Ridley Orion Carbon Road Bike Frame

For the racer on a budget, the Ridley Orion frameset can’t be beat. With a high-modulus carbon fiber monocoque frame and carbon fork, the Ridley Orion is stiff in the sprints and under hard efforts, but yet it is still able to take some of the buzz out of rougher roads.

The Ridley Orion frame uses 24 ton high-modulus carbon fiber throughout its entire structure. By using only 24 ton carbon, Ridley keeps the cost down and builds a frame that can withstand any type of riding you throw at it. While 24 ton may cost less and weigh more, it still delivers a great ride and allows the Orion to come in with the same weight as the Ridley Damocles.

The tubes of the Ridley Orion frameset are another critical part of its super stiff ride. The downtube on a Ridley Orion frame could best be described as an enormous rectangle with rounded corners. With such a beefy foundation, it’s no wonder the Orion feels stable. The stiffness of the Ridley Orion frame is further enhanced by its T-shaped top tube, which resists even the slightest bit of twisting. The back end stiffness of the Ridley Orion frameset is taken care of by huge chain stays and seat stays.

What’s the bottom line on the Ridley Orion frameset? Well, it’s stiff. Is it too stiff for everyday use? No, but it’s not going to be as comfortable as a Ridley Excalibur. The Ridley Orion can be thought of as more of a criterium racer than a race-ready, all-day bike like much of the rest of Ridley’s line.

A note on Ridley sizing: Ridley uses a sloping top tube on their bikes, so in order to select the proper size, it’s important to pay attention to the effective top tube as opposed to the seat tube length. You really should focus on effective top tube on any frame, but it’s especially critical on sloping top tube frames.

• 1200 gram frame, 385 gram fork
• Includes headset and seat collar
• Requires 31.6 seat post

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