Noah FB
Those of us who gaze longingly at cars like the $400,000 Lamborghini Aventador, with its 12-cylinder engine capable of 217 miles per hour, would, if we were lucky enough to slip behind the steering wheel, likely find ourselves lacking the skills needed to turn the 700-horsepower engine loose, shift through the transmission, and slam on the brakes in a hairpin turn before jumping on the throttle to shoot out the other side. The Ridley Noah FB is the two-wheeled version of that supercar—packed with technology and built to push the limits. But if you get the chance to pilot this vehicle, you’re more likely to be able to ride it the way you’re supposed to.
To get the Noah to shoot down the road, just give the pedals a little push. Jumping out of the saddle produces a sensation similar to striding onto a moving walkway at the airport; your effort is the same, but you’re suddenly going faster. Bank the bike into a turn and the shockingly stiff frame lets you carry impressive speed through the apex. Need to dodge an obstacle? The quick-handling geometry lets you juke around it with nary an interruption to your pedal stroke. On descents the bike rolls away from riders on nonaero frames.
It’s impressive, but we’d expect nothing less from a no-compromise bike created to serve professionals. Speed has been Ridley’s sole objective with the Noah since the company first unveiled it in 2011. This version incorporates aero touches from previous Noahs, including F-Splitfork slits on the fork and seatstays that pull turbulent air away from the rotating wheels. There are also narrow stripes of gritty R-Surface paint on the sides of the head tube and seat tube that work in the same manner as dimples on a golf ball, to clean up airflow.
The technological centerpiece of the latest version is a new, fully integrated brake. To smooth airflow in what is typically a turbulent area, Ridley bonds carbon-fiber arms onto the fork legs and seatstays. Once fitted with a tensioning spring and cable stops, the arms work like the V-brakes once common on mountain bikes. Aerodynamics inspired their development, but the biggest advantage may be the impressive stopping power and modulation, which far exceed the performance of many calipers.
Undeniable curb appeal draws riders to bikes like the Noah, and, once you’re on it, the raw speed and quick handling are seductive. But the frame’s no-compromise rigidity fatigued even our fittest testers on long rides (the standard Noah, which uses regular caliper brakes, is even stiffer, says Ridley). There’s also no compromising on the integrated seatmast, which Ridley president Jochim Aerts says helps give the bike its rigid, fast character. He offers his apologies to cyclists who often travel with their bike.
The Campagnolo EPS group on our test model spiked the price to $14,000, which is at the upper end of today’s luxury buys. The Noah FB frame is available through U.S. Ridley dealers and is compatible with mechanical and electronic shifting systems. Brakes included.
