Flight Ti - £2299.99
The inclusion of mudguard and rack fittings adds commuter practicality to these exciting bikes.
NewsInformation, advice and comment
The Countdown has started! With a little over two weeks until the off, it’s nearing the time where each of the riders finds out if all the preparation & training has paid off.
Kyle’s experience of the build-up, gives an enlightening idea into just how tough you’ve got to be to even consider attempting such a feat.
“ The last few months have been some of the more stressful of my life (with my hairline jumping off the top of my head for fun!) That said; I would not change any of the major points for the world. I became a daddy for the first time, I get married this weekend also for the first time and we also move in to our first family home just short of the race day. All the other riders think I am off my head to be taking all this on as well as the extremely time consuming task of planning a Circumnavigation World Record bid.
Over the past few months I’ve had to train, plan routes, apply for Visa’s, secure rather large fanatical sponsors, prepare websites, monitor social networking sites, write blogs, ensure adequate media coverage, liaise with sponsors and charity’s to promote all involved in the event, research the areas you will visit in depth so you have an idea of how to prepare, get all vaccines to cover against threats and that’s just a brief idea of what you have to consider. In my honest opinion you do not need to be a top athlete or an expert on bicycle maintenance or even have an extensive knowledge on touring (although these things help) all you need is time and lots of it, HARD WORK and lots more of it and a desire to even make it to the start line.
Training has been going well, having spent many hours in the Gym with and without my personal trainer, many more hours in the saddle of both the Ridgeback Horizon (my old friend) and the new World Panorama (we have a long way to go). I have clocked up thousands of miles in the month of December on the Turbo Trainer and by turning my training into promotional and fundraising events. The key for me over the past months has been to mix it up, cycle everywhere but include other training methods in my plans; I have spent much time in the pool and even took on a running challenge or two (and for me running is a no-no).
Media coverage has gone well, although unfortunately I had to walk away from a few offers to blog for local media sites simply due to not having enough time in the day. I had several large articles in both local Aberdeen papers as well as the STV local and the Aberdeen Voice , I have had coverage by the local radio stations and just this week we filmed for the ITV morning show Day Break (aired Jan 19th).
At the start of December I met with Mr Mark Beaumont (a former Round the World Record holder) in Dundee after he offered his time during his busy prep for the Atlantic Odyssey trip to help me out, as the only Scot in the race Mark got in touch to offer his support and ask if there was anything he could do to help me bring the record back to Scotland. I think knowing he will be watching me will be a tremendous help on its own. We filmed a great wee promotional Video with Tom Joy Photography”
Kyle Hewitt
Kyle Hewitt – Inspired2Inspire – Winter Training from Tom Joy on Vimeo.
For more info Kyle’s Epic Adventure visit:
Inspired2Inspire
Kyle and all his competitors can be tracked all the way at World Cycle Racing
• ALL IMAGES TAKEN BY Tom Joy Photography
So, this weekend I went out for my first ride of the New Year. It was the first time I’d had a chance to take my new Ridgeback Radium road bike out for a try. It was quite a different riding experience from the upright hybrid bike that I had been riding previously and I knew it would take a bit of getting used to. After making a few adjustments, I found that it was a lot more comfortable than I’d expected. The thin tyres aren’t as scary as I’d thought either. The ride is very smooth, and I found that changing gear was easy once I got my head around how they worked! (I never had gears on my bikes as a child.)
Once it was all set up, off I went. I’ve been a bit lazy until now and have always chosen the easy routes (by this, read flat). Today though I added a gentle slope and felt very proud of myself when I reached the top, even if I was puffing! I rewarded myself with a drink of water before setting off again, only to turn the corner and see another, less gentle, slope heading off in front of me! I did make an attempt at it but, I have to admit, it was a bit much for me on my first ride, so I turned around and headed back the way I came. And here is what surprised me the most – going downhill was a lot more difficult for me than going up! Not in terms of effort – of course I could just freewheel down picking up more and more speed as I went, but, at the end of the day, I’m a bit of a wimp! The riding position of a road bike means I’m leaning forward so that downhill feels even steeper! So, instead I managed to go down at snails pace, hands gripping the brakes and with one foot hovering protectively above the ground, until the road levelled out and I could go back pedalling on my way. Ok, so I think a little more practise will be needed…
It was a fantastic opportunity for us to display many of our current 2012 models and the new additions due on sale shortly. Over the 4 days we had the pleasure of meeting both existing Ridgeback owners and those new to cycling alike.
