Ridley

Fenix C Disc Ultegra Complete Road Bike - 2017

The 2017 Ridley Fenix C Disc Ultegra Complete Road Bike retains the sharp lines, straight top tube, and carbon construction of its non-disc sibling to pair race-worthy speed with the power of disc brakes for those of us not restricted by international sporting governance and equipment guidelines. Best categorized as an endurance race steed and finished with Shimano's well-respected Ultegra 6800 drivetrain, the Fenix C Disc strikes the perfect balance of stiff responsiveness, long mile comfort, and low weight, making it an appropriate choice for gran fondo double centuries, local road races, and even the occasional criterium should you be so inclined.

Instead of the Fenix SL's blend of 30 and 24t carbon, the standard Fenix features a layup of 100% 24t unidirectional carbon. Since the material used isn't as stiff, the 24t-only frame requires more material to hit target responsiveness for a claimed weight gain of around 170g in size medium. Potholes, cobblestones, and other road hazards are all still as smooth as crosswalk paint on the Fenix Disc, and the oversized bottom bracket and burly chainstays mean comfort doesn't come at the cost of efficiency. If you do ever get tired of wantonly plowing over obstacles, the stiff, tapered head tube nets sharp handling to dodge through debris with ease.

If recent trends are any indication, disc brakes are the future of road cycling. This prognosis is based on their ability to accurately modulate braking force over five times the power range of standard rim brakes, so instead of going from light feathering to locking up, they allow precise control over the pressure applied. They also catch virtually immediately, even in wet or dirty conditions that would force rim brakes to complete an entire debris-clearing revolution before grabbing the brake track—exactly the kind of reliability you'll want whether racing the Belgian classics or hammering through spring intervals on your own local loops. Though the integrated brake/shifter levers and brake calipers on Fenix Carbon aren't labeled Ultegra, they're virtually the same as Shimano's 6800 levers with the addition of hydraulic functionality.