preparation |
Ridley offer a number of finish options |
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A larger paint booth |
Undercoat on the headtube |
Ridley design all their decals in their own graphic
design studio |
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A Fidea Cross Team frame awaits shipment |
The intergrated seat post that features on the carbon
range |
More stiffness at the front of the 2008 Noah |
Little Rhi
