{"id":34948,"date":"2022-03-31T10:00:58","date_gmt":"2022-03-31T08:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=668993"},"modified":"2022-03-31T10:29:20","modified_gmt":"2022-03-31T08:29:20","slug":"ridleys-new-kanzo-adventure-has-mtb-inspired-geometry-and-more-than-a-dozen-mounts","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/ridleys-new-kanzo-adventure-has-mtb-inspired-geometry-and-more-than-a-dozen-mounts\/","title":{"rendered":"Ridley\u2019s new Kanzo Adventure has MTB-inspired geometry and more than a dozen mounts"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Stan Portus\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 31 March 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Ridley has announced a new version of its Kanzo Adventure gravel bike, said to be capable of taking on everything from bikepacking trips<\/a> and ultra-cycling races, through to \u201cunexpected singletrack\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ridley first entered the gravel market in 2015 with the X-Trail<\/a>, saying it was attracted to the discipline because it sat between the brand\u2019s cyclocross<\/a> heritage and road bike range.<\/p>\n

The X-Trail was renamed the Kanzo Speed when Ridley released the first Kanzo Adventure in 2019, and the Kanzo Fast<\/a> aero gravel bike followed in 2020.<\/p>\n

While these three bikes already covered a wide range of gravel riding<\/a>, Ridley says it decided to redesign the Kanzo Adventure to fit the more adventurous and technical end of the gravel spectrum.<\/p>\n

Instead of making changes to its existing Kanzo Adventure, Ridley says it started from scratch, developing a \u2018white paper\u2019 on what an adventure gravel bike<\/a> should be.<\/p>\n

And the result of this? The new Ridley Kanzo Adventure features more progressive geometry than its predecessor, has more than 12 mounts for bottles, bags and accessories, can fit wide mountain bike-style tyres and has internal routing for dynamo lights<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Kanzo Adventure is available now in three standard builds, with prices starting at \u00a33,159 \/ $4,589 \/ \u20ac3,475.<\/p>\n

Mountain bike inspiration<\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Ridley Kanzo Adventure is a gravel bike with mountain-bike inspired geometry.<\/span><\/figcaption> Rupert Fowler \/ Road Bike Connection<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Ridley says the Kanzo Adventure\u2019s carbon fibre frame has a mountain-bike inspired geometry.<\/p>\n

This is becoming a familiar claim in the world of gravel bikes, with Cotic<\/a>, Sonder<\/a> and Surly<\/a> recently releasing bikes based around mountain bike designs.<\/p>\n

Ridley decided upon the Kanzo Adventure\u2019s geometry in a novel way. As Ridley owns the Eddy Merckx brand, it asked the builder of the steel Eddy Merckx Corsa to create a steel frame with the geometry of the Kanzo Adventure.<\/p>\n

This enabled Ridley to be confident it had got the right geometry before opening carbon-fibre moulds, which is an expensive process.<\/p>\n

The Kanzo Adventure\u2019s head tube angle is one-degree slacker than the Kanzo Fast, which Ridley says helps make the new bike more confident and stable on rougher terrain and steep downhills.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The seat tube on the Kanzo Adventure is steeper than Ridley\u2019s other gravel bikes.<\/span><\/figcaption> Rupert Fowler \/ Road Bike Connection<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Ridley says the seat tube angle on the Kanzo Adventure is steeper than on the Kanzo Fast to provide better balance, even when travelling at high speeds and when the bike is fully loaded with bags. Ridley also explains this means you can put more power on the pedals when climbing and retain traction.<\/p>\n

A longer wheelbase and lower bottom-bracket drop are also said to help create a more stable riding position than Ridley\u2019s other gravel bikes.<\/p>\n

The reach of the Kanzo Adventure is longer than the Kanzo Fast, but this enables Ridley to fit a shorter stem on the new bike, making the handling more responsive. Again, this is becoming a common trend on some of the latest gravel bikes, including the new Trek Checkpoint<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Kanzo Adventure\u2019s head tube is kept shorter than on Ridley\u2019s other gravel bikes, to accommodate the suspension gravel forks that have begun to appear on the market, such as the RockShox Rudy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Kanzo Adventure has a short head tube to accommodate longer suspension forks.<\/span><\/figcaption> Rupert Fowler \/ Road Bike Connection<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Ridley says that as suspension forks are longer than standard forks, the short head tube means riders can fit gravel suspension to the Kanzo Adventure with less interference on the bike\u2019s fit.<\/p>\n

