HSP is a new Ridley dealer, and we’re getting in our first orders of frames! They are really impressing everyone from the second they come out of the box. Frame finish and weight are easy to see and feel, but what about the part that really matters – the ride?

I built up my new Ridley X-Fire full carbon frame this weekend, and have been out on it every chance since. I can say with no uncertainty that it is the best cross frame that I have ever ridden. Period. I have spent the last several years on one of the best aluminum frames around, and loved it, but the ride of this bike is at another level.

The first thing I felt was that it didn’t feel like a cross bike. Usually those first few rides of the fall back on the cross bike take some getting used to. The bike doesn’t steer as quickly as your road bike, and the relaxed angles feel like driving a boat rather than a race car. The X-Fire has Ridley’s take on cyclocross geometry, most notably slightly shorter top tubes and taller head tubes than other companies. It works. This bike steers very fast, and the smooth ride makes me want to ride it hard all the time. This is not just a spiced-up commuter, but a frame that has won World Cups and World Championships.

I’ve had it out for HSPX at Queen Anne Bowl, with the tight corners, and also out at the Starcrossed course at Marymoor. I find myself going alarmingly fast on rough sections. The fit and feel of the frame is top notch, and I am looking forward to getting back out on it.

To top it off, this thing is LIGHT. 18 pounds with heavy components and training wheels!

Check them out – http://www.ridley-bikes.com/

David Fleischhauer