For those still looking to make a decision on your next purchase then the local Ridgeback Dealer’s in your area will be well placed to discuss your individual requirements and get you underway. If your not sure where your nearest dealer is then visit our Dealer Finder.
The cold weather was no reason to stay in this weekend… In fact it was the perfect oppurtunity to take the Cerium out on the Club run – kitted up with Disc Brakes, mudguards and a plush ride courtesy of its 28c Conti Contacts.
In fact it seemed better suited to these conditions than at any other point during the year as those on Carbon Frames and narrow 23 & 25c tyres tiptoed around.
Riding with the guys from VC10 we took a picturesque trip out through the lanes of the Aylesbury Vale via Waddesdon Manor then on to the village of Stony Stratford before looping back round the Vale as we headed towards every club riders favourite stopping point. Being the first truly fresh ride of the Winter a welcome stop came in the guise of ‘Little Italy’, a rider friendly Cafe in the village of Haddenham.
Following a brew, cake and a brief thaw out it was a swift ride for home.
80miles on the clock, a great day out in the countryside ….. and a justifiable excuse for raiding the fridge!
Have you ever pondered what you’d build a Flight Ti Frameset into ….
When one of the guys from the Shimano/PRO product team at Madison mentioned he was putting together a Flight Ti Winter Bike we knew it was likely to be something a little special.
And he didn’t disappoint!! White PRO Stealth Evo Bars, PRO Seatpin and Colour matched San Marco SKN Saddle take care of the contact points. But the combination of Ultegra Chainset and Derailleurs, mated to Shimano XTR hubs, and Handbuilt wheels shod with Conti Cyclocross rubber are the highlights for me. Fitting a Steel Disc compatible fork shows that there’s every intention of riding this throughout the Winter, whatever the conditions, and not just on the Tarmac!
By the very nature of Ti, you can ride it year round in the knowledge that the salted winter roads are not making a bid to eat away at it.
To start your bespoke Flight Build then see our Flight Ti Framesets .
If this route is not for you, we’ve taken away the hassle of choosing parts and offer the Flight Ti as a Factory Built bike, for further details click here
Proving just how robust Ridgeback kids bikes are … 5 year old Daniel puts an MX14 to good use, whilst riding at Trail centres with his Dad Dave
It’s always interesting to see what a Cyclist is prepared to put themselves through.. But when Kyle Hewitt appeared on the radar we were more than happy to offer assistance.
Already the owner of his own trusty Ridgeback Horizon, Kyle has already completed the ‘Lands End to John O’Groats. But his new Challenge is on an entirely different level.
In February 2012 Kyle will be leaving his Family and Friends to embark on the ‘Global Bike Race’. Organised by current Round the World Record holder Vin Cox, it is quite simply a Race around the World! The race begins on Feb 18th in London 160 days prior to the start of the Olympic Games. This means that all being well the winner of the 18,000mile+ race will arrive back in London just before the start of the Games, hopefully taking the World Record as the prize.
Kyle’s not only attempting to Break the Record, but is doing this for Charity, aiming to raise £20,000 for Inspire and Barnardo’s.
To be eligible for the Record each entrant must provide full logs, witness statements and check in at specific destinations along their route. Kyle’s provisional journey will take him through France, Italy, Greece and Turkey, across the Northern borders of India as he heads on to Thailand and Singapore. From here it’s a flight to Western Australia. He’ll then be back on the bike to cross the entire width of Australia, New Zealand and then the USA. The final leg which in the grand scheme of things is short! Will still require Kyle to pedal his way up through Spain and France before being welcomed home into the UK.
Ridgeback will be supporting Kyle’s bid with a 2012 ‘World Panorama’, a bike which already holds the World Record for crossing the Sahara Desert, and has completed the Tropic of Cancer Challenge a ride of some 8295miles. So we’re confident that Panorama is the bike of choice for carrying Kyle and all the kit that’s required through some of the remotest places on the planet.
With only 4 months until the off, Kyle’s hard in training, both on and off the bike. It takes a great level of fitness and determination to overcome a challenge of this proportion and Sport Aberdeen have offered their facilities to allow Kyle to get as many hours in the gym as he can handle.