Ridley has also designed the bike so there is clearance for 2.1in mountain bike-esque tyres<\/a> mounted to 700c wheels<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Speaking to BikeRadar, Ridley described large tyres as a \u2018must-have\u2019. While this should help the Kanzo Adventure take on more technical trails, Ridley says it also made the design decision for a more selfish reason.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Ridley describes wide tyres on the Kanzo Adventure as a \u2018must-have\u2019.<\/span><\/figcaption> Rupert Fowler \/ Road Bike Connection<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Based in Belgium, the Ridley team ride a lot on sand. The wide tyres enable the Kanzo Adventure to better \u2018float\u2019 over this terrain, especially when it is dry and loose.<\/p>\n

The Kanzo Adventure features dropped chainstays, allowing Ridley to accommodate those wide tyres while maintaining clearance and running the 1x chainrings now common on gravel bikes.<\/p>\n

In fact, the Kanzo Adventure is only compatible with 1x drivetrains \u2013 there\u2019s not a double crankset in sight. Ridley says it was confident to make this change, citing the fact that nobody now questions 1x in the world of mountain bikes.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Kanzo Adventure can fit 1x only and has dropped chainstays to accommodate larger chainrings.<\/span><\/figcaption> Rupert Fowler \/ Road Bike Connection<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

While some brands are offering gravel bikes with the option of 650b wheels<\/a>, Ridley won\u2019t be doing this with the Kanzo Adventure.<\/p>\n

Ridley explained to BikeRadar that it sees the option of 650b wheels as a way to increase tyre clearance retrospectively, but it has designed the Kanzo Adventure for larger tyres from the start.<\/p>\n

Ridley says riders could fit 650b wheels to the Kanzo Adventure, but this might result in pedal strikes due to the lowering of the bottom bracket.<\/p>\n

Finishing the mountain bike theme, Ridley says it tested the frames to MTB rather than road standards, with the focus during development being on durability and strength rather than creating a lightweight build.<\/p>\n

Ridley says the unpainted frame in a size medium weighs a claimed 1,250g and the fork weighs a claimed 499g.<\/p>\n

12 mounts and counting<\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The front fork can carry up to 3kg on either side.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ridley<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

To make the Kanzo Adventure suitable for bikepacking, Ridley has placed over 12 mounting points across the frame for bikepacking bags, bottles and mudguards.<\/p>\n

There are three mounts on the seat tube and four on the down tube. As a result, riders can fit bottle cages in a high or low position, out of the way of any frame bags.<\/p>\n

On the underside of the down tube, there are three more mounts for either a bag or another bottle cage. Ridley says you can fit a 750ml bottle in a cage mounted to the underside of the down tube without any interference with the front wheel.<\/p>\n

\""Top\"<\/picture><\/div>
The top tube of the Kanzo Adventure fitted with a saddle bag.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Ridley<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Top\"<\/picture><\/div>
The two mounts on the top tube come with a cover. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Rupert Fowler \/ Road Bike Connection<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

While the position of these mounts might seem rather arbitrary, Ridley stresses that it went through various stages in deciding on their exact position.<\/p>\n

The brand says this means riders don\u2019t have to resort to hacks or mounting systems such as Wolf Tooth\u2019s B-Rad<\/a> to make all their equipment fit on the frame.<\/p>\n

There are two more mounts for a bag \u2013 or bento box \u2013 on the top tube. These are recessed into the frame and come with a cover so they don\u2019t interrupt the lines of the Kanzo Adventure and aren\u2019t on show when not in use.<\/p>\n

To further up the carrying capability of the Kanzo Adventure, Ridley has placed three mounts on either side of the front fork.<\/p>\n

Ridley says each side of the fork can carry up to 3kg, leading to a potential 6kg total.<\/p>\n

