Ridley X Night SL Disc Cyclocross Frameset 2017

We've been able to spend a lot of time on Ridley's road bikes, and we've certainly enjoyed them, but the Flemish brand's real pedigree lies in cyclocross. The brand is a Belgian staple the sport is a Belgian obsession the connection is a given. That means that, as Ridley's flagship 'cross model, the X Night SL Disc Cyclocross Frameset is shaped by the traditions at the heart of European cyclocross. If you're after a gravel bike, then the X Trail has the big footprint and borderline XC geometry you're looking for. The X Night SL, on the other hand, is a pure Euro' 'cross, through and through. A cursory comparison between the X Trail, a gravel adventure sled, and the X Night SL proves that point. The X Night is much more compact with a slightly steeper head tube and a drastically shorter wheelbase. It's also got a higher bottom bracket, which adds to the immediate responsiveness and makes for more generous clearance. Despite that compact footprint, the frame's generous main triangle still provides plenty of room to comfortably shoulder the bike on Belgian stairs. The classic European cyclocross geometry gives the X Night SL a fast, aggressive feel, but it's paired with a non traditional, wide tire clearance. This adapts it for tackling everything the New World can throw at it, ranging from snowy Northeast mud to dry West Coast dirt. As with the previous generation, Ridley builds the X Knight SL from a mix of 30T and 24T high modulus carbon fiber. This is similar to the blend found in the cobble stone conquering Fenix frameset ridden in Roubaix and Flanders, so it sops up fatiguing vibrations and tenaciously transfers every watt into forward motion for a fast yet cushy ride worthy of even the harshest race conditions. Its internal cable routing makes for a clean, streamlined look, with the added bonus of eliminating pesky cable pinches when shouldering your bike up a steep wall of limestone stairs. At the front, Ridley officially bestows its Belgian benediction ...