Review: Is the Ridley ASTR RS the future of gravel race bikes?

Ridley’s new gravel bike will become a blueprint for how the best gravel race bikes will be designed over the next handful of years. That’s a strong way to begin a review, I know, but I want to capture your attention because although that statement is nothing more than my own opinion, I really want it to be true. 

As we lead into the UCI Gravel Worlds, Ridley is today announcing a bike that was first sighted at the often-dubbed ‘unofficial gravel worlds’, Unbound Gravel, in June. Team Classified-Ridley rider, Piotr Havik, was given the bike just 10 days prior to the race and despite having the Kanzo Fast at his disposal and dialled in, he decided he had to race the new bike. He finished 4th.