Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Noah FAST - The Winner of Expo-Bici Technical Award 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Visit our booth on location A3-700 at Eurobike and discover the new Ridley range.
Meet the Tour de France hero, Johnny Hoogerland, and hear his stories on the battle for the mountain jersey. Autograph session at the Ridley booth on Wednesday, August 31st from 11.30 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 14.00.
American racer, Liz Hatch, will be signing autographs at the Ridley/4ZA components booth on Wednesday, August 31st from 11.00 to 12.00 and from 15.00 to 16.00 and Thursday, September 1st from 12.30 to 14.00.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
FAST Noah @ Bike Dealer Camp 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Hello from Budapest!
Our best male athlete is Top 3 overall in Hungarian Longdistance Championship. Of course, he rides a Dean."
Sunday, June 26, 2011
FAST-CONCEPT LAUNCHED!
Thursday afternoon, at 1.30pm, the Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling team presented its selection of riders that will go to the Tour de France 2011. Following riders will conquer 3430 kilometers on their way to the ‘Grand Finale’ at the Champs Elysees: Bjorn Leukemans, Thomas De Gendt, Wout Poels, Lieuwe Westra, Johnny Hoogerland, Borut Bozic,Marco Marcato, Romain Feillu, Rob Ruijgh.
The presentation took place at Ridley Bikes HQ and at Circuit Zolder, and included the launch of Ridley’s new aerodynamic technology, the Fast-concept. This groundbreaking technology will first belaunched on Ridley’s ‘Noah FB’ bike, the first road bike ever that will have a fully integrated carbon brake! A prototype of this revolutionary bike will be ridden by the riders of the Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling team during certain stages of the Tour de France.
What makes this bike so revolutionary? Ridley’s Fast-concept !
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Jochim Aerts, CEO Ridley Bikes, elected young entrepreneur of the year
The prestigious trophy was awarded during the closing gala at Technopolis in Mechelen to the CEO of Ridley Bikes, the renowned bicycle manufacturer from Paal-Beringen. In this final round Ridley Bikes defeated Massive Media, a media group including Netlog.
The innovation, research and development at Ridley Bikes was particularly appreciated by the JCI jury. The international breakthrough of Ridley Bikes over the last years was also a decisive factor for this award winning victory. For Ridley Bikes, manufacturer of high-and aerodynamic racing bikes, the award is a confirmation for the hard work of the past 20 years. Jochim Aerts was obviously very excited and proud with this victory.
Jochim Aerts: "This trophy is obviously a team effort of which I am particularly proud of."
This victory will give Jochim Aerts the opportunity to compete with young entrepreneurs worldwide in the JCI World Congress in November 2011.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Sohrabi leads in UCI race wins
Following a busy early season, where the Tabriz Petrochemical Team won the UCI Asia Tour's Tour of Thailand, Tour of Taiwan and Jelajah Malaysia the squad will line up for a May double billing on home turf; The International Tour of Azerbaijan and the International Presidency Tour.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
My Ronde story
My Ronde story is as simple as memorable; especially that coincidentally it happened exactly on my Birthday date. It started few months before, from a simple question of my boss: “Hey Iulian, why don’t you come over to Belgium and join us on the Tour of Flanders?”
While I was thinking about a response on that question, a stock of special Excalibur edition (painted in the new Team Replica design) has been built in the meantime, designated for pure Flemish races. And I didn’t realize when I arrived in Belgium - after visiting our Polish distributor - the great event was just around the corner. Despite the fact I really didn’t know what to expect from a Classic spring course, full of cobblestoned climbs, I could only sign up for this, especially after Jo told me: “When you’ll finish this course – you’ll become a real Flandrien”. What can be more motivating?!
However I still was not realizing what I signed for until we arrived at the starting point on Saturday morning, 2nd of April, the morning when I just turned 27. But when I saw the huge crowds of cyclist and spectators I start liking the “party” I was going to have J.
We were a big group of workmates from Ridley and from 4ZA, as well as many journalists and customers - visiting us - from all over the world. We split in two groups, those like me – riding for the first time on Ronde and eager to have more fun rather than sportive performance – we took 75km, and those who were well trained and wanted to go against the time, they took 140km. As an amateur rider, I don’t cycle very often (not as much as I want), and 75km would become the longest distance I ever made. However I was relaxed and confident due to my lightweight Excalibur, equipped with a compact crank (thank goodness!).
I don’t know exactly how many participants were riding, but I saw registration numbers above 22.000 – amazing isn’t? Me personally, I was registered with number 14549. Probably this is also the number of how many times I asked myself while climbing step hills: “What am I doing here on my B-day, while I could stay very relaxed at home and receive nice greetings from all my friends?” And the answer was the same every time: “You are riding on Ronde Iulian – it’s the best gift you could ever make to yourself. Shut up and keep pushing!” And so I did J.
Actually the ride was not only about pushing. It has many sections where you can simply enjoy the surroundings, feel the breeze, get in different groups, and even meet and communicate with new people from different countries while riding. For me it was also exciting the feeling that I’m riding on exactly the same course as the Pros. And when you know on your own skin how tough can be certain climb, or pave section, or difficult turn, it makes the official race being much more interesting to follow.
