The Ridley Kanzo Fast is a true aero weapon for the gravel segment. The low-slung seat stays and aero cockpit are designed to reduce drag. We don’t doubt that the bike is fast, but can Campagnolo’s gravel components give it the versatility it needs to keep up with the competition?
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best gravel bike 2022 – 19 models on test
The Ridley Kanzo Fast is a bike born from the combination of two worlds: the genes of their in-house aero bike, the Noah Fast, and the experience of Ridley’s engineers from the gravel sector. The result is probably the most extreme aero gravel bike currently available on the market.
You find both big and small aerodynamic optimisations all over the bike. These include the dropped seat stays, the D-shaped seat post and the one-piece aero cockpit. Our € 5,399 test bike tipped the scales at 8.24 kg in size M, ready to take on the best all-rounders of the year with its aggressive geometry.
These mounting points are designed to work with the fenders that Ridley developed especially for the Kanzo Fast. This makes the bike the perfect all-weather companion.
The transition between fork and frame is aerodynamic and it looks cool. However, you’ll soon find dirt collecting in the gap when riding through mud, which can damage the paint.
The maximum tire clearance of the Ridley Kanzo Fast is limited to 42 mm partly due to the seat tube being close to the rear tire. This may be sufficient for speed gravel riding, but it limits the bike’s versatility.
Ridley Kanzo Fast
€ 5,399
Specifications
Seatpost Ridley
Brakes Campagnolo EKAR 160/160 mm
Drivetrain Campagnolo EKAR 1x13
Stem Ridley G1 100 mm
Handlebar Ridley G1 400 mm
Wheelset Campagnolo Shamal Carbon C21 CB
Tires Vittoria Terreno Dry Graphene 2.0 700 x 38C
Technical Data
Size XS S M L XL
Weight 8.24 kg
Specific Features
full-on aero optimisation on a gravel bike
fully Integrated, aerodynamic, 400 mm wide and flared gravel cockpit
small wings on the fork are claimed to reduce turbulence around the front hub
super low seat stays for optimised aerodynamics on a gravel bike
The 400 mm Aero G1 cockpit of the Ridley is very narrow for a gravel bike, but it doesn’t just suit the bike in terms of looks. Thanks to the flared drops, it also scores high in terms of ergonomics.
You won’t find as many mounting points on the Ridley Kanzo Fast as on some other bikes, allowing you to fit just two bottle cages in the front triangle and one under the down tube. But that’s sufficient for an aero gravel bike.
The small wings at the ends of the fork are intended to reduce wind turbulence around the front hub and thus contribute to the Ridley Kanzo Fast’s aerodynamics.
Fly along gravel roads aboard the Ridley with your down jacket working as a parachute – opposites attract. Or: never go full aero/everything goes when riding gravel!
To this end, it relies on a mechanical 1×13 Campagnolo EKAR drivetrain, offering a decent gear range with the 38 t chainring up front and 9–42 t cassette on the rear. For steep climbs on all-road rides, we’d prefer the larger 10–44 t EKAR cassette, and a larger 40 or 42 t chainring would make more sense considering the bike’s high-speed character. Like the other bikes on test featuring Campagnolo components, the Ridley struggles with the precision of the shifting. The sensitive internals of the Italian drivetrain get hung up all too often. This is especially annoying in rough terrain, causing the occasional expletives to escape your mouth. For rough terrain, the 400 mm Ridley Aero G1 cockpit is too narrow to let you feel perfectly in control. But these are the only two small complaints we have regarding safety.
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 470 mm | 495 mm | 520 mm | 545 mm | 570 mm |
| Top Tube | 522 mm | 547 mm | 565 mm | 587 mm | 601 mm |
| Head tube | 115 mm | 144 mm | 168 mm | 197 mm | 221 mm |
| Head angle | 71.0° | 71.0° | 71.5° | 71.5° | 72.0° |
| Seat angle | 74.5° | 73.5° | 73.0° | 72.5° | 73.0° |
| Chainstays | 425 mm | 425 mm | 425 mm | 425 mm | 425 mm |
| BB Drop | 74 mm | 72 mm | 72 mm | 70 mm | 70 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,001 mm | 1,017 mm | 1,026 mm | 1,044 mm | 1,053 mm |
| Reach | 373 mm | 380 mm | 385 mm | 393 mm | 400 mm |
| Stack | 537 mm | 563 mm | 587 mm | 613 mm | 638 mm |
Pants Pas Normal Studios Defend Bibs | Shoes Adidas The Gravel Shoe | Socks Adidas Sport Socks
Otherwise, the Campagnolo EKAR brakes and 160 mm rotors on the front and rear always provide plenty of braking power and good modulation, while the 700 x 38C Vittoria Terreno Dry Graphene 2.0 tires reliably transmit that power to the ground on asphalt and hardpack. The tires only lack braking grip on loose gravel due to the relatively smooth tread. However, the tires underline the coherent package offered by the Ridley Kanzo Fast both in terms of comfort and speed. They’re able to compensate for the rather stiff frame, damping small impacts and vibrations. Although the seat post lacks compliance, this allows the bike to remain composed on rougher surfaces without bouncing uncontrollably over bumpy terrain. However, the comfort quickly reaches its limit in the case of bigger hits.
