Ridley Damocles ISP

Very nice, lovely understated bike but oozes a bit of class !

Would you not just flip the mount around? The current vogue seems to be to have head units sitting flush with the tops of the bars. Aero an' all that innit?

Thing still looks like a weapon. When's it going to see some real kasseien?

Not even thinking about aero, that mount just looks plain wrong where it is. It would look so much better on the bottom bolts of the stem.

Thanks TKF, that really is a tight fit specially with the 25mm tyres. Wonder how it would work with my 23mm Wheelsmith rims and 25mm tyres - at least Wiggle offer a 30 day trial!

Glad your enjoying it though, the one review i found suggested that although it was stiff, it was comfy - after all it's a Belgian bike and tested on the pave.

cheers

It would be the Centaur specced RS frame with seatpost.

I'd be upgrading the groupset to Athena 11 speed and fitting my Wheelsmith wheels - all off a Roubaix SL3 that has developed a couple of cracks around the join of seat tube to top tube. There's a chance this might be resolved with a warranty replacement in which case i won't need the ridley - hope to find out today or tomorrow about that.

Had looked at the 105 version as it was cheaper, but they don't have it in my size with seatpost, just ISP which won't fit in my bike bag for travelling.

Looks a lovely bike, would rather not have to be considering it and if i'm honest the clearance on the rear stay is a worry, but if i don't get a warranty result with the Spesh then i'll order one and give it a go.

Thanks for putting the pics up

marco

Although it's not a ISP model, I too have a Damocles new this year and they really are the canine's testicles. This is mine on it's first ride hence the spacers above the stem :oops: Further rides have helped me dial in the position better and I really love it. I'm 6'2" and, with a 34" inside leg and 79.5cm saddle height, have gone for a size Medium too. Reach is fine - I think it's a 110mm stem from memory. Got in a nice 3hrs over the Cotswolds yesterday with no issues to report.

FransJacques wrote:

Both your saddle to handlebar drops are true Belgian and you should be proud. Keep up that stretching routine. While watching the Giro this May, use some of those hours to work on your lower backs to see if you can move a couple spacers down :-D

Well, normally I'd agree with you and say that nothing screams pro like a 130mm stem slammed right down with zero spacers (a la Wiggins). However, I was in a QUANDARY when it came to purchasing the bike in terms of size. My fr axle to centre of handlebars measurement is 59.5cm which is the same as my nose of saddle to centre of handlebars. If I'd gone for the L size my stem would have been right at the bottom of the stack but with a massive headtube and it still would have been a bit *too* high.
With the M size there was scope for adjustment but at the sacrifice of that pro look meaning spacers However, last November I had a lumbar discectomy at L5/S1 so that was the deciding factor if I'm honest - the ability to play about with stem height. My flexibility is back to where it was but as I'm not racing these days (hence the moniker) I'm not unduly worried about aero position. With the L size I reckon I would have also been too stretched out when down in the drops and on the hoods

The position is set-up exactly the same as my previous steed and I rode that 6 years ago at the Flanders sportif (260km distance) and it felt great so I'm not going to tinker with what I know works

Glad to see some love for the white cables as I can't stand them Once they're worn out I'll be going back to black and with black handlebar tape as well