Ridley

Fenix Disc 105 Complete Road Bike - 2016

Disc brakes are the future, and Ridley's 2016 Fenix Disc 105 Complete Road Bike lets you harness the versatility of the original Fenix and add the powerful braking confidence of hydraulic disc brakes. Its workhorse Shimano drivetrain steps up to the challenge with reliable gear changes when you ramp up the watts, and the frame itself is happy to oblige with sure-footed speed on surfaces that extend beyond the limitations of pristine asphalt.

The key to the frame's multi-surface transcendence is Ridley's artful layup of vibration devouring unidirectional carbon fibers. While the harsher, purely weight-focused frames in Ridley's line use up to 60-ton moduli, the Fenix utilizes 24-ton carbon to strike a balance between road smoothing compliance and rigid efficiency. Potholes, cobblestones, and other road hazards that would otherwise feel like jarring punches on a 60-ton carbon frame take on all the disagreeability of crosswalk paint. Just in case you ever do get tired of wantonly throwing your tires over road obstacles, the stiff, tapered head tube provides responsive steering to dodge through debris with ease.

In addition to the change in brakes subtly alluded to by its name, the Fenix Disc also has a slightly longer wheelbase—by 2mm in size medium—than the original Fenix. While this difference is more pronounced in the smallest sizes, even the bigger frames benefit from a more stable wheelbase for gravel and packed dirt roads. The adventure-minded cyclist will also note with interest that the Disc model features increased tire clearance, so you can bump up tire diameter for maximum plushness and reliability on everything from chipseal and logging roads to loose limestone gravel.

The built-up bottom bracket junction, PressFit 30 bottom bracket, and burly chainstays address your power transfer needs, ensuring that comfort doesn't come at the cost of a uselessly wagging drivetrain spine during hard efforts. In a final nod to the balance of efficiency and comfort, the seat tube is squared-off at the bottom with gradually softening edges as it rises to the seat collar. This makes for less lateral flex where you're putting power into the road and a more compliant ride where the road is less that forgiving.