Michael Vanthourenhout riding his Ridley to eventual 3rd place in Belgian National Champs - picture by Julian (Michael is his favourite rider)
"Ridley Bicycles has duly come of age with the cyclo-x stars"
The Bike Industry's Enfant Terribles
Ridley from Belgium are the bike-industry's contrarians. They may not be as large as Trek or Specialized but they are almost certainly bigger than you think. Ridley are anglophile's (Ridley is names after Ridley Scott) and that have their roots firmly planted in European cyclo-cross. They are unapologetic about their obsession with the formerly underground sport, that is fast becoming essential voyeuristic viewing. Ridley Bicycles has duly come of age with the cyclo-x stars - Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock et al. Most of Cyclefit are similarly obsessed with Cyclefit and therefore adore Ridley for their heritage, roots and unabashed commitment to cause. The Cyclefit Five went to Ridley as VIP guests for the weekend.
Ridley's factory in Beringen, Belgium is ultra-modern and thrums with technology
"Ridley are unapologetic about their obsession with the formerly underground sport of Cyclo-X"
Belgian Cycling Factory Campus
Ridley forms part of the Belgian Cycling Factory campus at Beringen. It is a collective of like-minded companies that work cooperatively in pursuit of cycling performance - wind-tunnel, bike-fitting, climate chamber, physiological testing. The Famous Five are based on camous for most of the weekend. Let out only to spectate the Belgian National Cyclo-X Championships, held at, wait for it... Beringen.
Ridley has a new climbing bike for 2026
Wind-tunnels are stark lonely places...
The Hunger Games? No, it's a Belgian Cyclo-X race. So, not dissimilar. Belgian Alps in the background
