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The Ridley Damocles 4 is a performance packed all-rounder road bicycle for both fast and long rides on tarmacs.
Ridley’s India Range are a great fleet of affordable performance bicycles. The road range is called the Damocles and has 3 bicycles. We got the opportunity to test ride the top end Damocles 4 and here is what we thought.
Frame, Fit and Comfort
The Damocles 4 comes with a lightweight alloy endurance frame
The Damocles 4 comes with a 6061 alloy frame which is very light in weight. This endurance-focused geometry provides a comfortable riding posture and thus making it perfect for long distance rides. You can feel how light the frame is when you get off the saddle and go all out on the pedals. The carbon fork was bladed and helped keep the bicycle weight in check.
Design
The Damocles 4 comes in 1 colour variant, gloss black frame with green/blue graphics
The Damocles 4 which I test rode came in a black frame with green and blue graphics. This is an endurance frame geometry but it did look aero and that is mainly because of the shape of the top tube which was a little curved, the thin chain stays and the bladed forks. The bold brand name fonts were visible from a distance and looked refreshing. At a time when matte finish has a slight edge over gloss, this gloss finish paint job on the Damocles 4 was of great quality.
Gearing
The Shimano 105 groupset at the front and rear was perfect for attacking those climbs and accelerating on flat roads
The Damocles 4 is at the top end of Ridley’s India range of road bicycles and this is clearly reflected in its drivetrain. Shimano’s 105 derailleurs at the front and rear were super quick in transmission, especially during climbs and also for quick accelerations. 105’s are considered as the most successful derailleurs in the top end line of Shimano’s road groupsets and that is because of its value for money. This is because these 105 groupsets have some characteristics of its superiors while being cheaper than them. The Shimano 105 11-speed integrated shifters were easy to use from the hoods.
Brakes and Steering
The Tektro caliper brakes will keep you safe with its balanced braking on both wet and dry tarmacs
The Tektro caliper brakes were perfect to bring these bicycles to a halt on both wet and dry conditions. During the test ride I had to do a bit of interval braking on some fast turns and the brake pads were balanced and felt safe. The caliper components were also easy to release to take the tires out.
The Zoom Alloy road handlebar was wide and felt comfortable to hold on to. The bar tapes were padded enough to provide good grip and cushioning, especially on longer rides.
Ride Quality
The Kenda Kadence 700x23C tires were lightweight and well treaded for riding on tarmacs
During the test ride the first thing I noticed was the Kenda Kadence 700x23C tire’s low weight. The Kenda website claims 197g per tire. The Kadence is a folding tire, so there's no stiff bead to deal with. The rubber on the tires seemed the same all over, but according to the Kenda website, the compound on the shoulder is slightly softer than the centre. This gives more durability and less resistance when the bicycle is upright, and then a bit more traction when you lean into a corner.
The stock Ridley road saddle was ergonomically designed and was good for being on the saddle for longer hours but the material on top felt a little too slippery. The overall ride quality was comfortable and fast on flat tarmacs.
Overall Rating
- Lightweight alloy frame with carbon forks
- Smooth and quick gear shifting
- Fast rolling and lightweight 700C tires
- Slippery saddle material
This bicycle is endurance focused with its geometry and with the wide drop handlebars which makes it is easy to ride for longer hours. This Ridley road bicycle is an all-rounder as you can do brevets as well as attempt time trials by slapping on a pair of TT bars to the handlebar. Getting Ridley’s Belgium tech at an affordable price is surely the total package. If you are someone looking for a performance focused and lightweight endurance road bicycle, the Ridley Damocles 4 is the perfect choice for you.
Prices are subject to change by the brand, without due notice.
