With the new Falcn RS, Ridley wants to solve the dilemma that racers have to choose a specific bike depending on the route: Aero bikes for flat stages or the lightweight racer for the mountains. The new competition model should perform well on all terrains because it combines the strengths of both types. Similar to Specialized with the Tarmac or Giant with the current Propel, the Belgian brand is embarking on the search for the ultimate competition road bike that is uncompromisingly optimal on all routes and for all racing situations. It is likely that the Falcn RS will replace the two separate competition models at Ridley in the longer term. It is almost certain that the bike will be the favoured workhorse of the Lotto Dstny professional team for the coming racing season.
Sprint, mountain and classic specialist
Ridley states that the aerodynamic performance of the Falcn RS is comparable to that of the with the Noah Fast aero model presented in 2018 isbut the frame and fork set is only 110 grams heavier than the lightweight Helium SLX model. This makes the Falcn RS the faster choice than either of the two specialists on most routes. Even on mountain stages, the Falcn RS outperforms the lighter Helium because the lower weight cannot outweigh the aerodynamic advantage even at low speeds. The development also took into account the use in spring classics: the bike comes with 28 millimetre tyres as standard, but the frame and fork can accommodate tyres up to 34 millimetres wide. The bottom bracket has been lowered by four millimetres so that aerodynamics and handling do not suffer as a result of the higher position with wider tyres. The seating position of the new racer has also been fine-tuned: The geometry of the Falcn RS has become sportier than the previous Ridley racers, with more reach and less stack than the Noah Fast and Helium.
UDH for the road
One not entirely unexciting detail is the rear dropout or derailleur hanger of the new racer. It follows the UDH standard (Universal Derailleur Hanger), which was introduced a few years ago by component manufacturer SRAM for its mountain bike groupsets. In simple terms, the derailleur hanger is no longer part of the frame, but is attached directly to the thru axle. It is therefore a universal part that fits all frames with this standard. The transmission derailleurs from SRAM, which are based on this standard, can even be attached directly to the thru-axle and can therefore be designed to be extremely robust. This also makes it much easier to adjust the gears because there are fewer degrees of freedom.
So far, only a few gravel bikes are available with UDH standard, which can then also be built with the transmission components suitable for off-road use. The fact that the Ridley Falcn RS is the first road bike with UDH suggests that SRAM is also working on a comparable concept for the road groupsets.
Ridley Falcon RS: Equipment and prices
Like other high-end models from Ridley, the Falcon RS can be customised in the configurator. The paintwork and components can be selected from a modular system. The following standard equipment is also available:
Ridley Falcon RS with SRAM Force AXS
- groupset: SRAM Force AXS
- Wheels: DT Swiss ARC 1400
- Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Pro 28 millimetre
- Price: 9,399 euros
Ridley Falcon RS with Shimano Ultegra Di2
- Shift group: Shimano Ultegra Di2
- Wheels: DT Swiss ARC 1400
- Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Pro 28 millimetre
- Price: 9,399 euros
Ridley Falcon RS with Shimano 105 Di2
- Shift group: Shimano 105 Di2
- Wheels: Forza Levanto DB
- Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Pro 28 millimetre
- Price: 7,399 euros
Jens Klötzer
Editor
