Ridley

Fenix SL Disc Ultegra Di2 Complete Road Bike

If you haven't taken the plunge into electronic shifting and disc brakes yet on the road, we have the bike for you. The Fenix SL Disc Ultegra Di2 Complete Road Bike from Ridley gives you a race caliber frameset and to it, we added all of the modern tech including Shimano's excellent electronic shifting, tubeless tires, and hydraulic disc brakes. Ridley designs the Fenix SL as an endurance machine that's still quick on race day and it's an in-house favorite for tackling long rides over varying road conditions. Its unidirectional carbon construction helps it transfer power while imparting a degree of comfort over endless chip seal county roads. The race-ready geometry, honed from the feedback of its sponsored team Lotto-Soudal during the spring classics, is equal parts stability and agility. It's simply a bike that urges you to step on the gas and is happier the more difficult the sectors become.

While this Fenix is more than capable in Flandrian sprint finishes and animated road race tactics, its combination of powerful disc brakes and artful layup of vibration devouring unidirectional carbon fibers expand its capabilities beyond buttery smooth pavement into roads (and paths) less traveled. In comparison to the super-stiff featherweight frames in Ridley's line that use up to 60-ton moduli, the Fenix SL utilizes a blend of 30-ton and 24-ton carbon to strike a balance between road-smoothing compliance, rigid efficiency, and race-worthy weight. Poorly graded gravel, cobbles, and other road hazards that would otherwise feel like jarring punches on a 60-ton carbon take on all the disagreeability of crosswalk paint, though the stiff, tapered head tube does provide responsive steering to dodge unrideable obstacles and skillfully dissects a winding canyon road.

Compared to the original Fenix, the Fenix Disc also has a slightly longer wheelbase, stretching 2mm longer for a size medium. While this difference is more pronounced in the smaller sizes, even the bigger frames benefit from a more stable footing over packed gravel and tamer dirt roads. The adventure-minded cyclist will also appreciate the Disc model's increased tire clearance, allowing for bigger tires and maximum plushness and reliability on everything from epic rides over baking summer asphalt to winter base miles over slushy roads.

This bike is built up with the self-sponsoring racer's favorite, Shimano's excellent Ultegra Di2 groupset. It offers precise, digital shifting and powerful hydraulic braking that's light years ahead of rim brakes. Mavic supplies the rolling stock consisting of its Ksyrium Elite UST Disc Brake Wheelset shod with its Yksion Pro UST tubeless tires. Final details include a carbon 3T seatpost, handlebar, and stem that help drop weight while improving the ride quality.