im now looking at a ridley as a possibility from another LMS. im basically shopping for in stock 06's that the lBS's are interesteind in offloading at decent prices.

anyone have opinions on these 2 brands based on :
performance (i know ridley has 3 and felt only 1 cross bike)
reputation on service?
rides on either?
other???

also- i hear the ridleys are made in taiwan but say they're from belgum...truth in advertising? does it matter??

How many World cup races, Super Prestige races, or world champs have been won on a Felt? That's what I thought.
Ridley's reputation for cross bikes is surpassed by very few. If the question was Felt or Giant then you may have a tough choice. But I think that this is a fairly easy decision.

And like almost ALL euro bike brands that are "supposedly" made in Belgium, Italy, or France, the frames are welded in Taiwan and painted and finished in Belgium. Therefore they are "made in Belgium". It's sketchy, but 95% of companies do that.

I'd get a Ridley over a felt if it fits you. I just got an Orbea however and love it. I was able to get cusom geo. for my odd body demensions. Ridley's sizing can be funny, but the are awesome frames.

On the building thing... What is really the difference between a Belgium welder and an Tiawanese welder? I just hear that all the time. I know my frame was welded in Spain, but really, I'm sure the Spanish welder is just like the Tiawanese welder. My frames welds are nothing specatacular, but then again, it's not a custom steel or ti bike and it doesn't have that price tag either.

Just a thought....

Oh, and forgive my spelling of Tiawanese, I can't sp worth a hoot...

thanks for the replies and i can see what your saying about the "made in" claims....when they are all made in asia whats the big deal really.

but... im a mtb rider by trade that only buys made in the us steel for the most part....guilty of a giant nrs air a few years back. so my preference is to buy from the high end custom shops....then again...this is not a bike i want to drop 2k-3k+ on.

im going to hop to the lbs to look at the ridley builds and see what they have to offer.

thanks again.

Ridley frames have a 'weird' fit to them. They are tall, with a high bb. If you have short legs relative to your torso, forget it. Felts are nice bikes, there are plenty others that deliver a similar package too, but if you have short legs and your choice is limited to Felt and Ridley, go Felt.

Ignore the World Cup argument. Wellens and Vercken win on Ridleys because that is what they are paid to ride. They could just as easily win on a Felt, or an Empella, or a Specialized, etc...

they could whoop most our arses on a K-mart special... I wanted a Ridley, but the 56 was way too tall, and the 54 was too short. That's why I went with the Orbea, I could go custom. If you're a steel person, ck out Hot Tubes. That's what I had planned on, but my LBS was able to get me a deal on the ORBEA. Steel is sweet!!!

Pretty sure Orbeas are "assembled in spain" and made in Taiwan, but with all the high end bikes Taiwan puts together you'd think they might be better at it than the Spanish?

Between a Ridley and a Felt, assuming they both fit etc., I'd go with the bike that has the best parts specs. Felt makes a very nice cross bike and Ridley makes a pretty good to amazing cross bike, depending on the cost.


*may only be true for carbon Orbeas

only six weeks to get a custom frame, so to me it seems as though it would've been done in Spain, or that was some quick shipping around the world and it came from Spain. I agree though, I would think alot are welded over seas. I was pretty shocked I could get a custom geometry frame that quick.

If you are going to spend over $1000 on the frame take a look at www.sycip.com It is funny how many people drop alot of cash for a stock frame when for the same price they could get one that is custom to their needs. I have an Easton Ultra Light tubed Cyclocross frame from Jeremy on it's way as we speak and can't wait. ($1600) Enjoy and Good luck. With custom US builders you know it's made here and your money stays in your hood.

I have a Ridley Crosswind that was made in Italy of US made Easton superlight tubing and finished in Belgium. I also have a Ridley Supercross that is made of Easton Scandium in the US. They both seem pretty well made but are not exactly works of art. I was talking to the guy who owns Quattro Assi a couple of years ago and he said that the welding coming out of Taiwan is consistently much better now than Italy or Europe in general.

The bikes both have very short top tubes relative to the standover height and the high BB makes sizing tricky. I am 6'1" and have relativley long legs and I ride a 56. for comparisom, My Trek madone measured center to top is a 60. I have a vintage Waterford built Paramount that is 61 center to top and has a shortish 58.5 top tube. Stand over is very nearly the same for all 3 but the cross bikes are much shorter up top which I like because I don't want to be too stretched out in cross. But is does take some getting used to coming off the road bike.

John

Why Ridley have so long seat tubes and short top tubes I believe is that it's easier to run with it on your shoulder andto get your arm through. Empella has similar geometry. Both brands are from the Benelux countrys where cyclocross is as it should be. (:

Don't take this as gospel, but word-of-mouth 'round here for Ridley CX frames says take your "standard" road size, lop off 4cm (ish), and that's your Ridley CX size.