Ridley Fenix Sl 105 Complete Road Bike Review
Thomas McDaniel / Immediate Media
Thomas McDaniel / Immediate Media
Thomas McDaniel / Firsthand Media
Thomas McDaniel / Immediate Media
Thomas McDaniel / Immediate Media
Ridley's full-carbon Fenix SL Disc fits the classic endurance bike mold, with a loftier-performance twist. For riders looking for that all-solar day-long bicycle that doesn't balk when the power hits the pedals, the Ridley Fenix SL Disc is worth a look.
Combining a potent frame with endurance geometry, Ridley aims for the high-performance end of the endurance spectrum with the Fenix SL Disc. While many competitors aim for a costly experience, Ridley turns the other management.
The Fenix SL Disc, at to the lowest degree under my guidance, feels like a bike meant for powerful riders — the blazon of passenger who would never use the discussion 'condolement' in front of another.
And then whom exactly does this bike speak to? I'one thousand looking at the former racer. There's not enough fourth dimension in the twenty-four hours to railroad train, the front-end position isn't as aggressive as it once was and a bit of compliance is welcomed, but acceleration and racy treatment are however a must.
Lastly, the 18.69lb / 8.48kg load won't bother a former racer, as it's likely lighter than whatever they used to toe the line with.
The numbers tell the story
Thomas McDaniel / Immediate Media
For me, geometry is the ane matter that brings clarity to an otherwise cloudy mess of modern bike designs. Race this, aero that, practise-it-all-thingy, call it any you desire but the geo numbers tell a story.
The wheelbase, head tube angle and forepart-center of the Fenix SL mean you could point it down the route blindfolded and you'd still be headed in the correct direction. It's an endurance bike.
From that base, with modernistic tires and wheels, comfort can be fine tuned for your preference. With the specced 25mm tires, it ended up not really riding that smoothly, but with 28mm (29.5mm measured) rubber mounted it was a delight to pedal.
Contact points
Thomas McDaniel / Immediate Media
While on the 'things I'd do differently' loftier equus caballus, I should include the contact points. I'm a bike fitter and I have issue with product teams non giving the saddle, handlebar and bar wrap the attention they warrant.
The 4ZA Pro saddle is almost certainly too narrow for anybody to sit on for hours at a time. I lasted 20 minutes earlier heading back to swap information technology out. At its absolute widest information technology'due south 12.5cm, only realistically information technology'southward in the 7–8cm range for bachelor seating due to its curvature. For reference, I've fitted teenagers with sit bones that wouldn't fit on that, let solitary an adult.
The bar record might await good in a itemize, simply information technology'south not got any comfort via thickness or gel. And it pretty much fails at the sweat test.
Thomas McDaniel / Immediate Media
Also, the handlebar goes from 31.6mm to super narrow, simply why? Why taper? Why not create a dainty plush space for the hands? It's an endurance bike, merely fifty-fifty if it were an altitude, or race cycle, it still fails.
If this were a fit client'south bike, it'due south almost a certainty that the saddle and bar tape would immediately be replaced, if not the handlebar too. This adds a $150 minimum to the toll tag before even pedaling, and that's a shame.
But if that'southward not a big deal to yous, then let me offer some positive takes on the Fenix SL.
On the plus side
Thomas McDaniel / Immediate Media
First of all, the wheel is a looker. Far too often endurance bikes have anaemic fork legs, with large downwardly tubes, head tubes, and bottom brackets, resulting in an unbalanced appearance.
Nosotros all like light bikes, merely with a few grams to spare Ridley gave the Fenix SL some dainty industrial blueprint lines. But information technology's not all musculus fortunately; the dropped seatstays and offset seatpost proceed the bike from feeling harsh, as information technology may visually appear.
In short, the designers gave the bike a smoothen transition from speed to comfort from front to back. Overall the visual appeal doesn't come at a price of the bike riding like an endurance bicycle should — shine and comfortable.
It'due south got expert overall plushness (with 28mm tires mounted) and the stability expected of an endurance bicycle. Fifty-fifty on pothole-ridden roads the bike showed its course past keeping me relatively comfy. And it'south not given abroad pedal performance as a trade-off for keeping riders fresh. The Fenix SL Disc is more of a have-it-all kind of bike.
Not a value leader, just non besides far off
Thomas McDaniel / Immediate Media
The endurance category is crowded, and for skillful reason. In my experience at retail, fitting and researching riders, the geometry of endurance bikes is far more than suitable than well-nigh (Trek H2 aside).
And no, Johnny crit racer, I'yard not talking about y'all and your slam-that-stem fetish. I'chiliad talking about the masses — the ones who pay retail prices, the ones who keep the store lights on.
As such, the first 3 endurance bikes I researched had matching spec at slightly lower prices than the Fenix SL Disc Ultegra at £two,999 / $3,800. Competitors are also bringing proprietary compliance systems, which may or may not suit your fashion.
The Trek Domane SL half dozen Disc comes with a similar spec and IsoSpeed front and rear at £three,000 / $3,499. Specialized has the Roubaix Proficient Ultegra, armed with its new compliance system forepart to dorsum and electronic shifting at £iii,500 / $4,000. And given the attention Trek and Specialized place on contact points, well, it's tough to compete.
Last but not least, Cannondale offers the Synapse Disc with Ultegra and SL crankset at £2,699 / $2,999.
It'due south really difficult to wrap my caput around the value of the Fenix given the likely replacement of contact points. In addition, its five-year warranty is competing against other brands that offer lifetime guarantees.
A love of Belgium?
The Ridley Fenix SL Disc is clearly an all-rounder, with a geometry-induced endurance mental attitude.
Hither in the rolling hills of the middle-country, it goes upwards and down without resisting. It flicks hands from side to side when out of the saddle, and it'due south costless from whatever sluggish front cycle flop when fluctuant up the steepest inclines.
When letting information technology go fast and loose on the descents, I was stoked to see the fork didn't flex to and fro during hard braking efforts.
Every bit any long wheelbase will do, it tin can be difficult to get the wheel to swoop into a plough. Nevertheless, once its trajectory is altered, it holds a line quite nicely thanks to skilful axle-to-axle stiffness.
The Fenix SL is definitely 1 of those 'pedal like you lot stole it' kind of bikes. So if you like your endurance with a sprinkling of André Greipel, this machine delivers.
If the look and feel of the cycle falls within your preference pallete, or if you just dearest the Belgian cycling tradition, and so go for it. Only if bang for the buck is your priority, then there are other options waiting for yous.
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Source: https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes/road-bikes/ridley-fenix-sl-disc-review/
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