A concentrate of technology
From the outset, Joachim Aerts and his team have been driven by the desire to create the most modern, most efficient bicycles, and have always devoted a great deal of effort to developing new technologies to enhance the performance of their models.
One of Ridley's most striking innovations is FAST (Future Aero & Speed Technology). This concept, which optimizes aerodynamic drag in an exceptional way, is applied to all levels of the bike (top tube and down tube, seat stays, fork, brakes, etc.), bringing a feeling of fluidity and power to every pedal stroke, every bend and every time you rise from the saddle to launch a sprint.
To develop this set of technologies, Ridley relied in particular on BikeValley - an independent wind tunnel entirely dedicated to bicycles, created in 2013 by several Belgian players in the sector, including Ridley, capable of simulating very fine winds of up to almost 110 km/h.
The Fast concept in detail
F-TUBING
F-Tubing technology refers to the design of teardrop-shaped tubes that significantly reduce drag. Thanks to this shape, air flows along the tubes without resistance. To reduce the weight of the tubes, and consequently increase speed per watt produced, this teardrop shape is interrupted where the airflow leaves the tube, resulting in a 4.03% reduction in drag at 50 km/h.
F-Surface Plus
F-Surface Plus technology has been developed to help you go faster with the same power output. Featured on the Noah and Dean aero models, it consists in applying a textured surface (like the dimples on a golf ball) at strategic points to reduce drag. These dimples generate a small amount of turbulence, allowing the main airflow to better follow the shape of the tube. The fluid flow of air around the frame allows you to split the air. So, the stronger the wind, the more you feel the benefits of this technology.
F-Split Fork
The revolutionary F-Split Fork takes advantage of the turbulence generated by rotating wheels. It does this by drawing air through a slot along the fork legs and away from the spokes. Reduced air friction translates into increased speed.
F-Wings
The F-Wings at the bottom of the fork limit turbulence around the fork legs created by the rotating hub. These small fins thin the airflow in this area and reduce drag. It's the same principle as an airplane's wing profile. This technology is integrated into the Noah Fast.
F-Steerer
The F-Steerer head tube cover, with its half-moon curve, offers an ingenious solution for total internal cable routing. Cables pass directly from the handlebars to the inside of the head tube via the stem. Inside the head tube, they move freely as the handlebars turn left or right. This solution not only reduces friction due to cable drag, but also gives the bike a very clean silhouette. What's more, by adjusting the cross-section of the head tube, we've increased its lateral rigidity, for even greater explosiveness in sprints. Compatible with Shimano, Campagnolo and Sram drivetrains.
F-Brake
Fully integrated into the fork, the F-Brake brakes are made entirely of carbon. You won't even find a metal spring. This technology gives the bike a very clean silhouette and reduces weight. More importantly, it gives a 2% aerodynamic advantage, as the brakes are completely sheltered from the wind. The reduction in the number of moving parts also reduces maintenance requirements.
Ridley's carbon frame design
Ridley sources its carbon frames exclusively from Toray, the world's leading manufacturer of carbon fibers and a favorite of aerospace manufacturers. Depending on the model, the brand uses high-modulus carbon fibers, from the softest 24-ton elastic modulus, which gives the frame a degree of bending and comfort, to the stiffest 60-ton modulus for victory-seeking competitors.
Once the fiber type has been selected, Ridley sets about determining the exact function a frame will perform, i.e. how it will be used and how it should feel in all possible scenarios. Next comes the design of the frame's shape, with particular attention to the accuracy of the curves, lines and varying thickness of each tube. Carbon lamination is the final stage. It involves combining hundreds of pieces of carbon, assembled in a dozen layers, to create a machine perfectly suited to the task it has to perform.