If you use the mounts on the fork in conjunction with the front fender mount to fit a lowrider front rack, Ridley claims the fork can carry up to 9kg.<\/p>\n

Ridley has reinforced the inside of the fork to make carrying these weights possible.<\/p>\n

Dynamo lights and Classified<\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
You can fit a dynamo light to the fork crown.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ridley<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Ridley says flexibility is an important aspect of the Kanzo Adventure and it has designed the bike in a way that allows riders to customise it to fit their needs.<\/p>\n

In a bid to increase the bikepacking potential and versatility of the Kanzo Adventure, Ridley has designed the bike so you can route cables from a dynamo hub internally.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
You can run a cable through the top tube to a rear dynamo-powered light.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ridley<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

There is an opening on the inside of the fork for a cable from the front wheel and a second opening on the fork crown, which is paired with a mount for a dynamo light.<\/p>\n

The opening at the top of the fork comes with a rubber bung in case you are not using a dynamo hub.<\/p>\n

There is another opening on the top tube so you can run a cable from the top of the fork back into the frame and out at the seatpost for a rear dynamo-powered light.<\/p>\n

\""A\"<\/picture><\/div>
A dynamo hub on a Ridley Kanzo Adventure. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Rupert Fowler \/ Road Bike Connection<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Cable\"<\/picture><\/div>
There is a port for a dynamo cable to run internally inside the fork. <\/span> <\/figcaption> Rupert Fowler \/ Road Bike Connection<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

Ridley says it went to these lengths so riders can avoid using tape or cable ties to guide any cables across the bike.<\/p>\n

Like the Kanzo Fast, Ridley says the Kanzo Adventure can fit a Classified rear hub. This uses internal gearing to replicate a 2x gearing system, in case riders want a wider gear range than a 1x setup allows.<\/p>\n

Integrated cockpit<\/h2>\n
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The Kanzo Adventure has an integrated cockpit.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ridley <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Kanzo Adventure comes with an integrated cockpit, running all cables and tubes internally.<\/p>\n

While this might seem an odd choice for an adventure bike majoring on versatility, causing extra maintenance for little noticeable gain<\/a>, it\u2019s not unheard of on this type of bike. Orbea\u2019s Terra gravel bike<\/a>, which has similar terrain-spanning ambition to the Kanzo Adventure, also features fully internally routed cables.<\/p>\n

Ridley, like Orbea, says that it opted to run cables internally to make mounting bags to the handlebar easier. It also says this stops cables from getting squashed under any bags and damaging the frame\u2019s paintwork.<\/p>\n

Ridley has freed up space in the head tube for cables and hoses by using a D-shaped steerer. However, it says if you decide to fit a suspension fork to the Kanzo Adventure this will mean using a round steerer tube.<\/p>\n

Consequently, cables and hoses will have to be run externally around the cockpit, but there are entry points for them to run internally through the frame.<\/p>\n

Ridley Kanzo Adventure geometry<\/h2>\n
<\/colgroup>
\ufeffSize<\/th>XS<\/th>S<\/th>M<\/th>L<\/th>XL<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Seat tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>74.5<\/td>74<\/td>74<\/td>74<\/td>73.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>70.8<\/td>70.8<\/td>70.5<\/td>70.5<\/td>70.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay<\/b> (mm)<\/td>435<\/td>435<\/td>435<\/td>435<\/td>435<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket drop<\/b> (mm)<\/td>75<\/td>75<\/td>75<\/td>75<\/td>75<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>470<\/td>495<\/td>520<\/td>545<\/td>570<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>513<\/td>532<\/td>551<\/td>573<\/td>595<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>115<\/td>140<\/td>165<\/td>192<\/td>215<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase<\/b> (mm)<\/td>1,024<\/td>1,041<\/td>1,065<\/td>1,088<\/td>1,107<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack<\/b> (mm)<\/td>546<\/td>569<\/td>591<\/td>617<\/td>639<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach<\/b> (mm)<\/td>379<\/td>387<\/td>401<\/td>415<\/td>426<\/td> <\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>