Ridley

X-Trail Ultegra Complete Bike - 2016

Born in Belgium, Ridley’s ‘cross heritage is as much a part of the brand as frites and the cobbled classics. Unfortunately for some riders, the slammed geometry of most ‘cross racing frames doesn’t lend itself to adventure riding and weekend exploration. If you’re looking for the freedom of a ‘cross bike without the shoulder pain, Ridley’s already way ahead of you. Sitting comfortably in Ridley’s All-Road category, the 2016 X-Trail Ultegra Complete Bike enjoys any mix of pavement, gravel, and smooth ribbons of singletrack you choose to throw at it, with a frame that’s still responsive when needed and a build kit better than what the pros spent last decade riding.

A carbon construction lends the X-Trail the stiff, responsive feel of a race bike, as do extras like an asymmetrical fork and thru-axles in the front and rear. When you sit on the bike, don’t be surprised to feel like you’ve stepped onto an endurance road frame; Ridley took inspiration from both its race-ready X-Night series as well as the more relaxed Fenix to achieve something in the middle. The more upright orientation and forgiving feel should inspire you to take the longer route on your weekend rides knowing the X-Trail won’t make you pay for it later. Enjoy the freedom of the 40mm tire clearance on terrain that’s entirely off-limits to your road bike, with a full Ultegra drivetrain keeping shifts smooth and precise and the reassurance of SRAM hydraulic disc brakes for the few occasions you want to stop.