In terms of speed, the Vittoria tires ensure that the frame’s aero gains aren’t made up for in rolling resistance. While the Kanzo Fast falls behind the liveliest bikes on test during the first few metres off the start line, it will soon pick up speed, its efficiency allowing it to catch up with and overtake one bike after the other until it’s speeding along with the lead group. This applies to all compact surfaces, not just hardpack, but any kind of asphalt and paving.
Tuning tip: slightly wider and deeper rims to offer the tires more support and optimise the bike’s aerodynamics even more
The handling of the Ridley Kanzo Fast is exactly as you would expect from an aero gravel bike, which is very intuitive and predictable. Above all, it’s designed to go fast and therefore offers among the most composed and stable handling on test. As such, the bike needs quite a lot of encouragement to initiate a turn when riding fast. Once you’ve initiated a turn, the bike delivers balanced and precise handling, though it always demands a firm hand, especially when things get rougher. This is partly due to the fact that the Vittoria tires lack support on the Campagnolo Shamal Carbon C21 CB wheels with an internal rim width of just 21 mm. These days, you’ll find rims of this width being used on road bikes and it’s the lowest acceptable limit for the gravel segment.
With its performance geared towards speed, the Ridley Kanzo Fast is unable to displace the more versatile bikes from the all-round throne. The bike reaches its limit too soon and is overly limited by the maximum tire clearance of 42 mm, especially in technical terrain or on flowing trails. Nevertheless, the Ridley leaves this test as a winner, as it’s one of the most consistent and well-thought-out bikes for fast rides on hardpack in true American gravel style. Here, it’s sure to put a smile on your face.
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Comfort
- firm
- comfortable
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
Our conclusion on Ridley Kanzo Fast
The Ridley Kanzo Fast is the most consistently aero gravel bike on test, which makes it super-efficient at holding its pace, as long as you’re on relatively smooth and compact routes without overly technical corners. This makes it a great choice for all those who just want to blast along the gravel highways of this world. If you’re looking for more off-road performance and stability on technical trails, you’ll prefer a bike with suspension and bigger tire clearances.
Tops
- aggressive aero look on a gravel bike
- super-fast on compact surfaces
- first-class integration
- very composed
Flops
- inconsistent shifting performance of the Campagnolo drivetrain
- too little tire clearance
- lack of off-road performance
You can find out more about at ridley-bikes.com
The testfield
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best gravel bike 2022 – 19 models on test
All bikes on review: 3T Exploro Ultra (Click for review) | BMC URS LT ONE (Click for review) | Cannondale SuperSix EVO SE (Click for review) | Canyon Grizl CF SLX 8 eTap Suspension (Click for review) | Cervélo Áspero GRX Di2 (Click for review) | CUBE Nuroad C:62 SLT (Click for review) | Curve Kevin of Steel III (Click for review) | Falkenjagd Aristos R (Click for review) | Felt Breed 20 (Click for review) | FOCUS ATLAS 6.8 (Click for review) | GIANT Revolt Advanced 0 (Click for review) | OPEN WI.DE. (Click for review) | Ridley Kanzo Fast | ROSE BACKROAD EKAR LTD (Click for review) | SCOTT Addict Gravel Tuned (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Crux (Click for review) | Stelbel Nina XCr (Click for review) | Storck GRIX.2 Platinum (Click for review) | Wilier Rave SLR (Click for review)
No, it’s not about perfect race tracks, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along high-speed passages need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret “Smooth tarmac” bikes as follows: Hard efforts at high speeds with a maximum efficient bike on a consistently well-paved road. Effort-joy ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
… also known as bike riding. Broken-up roads in the hinterland, deadlocked gravel roads, loose surfaces – sometimes muddy, sometimes bone-dry. For this, it takes bikes with super all-round, handling and wearing qualities uphill and downhill. Effort-joy ratio: 50:50↩
If you want to use your bike almost every day, you usually do not need an extremely tuned racing machine. Solid components, which are able to cope with the rigours of continuous usage in any kind of weather, are part of the basic equipment. At the same time, the bike should have practicable details: integrated fenders/assembly options, luggage racks/attachment points and a light system or at least the option of installing bike lights. The position on the bike should be rather relaxed, the overall comfort high, so that the Afterwork Ride becomes a cure and not a curse. Effort-joy ratio: 30:70↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩
Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of GRAN FONDO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.
Words: Photos: Benjamin Topf, Peter Walker
