Ridley unveils range-topping aero bike, the Noah Fast
Disc brake model and more adjustability on redesigned aero frame
Ridley’s Noah has been a staple under fast riders on lumpy and flat stages of the world’s toughest races. Robbie McEwen raced the first ever version of the aero frameset and André Greipel rode the SL to victory in numerous sprint stages. The Belgian company announced the Noah Fast today and it’s intended to offer more speed, adjustability and ease of assembly. It comes in a disc version, following the trend of new aero frames announced this year.
The new bike was designed with the aid of computational fluid dynamics so it would perform better out on the road, reducing drag and cutting through the air more efficiently. Previous versions of the Noah have used what Ridley call F-technology. It’s now found on the downtube, seat post, headtube, the fork legs and the spacers. “This resulted in all components being based on one and the same aero profile,” said Ridley engineer Toon Wils. “This profile together with our F-Technology and component integration led to Ridley’s ‘whole bike approach’.”
Aero and clean
Aero seat post and hidden clamp
Dropped seatstays on the Ridley Noah Fast for improved comfort.
Disc brakes
F-technology on the whole frame
One part of the frame that the engineers particularly focused on was the junction between the toptube and headtube where the bar and stem join the rest of the frame. It’s all designed to look clean with internal cable routing and an integrated bar and stem. The stem comes in six different lengths while the spacers are available in three different stack heights. The trend of parts integration continues at the seat post, featuring an aero shaped profile and a seat post clamp nestled into the inner part of the frame.
Ridley also emphasizes that the Noah Fast is easier to assemble and do maintenance on than other aero bikes, as it has no complicated junctions to connect cables, no cable stoppers and no special calipers.
As carbon technologies continue to evolve Ridley has also trimmed a claimed 250 g off the Noah Fast frame while increasing stiffness at the head tube and bottom bracket. Ridley claim this won’t come at the expense of comfort as the seat stays are bowed, slimmer and positioned lower on the frame for a more compliant ride.
