Ridley

Kanzo Speed Carbon Ultegra Gravel Bike

All-road riding has certainly exploded over the past few years, building upon a once niche cycling discipline and morphing into a popular division of cycling that's opened up a whole new perspective on cycling. This is unquestionably a positive shift in the industry that's getting more people on bikes and generating more available bike options. For those looking to put in some time both on and off road and find current road and 'cross bikes a tad too aggressive, Ridley has the Kanzo Speed Carbon Ultegra Gravel Bike to address this. Modern carbon construction combines with Shimano's workhorse Ultegra components to keep you forging ahead in style and comfort no matter where your ride takes you.

As we mentioned above, this bike is kitted out with the precise and reliable shifting of Shimano's Ultegra 2x drivetrain, proving a wider range and closer steps between the gears than the typical 1x setup, along with its powerful hydraulic disc brakes. The combination lets the bike break free from the limits of pavement and embrace all manners of tarmac, washboard gravel, and even some tame singletrack.

Despite its big, gravel-bike footprint, it's important to stress that the Kanzo isn't a dumpy noodler. Ridley shapes the Kanzo's frame using ultralight, high modulus carbon fiber, equipping the frame to offer swift accelerations and a stiff, responsive ride for everything from pannier-laden weekend trips to gravel races, and even if you rank to throw your 'cross hat in the ring. Subtly asymmetrical, its Oryx Disc fork is carefully reinforced on the left leg to allow it to more efficiently bear twisting forces applied by disc brakes, and with a 12 x 100mm thru axle up front and a 12 x 142mm in the rear, the frame achieves confidence-inspiring stiffness throughout.

As implied by the above, the Kanzo is a melting pot of frame geometries. The result resembles more of a road bike more than a classic cyclocross bike like the X-Night, as noted by its lower bottom bracket, shorter chainstays, and a stack/reach combination that leaves riders in less of an aggressive slammed racing position. In contrast to its road racing frames, Ridley does extend the Kanzo Speed Carbon Ultegra Gravel Bike head tube by 10mm, bringing riders into a more upright position to accommodate longer rides and touring rather than racing exclusively. It's only slightly more aggressive than the Fenix, in fact, but unlike its endurance road cousin, the Kanzo is designed to be run with tires up to 38mm wide for more comfort and traction across more rugged terrain.