Bicycles

On test: Ridley Orion 2011

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Parent Category: Bicycles

Category: Ridley

Published on Monday, 03 May 2010 08:22

Written by Luca Salvatelli

The new Orion at a very competitive price, high-level comfort and driving safety, very beautiful new brakes

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Even Ridley, as other manufacturers, has decided to anticipate the 2011 season, suggesting, in limited series, the new Orion 2011, available now at retailers Ridley. The official model, however, will be presented at Eurobike next and from that moment you can buy just the frame kit. Currently, however, the bike is brought in the only trial version, and as those who like assembly. All the new Orion spacecraft frame is made of high modulus carbon 24Ton with surface  UD. The main feature is to have sections of the tubes varied according to different areas of the frame in this way has been made in increasing the stiffness of 6% to the head tube well and 11% the stiffness of the rear stay. The design of the frame, then, changes from sloping (6 cm) to the semi-sloping (4 cm) closer to the design of the frames top range of Ridley (Noah, Helium, Damocles and Excalibur), this new design has also introduced new taxes that hours were increased to 5, from XS to XL, instead of the previous 4 Orion. The head tube is compact and of medium length, with a range of integrated headset in classical measure 1 inch and 1/8. The fork has carbon blades slightly arched, while the head itself is aluminum. The bottom bracket is oversized and it joins the downtube, with variable hex large. The tube has a rectangular section. The rear stay is compact, with chain stay large tubes and seat stay, smaller and slightly arched profile. The vertical tube houses the seat in classical measure 31.6 mm. The Fulcrum R7 wheels and tires take Vredestain Fortezza in size 700x23. The group has adopted the Shimano Ultegra with controls, front and rear derailleur, chain, sprocket set 12/25 and 34/50 compact crankset. Brakes 4ZA, lighter than the original Ultegra. 4ZA is always the seatpost, stem and anatomic handlebar, all aluminum, Stratos. 4ZA Stratos saddle is always and still is 4ZA bottle cage resin. There are no pedals, the warranty is 5 years, as on all products Ridley. The bike, so assembled, the size M, has a weight, measured with our instruments of 8,450 kg.

The road test

The new Orion has a frame very well done, the original section of the tubes, which characterize the aesthetics. Good assembly as a whole and beautiful brakes 4ZA, perfectly well made and also visually lighter than Shimano Ultegra. The fork is not full carbon, as other competitors of the same price range. Just the seat that allows a stepless tilt of the saddle. Even better than the passage of cables and kept the beat chain transparent. Moving you appreciate good saddle, the generous padding and with sufficient relief area of the perineum. Since the first rides we understand the character of the bike, with a high comfort level, thanks to a rear that can filter fine shots coming from the street. So you can ride for hours without discomfort and absolute relaxation. Even good ergonomic controls Ultegra and handlebar 4ZA, contributing to a very positive, that will please all those who spend many hours riding on bike. The Ultegra group is no longer a novelty, and on this Orion has confirmed its positive features, steps with accurate reporting and silent, a trip lever and fluid contained. The new brakes 4ZA, which have replaced the Ultegra, have improved the scalability of the system, which now is even more manageable, even on wet surfaces and under all conditions of low grip, braking power is absolutely unchanged, or perhaps to improved earlier. However, the new brakes seem a valid alternative to Ultegra brakes. Always excellent smoothness and rigidity of the Ultegra crankset, whose work is undoubtedly facilitated by the excellent stiffness of the bottom bracket. The Fulcrum Racing 7 confirm their character, with a sliding and a weight not content and this affects the acceleration, uphill paths and changes of rhythm, a normal behaviour for their price range. Vredestain good clinchers, the behaviour is consistent on wet and dry, very safe cornering, just a bit stiff on bumpy. If comfort is the highest level also the overall performance of the means are good and which meet a wide range of users. The weight of the bike is not content, because the fork and wheels, only partly climbing performances, where you can take advantage of the excellent level of relations available, and changes of pace, where the bike can be somewhat slower than However, other competitors can not boast the same amenities. Actually there seem the frame and its rigidity is more than excellent, only the total weight of the bike a bit mortified performance, but on the other hand, it is impossible to do better at the price at which it is proposed that Orion 2011. In plain benefits are competitive and only at high speed you would like more rigidity in the rear, however, that would compromise the ride comfort. The riding skills are perfectly tuned to the type of frame, with no input cornering fast, but very gradual and safe. Excellent stability at high speeds and on bumpy where the control of the bike is perfect and good driving safety. You lose a bit performance in the entry speed cornering or rapid changes of direction, compared to other competitors, but gains in steering precision and stability on rough, high speed and driving safety under all conditions. The general nature of the bike, then, and its benefits tend to prefer the comfort and driving safety by creating a perfect mix of quality for those who want a bike safely and with good qualities of comfort over long distances on uneven and generally without forgetting, however positive performances. A bike, so framed that its intended use has obvious flaws; going to try the "hair in the egg" however, we can note a very not low weight and lack of pedals, but the list price at which is proposed it is impossible to put two lighter wheels or pedals.

Performance measured with the Polar CS 600 Power

Explanation of why the test:

We decided to use the instrumentation Polar CS 600 Power to analyze the performance of the bike. Other tools we can indicate the values of stiffness of a frame, important information, of course, but they say little about the overall goodness of bike enthusiast will go to buy and its real value for money. It 'clear, in fact, that is not just a bike frame, but also components which are assembled and which determines the overall performance. With the Polar CS 600 Power we know how many watts the athlete must develop to go at a speed X. The more rigid the chassis will be the best crankset, wheels good, other parts are good, so the lower the power requirement to reach that speed X, the better the goodness of the bike as a whole. However, a great chassis, but with components on top, may have the worst outcome of a chassis assembly of medium range but with good components. We evaluate then the bike as a whole, as well as buy from the dealer, not a single element of it, even if important. The Power Polar CS 600 is also the only instrument that detects the power generated without replacing crank or rear wheel.

The completion of the test:

installed and calibrated properly, the CS 600 Power, the athlete has come a perfectly flat stretch of road and in excellent condition, no wind and other interference. The athlete has run several sections the first 30 km/h constant, then 40 km/h and finally constant at 50 km/h constant, always with the longer available gear. These powers needed to maintain the speed:

30 km/h 200 Watts

40 km/h 295 Watts

50 km/h 475 Watts

The commentary to the test instrument

The benefits identified in testing had confirmed the impressions on the road. The bike is able to convey well the power generated by the athlete to the rear wheel at medium speed, those most commonly used. At 30 and 40 km/h away by competitors with more rigid frame is small and uncomfortable, and began growing only at 50 km/h, always very short values. The great comfort of the frame, on the other hand, so it's clearly going to affect performance, especially at the speeds most commonly used by amateurs. Whereas, even the purchase price and the resulting type of assembly performance emerged seem more than good and no doubt due to good design of the frame.

Positive aspects

Build quality

Scalability and quality brake 4ZA

Comfort on long runs on uneven

Value for money

Qualities and ease of driving

Stability and security at high speeds and on rough

Negative aspects

Weight is not much content

Pedals not included

Prices

The bike being tested has a list price of 1,995 euros. Considering the mark Ridley and its proper assessment on the used market, price is very competitive and commensurate with the quality of the product and catalogue Ridley. For fans of the brand, but not only, it is a bargain. Other companies with strong brand more or less equivalent likewise propose a bike assembled at higher prices and even keep out the "brand" one can not find models with better value for money, a good occasion then.

Read more:

Ridley

Website: www.ridley-bikes.com

Tests carried out in collaboration with: Polar