Ridley

Fenix C30 Disc Shimano 105 Complete Road Bike - 2015

With the addition of the increased stopping power modulation available with hydraulic disc brakes, Ridley's Fenix C30 Disc Shimano 105 Complete Road Bike expands its already impressive capabilities to include virtually perfect braking on fast, sweeping descents and sure-footed speed on the surfaces that exist outside of the fenced-in world of asphalt.

The key to the frame's multi-surface transcendence is Ridley's artful layup of vibration devouring 30- and 24-ton unidirectional carbon fibers. While the harsher, purely weight-focused frames in Ridley's line use 50- to 60-ton moduli, the Fenix's carbon strikes a balance between smoothing the road and promoting rigid efficiency. Potholes, cobblestones, and other road hazards — which may feel like repeated hammer blows to the kidneys on 60 ton carbon — take on all the disagreeability of crosswalk paint. Just in case you ever do get tired of wantonly riding over road obstacles, the stiff, tapered head tube nets responsive steering to dodge through debris with ease.

In addition to the change subtly alluded to by its name, the Fenix Disc also has a slightly longer wheelbase — by 2mm in size medium — than the original Fenix. While this difference is more pronounced in the smallest sizes, even the bigger frames benefit from a more stable wheelbase for gravel and dirt roads. The adventure-minded cyclist will also note with interest that the Disc model features increased tire clearance, so you can bump up tire diameter for maximum plushness and reliability on everything from chipseal and logging roads to loose limestone gravel and firmly fixed granite pavé.

Considerations of surface aside, the Fenix C30 Disc 105's Shimano drivetrain is meant to get angry when you ramp up the watts, and the frame itself is happy to oblige. The built-up bottom bracket junction, PressFit 30 bottom bracket, and burly chainstays address your power transfer needs, ensuring that comfort doesn't come at the cost of a uselessly wagging drivetrain spine during hard efforts. In a final nod to the efficiency/comfort dialectic, the seat tube is squared-off at the bottom with gradually softening edges as it rises to the seat collar. This makes for less lateral flex where you're putting power into the road and a more compliant ride where the road's putting impact into you.