“I am grateful to Sport Aberdeen for use of their facility’s for winter training, but my biggest shout must go to Colleen Duncan from Principia Fitness, http://www.personaltraineraberdeen.co.uk/ the driving force behind my core fitness and dietary needs, and to Tom Joy http://www.tomjoy.co.uk for all the quality shots in Gym and locations around Aberdeen.
I’ve been fortunate enough to be riding the new Ridgeback Cerium as my Commuting machine, and it’s likely to be doing some serious mileage throughout the year, as the days I ride to work are either a 45 or a 60 mile round trip.
If I’m really lucky then I’ll be dragging my laptop & various work attire along for the ride too… So aside from its standard specification the only items I’ve added are a Pannier rack and some Shimano SPD pedals. For the Rack I’ve opted for an M:Part Ridge , a disc brake specific Rack with ample clearance of the Calliper, and Mudguard. Happily the M:Part rack is available in stealth Matt Black to match the looks of the bike.
Being all too conscious of the nights now drawing in lights are a must. I always run 2 on the rear, purely as a precaution. The main light being the Light and Motion Vis180 which at 35 lumens, is roughly 10x the light from a run of the mill 2xAA powered rear light!! I also have a Blackburn Flea clipped to me or the bike as a 2nd light, the flea is a great light in its own right, and sits charging from the laptop during the day so there’s no need to worry about replacing batteries in either unit.
The much criticised condition of our Road surfaces seems to be less of an issue on the Cerium than it does on most other 700C wheeled bikes, the 28C Continental Contacts simply soak up uneven, cut-up, worn out surfaces. Admittedly you compromise some top end speed, but I’m no longer being bounced all over the bike, or more importantly bounced all over the road!.
Although I’m a Road Cyclist, with a bizarre attraction to Time Trials, my priorities have changed when it comes to Commuting to work; where once I would snub the idea of riding a Compact let alone a 32t cassette, I’m now appreciative of having a Do-it-all bike, that has enough gears for those days where the energy and enthusiasm has been worn off, allowing you simply twiddle your way up any hill in your path, with a load onboard.
As for the SKS full length guards that come as standard, I can guarantee I’ll be grateful of those in the coming months.
Chris
Colleague Oli Collins is never shy of a challenge, particularly if it involves Cycling. Everything from London to Brighton, a club time trial or a 6 hour Endurance MTB race. But this Summer Oli and his Brother Matt decided they’d take a pair of Ridgeback Flights Coast-to-Coast along ‘The Way of the Roses’
The Nation Cycle Network route runs 274km, starting in Morecombe, via The Forest of Bowland, Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Yorkshire Wolds, and for those that enjoy a little Architecture the Historic Cities of Lancaster & York, before finishing in the Coastal Town of Bridlington.
In a bid to enjoy the experience they split the journey into 3 legs, carrying everything they would need in their Pannier Bags. A short 8km ride from the Train station to the start point in Morecombe offered the warm up to the first days ride, 82km to Grassington. By far the hilliest of the 3 days takes in 911metres of climbing, and some Technical Road descents, through stunning landscapes. An overnight stop to re-fuel and get a good night’s sleep at a local B&B.
Day Two’s section of the route gets the climbing out the way early before flattening out. Clocking up a further 80km to take them into the City of York for a spot of sight-seeing, a hearty meal and a taste of the local Ale, before getting their heads down at a Friends.
The Third and final Day was the longest in terms of distance ridden at 112km, but is also the flattest section of the route, as it makes its way from York to Bridlington. Route completed, just a gentle coastal ride home to Filey to go!.
The loaded up Flights kept the guys riding in comfort for the 3 day journey, easily capable of handling the Blackburn Panniers , for a little practicality and comfort they were kitted up with SKS Mudguards, some aftermarket bar ends to give them an extra hand position, but the bikes were otherwise standard.
Technically designed as a fast Commuter, it just goes to show how versatile this model is, the offering of Disc Brakes was a welcome feature particularly on the descents.
For 2012 the addition of the Ridgeback Cerium takes just these points into consideration combining the best features of Road, Flight and World categories and putting them into practice: NEW Ridgeback Cerium
For the more able and adventurous of youngsters 2012 will see the introduction of 12″ Boys and Girls bikes. The 12″ bike will give an alternative to our Scoot range of Balance Bikes. A light Aluminium Frame that allows the child to lift and handle their bike with ease, Fitted with Stabiliers and Front/Rear Brakes enabling the child to take control. The perfect start to riding a bike.
