Ridley X-Fire
#1
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Ridley X-Fire
Well I’ve been pondering a cross bike for a while especially since I’m not able to afford the gravel bike I want. I imagine I can do some under biking on gravel with this till I can afford a gravel specific rig.
Used but excellent condition Ridley X -Fire with 2 sets of wheels the Neuvation Aero wheels and a set of Fulcrum Racing 5 wheels . Both sets are 20/24 spoked so I will probably get rid of the wheels and get some 32 spoke wheels or some 36 spoke everything else seems ok . I’ll end up needing new cables , chin cassette etc .
Theres no damage to the carbon so I’ll re use everything I can and make It my gravel bike for now .
#2
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They definitely make sure you know its a Ridley!
Neat decision- get what you can for now and change later(if you even end up wanting to). Whats the tire clearance and how old is the bike?
Neat decision- get what you can for now and change later(if you even end up wanting to). Whats the tire clearance and how old is the bike?
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Nice!
Cross bikes are great for mixed road & gravel. If your heart is set on doing 200 gravel only miles in a day (in a straight line), or bombing down loose gravel hills at high speed – there may be better bikes. But other than that, cross is great (assuming you can get the tires you need on there).
Ridley is good stuff. Congrats!
Cross bikes are great for mixed road & gravel. If your heart is set on doing 200 gravel only miles in a day (in a straight line), or bombing down loose gravel hills at high speed – there may be better bikes. But other than that, cross is great (assuming you can get the tires you need on there).
Ridley is good stuff. Congrats!
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Yeah Ridley is a good brand but they are a very traditional European CX brand, which means you probably aren't going to be able to fit much more than 35s in there, I'm guessing.
As far as CX geo on gravel, I've been riding CX on gravel for years. You get used to it. Yes, I would like a bike with a slightly longer wheelbase and lower BB for stability, but that's a "want to have" more than a "need to have" for me.
As far as CX geo on gravel, I've been riding CX on gravel for years. You get used to it. Yes, I would like a bike with a slightly longer wheelbase and lower BB for stability, but that's a "want to have" more than a "need to have" for me.
#6
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i will end up ordering some gravel king 700x35’s. As I got through the bike and give it an overhaul
Last edited by SamSpade1941; 07-29-19 at 10:14 AM.
#7
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Nice!
Cross bikes are great for mixed road & gravel. If your heart is set on doing 200 gravel only miles in a day (in a straight line), or bombing down loose gravel hills at high speed – there may be better bikes. But other than that, cross is great (assuming you can get the tires you need on there).
Ridley is good stuff. Congrats!
Cross bikes are great for mixed road & gravel. If your heart is set on doing 200 gravel only miles in a day (in a straight line), or bombing down loose gravel hills at high speed – there may be better bikes. But other than that, cross is great (assuming you can get the tires you need on there).
Ridley is good stuff. Congrats!
Thanks I appreciate it , the deal was too good to pass up and froma what I had read the Ridley is a really tough bike and I wanted something durable .
#8
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Yeah Ridley is a good brand but they are a very traditional European CX brand, which means you probably aren't going to be able to fit much more than 35s in there, I'm guessing.
As far as CX geo on gravel, I've been riding CX on gravel for years. You get used to it. Yes, I would like a bike with a slightly longer wheelbase and lower BB for stability, but that's a "want to have" more than a "need to have" for me.
As far as CX geo on gravel, I've been riding CX on gravel for years. You get used to it. Yes, I would like a bike with a slightly longer wheelbase and lower BB for stability, but that's a "want to have" more than a "need to have" for me.
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#9
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I would keep the better of those wheels for road riding or spare set with other kind of tread on them. I keep one set for my aggressive cx tires and the other with filetreads for gravel.
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I had an alloy Ridley cx bike a while ago and it took 40mm tires well. I moved on to something else eventually because I preferred a frame with a greater bb drop for the riding I do.
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I had a set of Fulcrum Racing 7s. Indestructible. Keep the 5s until you actually need to replace them - which might be never.
#12
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That is good to know, I am bit hesitant to keep and use them since they are 20/24 and I am big enough that I don't feel comfortable on wheels that do not have 32 or 36 spokes. By that same token I do not hop curbs or jump things with my bikes , so I may keep it in mind, and attempt to run them.
#13
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From what I have read of the X-Fire MOD III which is this model ... It will accommodate 40mm tires , so I may be getting a set of 38 or 40 mm panaracers to run.
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That is good to know, I am bit hesitant to keep and use them since they are 20/24 and I am big enough that I don't feel comfortable on wheels that do not have 32 or 36 spokes. By that same token I do not hop curbs or jump things with my bikes , so I may keep it in mind, and attempt to run them.
I used to have a GT Grade, it came with lousy wheels. They had 32 spokes but we're make by angry drunk children who hate cyclists, apparently. I kept breaking spokes until on one ride 6 or more of them broke. I took an Uber home with my bike, the shop warrantied the wheel, and the replacement was just as bad. That made me really nervous on dirt roads too many miles from cell coverage, and I bought the strongest wheels I could get after that experience - 24 spokes, still wonderful after 2 or 3 years.
The aweful wheels I had, a shop told me they were the cheapest spokes available. I think the quality of the parts and if the build is more important then spoke count. But I'm basing that on extreme cases.
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Yea, I was thinking for a road set so you could use it for N+1 where you wouldn't need it to be super strong. always good to have a second set. GF has a Ridley and really likes it so have fun with it.
#17
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