Ridley Compact from CC
 

I was dead set on buying a CAAD9-5 when I ran across this bike on CC:

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/ro...bike-6676.html

Anyone have any experience with the Ridley Compact? I've never really heard much about this bike, so I can't decide if it's a good deal or not. How would this bike compare to the CAAD9? Keep in mind that I'm currently training, and will begin to race collegiality within a year.

Furthermore, I used the CC fit calculator, and these were my results:

Measurements
-------------------------------------------
Inseam: 29
Trunk: 20
Forearm: 12
Arm: 23
Thigh: 20
Lower Leg: 19.5
Sternal Notch: 55
Total Body Height: 66


The Competitive Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 47.7 - 48.2
Seat tube range c-t: 49.2 - 49.7
Top tube length: 50.1 - 50.5
Stem Length: 9.2 - 9.8
BB-Saddle Position: 70.0 - 72.0
Saddle-Handlebar: 44.4 - 45.0
Saddle Setback: 0.6 - 1.0

My top tube length seems to be smaller than the tt length on the small sized Ridley.

Could this be assuaged in anyway? Maybe switching to a shorter stem?

You have a 12" forearm but only a 7" upper arm? :lol:

Remeasuring myself, will update in a few minutes.

My friend is an idiot.

Edit: OP fixed

That is a downright wicked deal.

That's definitely encouraging. Would you prefer it over the CAAD9? That is, would you say the frame on the Ridley is on par with the legendary CAAD9 frame? Obviously Rival>105.

The only thing that's keeping me from pulling the trigger on this is that I'm concerned about the fit.

so you're 5'6" and a short torso? I am 5'6" and I fit a 53cm top tube with a 90mm stem.

Damn. That's nice.

That's a non-US market frame that came with Campy Veloce in Europe. CC must have gotten a deal on those frame and built them up with Rival.

While other Ridley frames come in XS or XXS with your needed top tube length, the Compact smallest size is "Small" as listed. If your fit numbers are correct a 3cm longer TT than recommended is too big.

Oh, and I'd say that is very vanilla aluminum as their bottom bike. Its subjective to say which one is better, but the CAAD9 is technically a better frame in design, engineering, history, and results.

Based on what? Any actual facts to support that assertion?

not saiyng the ridley is bad but look how many racers choose the caad9 its also been a tdF bike (if you care) the caad's are arguably the best engineered aluminum frames out there...

on that note buy the bike that fits YOU.

Chad

OK, you're right, its actually vanilla bean with chocolate swirl given its 7000 series aluminum and triple butted. So not a plain AL frame. But as I said its subjective. I've owned Cannondales longer than some forum members are old, but I'm a hater now that they are foreign made so I'm not pushing them by any means. If he likes the Ridley better I don't think he'd be unhappy either way.

I made the statement based on the CAAD9 being the culmination of ~27 years of aluminum development with a pedigree of race win after race win, a huge fan base, and great review after great review. So I take that in comparison to an unknown Ridley that he can't test ride first which is also their very bottom road model. (bottom model of a higher end brand, which also knows its stuff too).

Yea, very short torso.

Yea, that's what I was afraid of.

I think it would just be wise to go with a bike I can test ride rather than biting the bullet on a bike I know very little about.

a) Neither Ridley nor Cannondale do any Al development - they are both free to buy whatever grade of Al they need

b) How much of "magic dust" do you think one company has in terms of making an Al frame? Ridley isnt exactly an "unknown" either. Both brands are in the Pro Tour - I think both of them can make pretty good frames.

c) The Compact is about on par with the CAAD9 in terms of price point.

I am not saying the Compact is necessarily a better frame, mind. Just disagreeing with your rationale for *categorically* stating that one is better than the other...

V.

pretty sure he means the development of the aluminum frame...besides Cervelo can you name a "top end" aluminum frame bike? Cannondale has put alot of time/energy/and tech into the caad's

they don't look at it as the cheap entry level bottom feeder bike that MOST companies do.

Chad

Wrong!! Cannondale actually worked with Alcoa to develop the Optimo aluminum when they dropped the 6061 they had used for a long time. They in fact were very involved with the aluminum development and testing. Optimo is actually a proprietary and special 6000 series.

Quote:
"Optimo aluminum was developed in a partnership with Alcoa and was introduced to the market in 2002 with the CAAD7 road frame. The development process of the specific elements of the alloy took over 18 months, and Cannondale has exclusive use of this alloy in the bicycle industry."

They found 7000 series, while light, is too brittle and it failed their torture tests. The Ridley is 7000 series.

That's good to know.

I just finished my Compact build with 2010 Sram Force. I'll have pics up tomorrow. After my first ride and previously owning a CAAD9 and a BMC Streetfire, I can honestly say this is the best aluminum bike ive ever been on in my life

I had a ridley compact a few years ago at it was a sick fast bike, climbed good also. I believe the issue is that the Caaaccaaa90900099000001177 from cannondale got the luck of being in the peloton back in the day. I don't remember seen ridleys before 2002, the other thing nice about some manufacturers like ridley, bmc and kuota is that you can race w/o any problem even with the lower end of bikes they produce. They produce racing bikes and that's what u get.

Meanwhile with other manufacturers if you want something decent u are forced basically to leave all the cheap stuff aside, and go with the last 3 models in the upper tear or u get anything that looked good only. I'm not going to deny that the 2010 line of cannondale rocks big time.

The old ridley compact was using columbus zonal, thats a pretty descent set of tubes, the new ones uses a ridley design that who knows who is manufacturing. The only thing i hate from the new ridley is the darn fork, the old one used a straight fork that made the bike look pretty fast and sxy.

I love ridley if u didnt notice but the good thing about going with one is that u wont be able to see another one down the road for sure. I bet both bikes are pretty similar in the riding feeling but since i doubt i'll try a cannondale anyday soon I can't say anytihng else about the caaaa00003030.

The thing i recommend you with the ridley is to use the virtual length of the frame to pick the sizing. If you use for example a 55 cms in length frame go with the medium probably. The large will be too long, but you are the one that has to figure it out that.

Good luck :)

Waiting for the pictures in here... :)

Hey check out PBK. They have a ton of Cinelli frames that should fit.

so you've never ridden a caad9 but the ridley is amazing heh?

and is it that difficult to type caad or caad9?

biased much lol

Chad

Would love to see pics of the bike!

I'm so torn!

If I were you, I'd dig a bit deeper and get the Ridley Excalibur in carbon that they are selling for $1600 or so with full Rival. That is probably the best deal for a race bike that you will get.

Funnily enough, I am sure that if you ask Ridley or any of the numerous other bike manufacturers who make bikes out of 7xxx Al, they will claim 7xxx is better than 6xxx (Optimo is esential a 6xxx series Al). 7 series can be built up to the highest strengths of any of the Al alloys.

Anyway, while I have 2 Ridleys, I dont care to come off as a Ridley shill (not until they start paying me, anyway), so I'll let this drop. Besides, CAAD9 is a very good bike indeed.

V.