I must confess though how “surprised” I was when I hit the first pave section – man was it tough.
Big and rare cobblestones: worst combination. I also noticed if I slow down, my wheels can easily get caught between the stones. I totally lost the feeling that I’m controlling the bike, and I start asking myself if I didn’t turn wrong somewhere before this?! J Anyway, a crash on the stones was not an option for me (especially on my B-day), and fortunately, the bike knew very well how to act on pave, and it behaved really strength. When I realized that, I just put the foot on the gas and we managed to pass successfully the pave. I was so happy being back on flat, and honestly a little bit proud after facing the Flemish character of the Ronde. It was a good lesson for the rest of race, and also the chemistry between me and my bike went up to 100%.
The rest of race was in the same style, testing my legs and my endurance. Of course other surprises like brutal side winds ready to take you away, was also part of the course. But no problem for Excalibur, with its classic round tube shapes, which can handle that easily.
After all, the closer I was getting to finish line the happier I was. The fatigue and tough tests were in past, and I could only think about a well-deserved Belgium beer at the finish. And I could see the same expression on everybody’s faces. Finally when I finished with a big smile on my face and with unbelievable impressions, I went to registration booth to give back my badge with starting-number, and to claim my 5euros for that. But those guys offered me another option instead: a T-shirt with Ronde’s pave logo and “Original Flandrien” inscription. Obviously I took the T-shirt (which I proudly wear now). And I know behind that inscription there is something true J
I enjoyed my beer and I felt just fulfilled. Wow, what a great race, what a great bike, what a great sunny day…what a great B-day!
And now, I can tell you for sure, Tour of Flanders is not famous, it’s just a rumor – until you don’t ride it!
ps: next year’s goal: 140km J
Cheers,
Iulian
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Writing Ridley's fairytale story in Limburg
Monday, March 28, 2011
Oak Bay Bicycle's womens team riding Ridley Asterias
Congratulations Jochim - CEO of Ridley Bikes, elected Limburg young entrepreneur of the year!
Eibegger wins 2011 Tour de Taiwan
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Eibegger takes over Yellow Jersey in Taiwan
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Sohrabi puts on Yellow Jersey in Taiwan
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sohrabi wins Jelajah Tour of Malaysia
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Double Yellow
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
UCI Asia Tour 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
February Racing and trade showing
The Ridley supported Iranian team secured two gold medals with Rajablou on the Arena in the Points Race and Kolahdooz riding the Dean in the Junior Individual Time Trial. Additionally Rajablou placed second in the Madison also aboard the Arena and Asgari received a pair of Bronze medals in the Road Race and the Individual Time Trial.
Tour of Kerman
At the first international tour of 2011 in Iran - Tour of Kerma - Mehdi Sohrabi of the Ridley sponsored TPI team aboard his Noah managed to win all 5 stages of the tour and of course the yellow Jersey - a 1st in the Iranian tour history! The Green Jersey was won by TPI teammate Hossein Nateghi also on his Noah
QBP Frostbike
Monday, January 31, 2011
Cyclocross World Champs
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Tested on Pavé kaohsiung style
For the past 5 days we have been traveling around Asia. During our stop today we passed by a cool bike shop in Kaohsiung city in Taiwan.
Our distributor La Bici has done a great job with the shop owner and really nailed the decoration.
The tested on Pavé neon sign is so cool :)
Thanks to you all you riders supporting Ridley around the globe. It for you that we continuously strive to improve our frames, make nice designs...
Pedal hard, ride fast!
cheers
Yannick
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Vacansoleil Team Presentation
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Where heroes are born and legends are made
For some 2010 has been wonderful, for others a year with ups and downs. One thing is for sure 2011 is destined to be good! So let’s put our shoulders under it and blast off.
I’ve made my new year’s resolutions, but better to keep them for myself since they tend not to come true when I pronounce them out loud :p
Last Wednesday me and some friends went out for a MTB ride at Kluisbergen. What’s the big deal you would think? It’s “flat”, it was cold, snow & mud… well when driving over I recalled myself the hours I spent riding these roads.
The small, narrow, crappy concrete roads making my way to the hills nearby. Hills I disliked, hills I had to do several times during that training. At the time I did not feel the myth, only wind and leg cramps…
Coming back to these training grounds made me think of the great races that pass there every year, the thousands of people cheering, yelling. On these hills and pave sections the finale of the tour the Flanders starts, this is where they throw the first card on the table and men are separated from the boys.
During training camp of the Vacansoleil-DCM team I asked Stijn Devolder “aren’t you tires of riding those roads over and over again??” “Nah, are you crazy, there is nothing I love more than riding these races”
When struggling your way up the Oude - Kwaremont/Paterberg/… ,even on a mountainbike, I have to admit having a big grin on the face. Being able to shift that one gear up, quicken the pedal stroke and gently squeeze the force out of your competitors on these cobbles…
This mythical place will once again be the playground for those 2wheeled gladiators in spring.
Till next time!
Yannick