Ridley has today announced a bike that it claims is a bike that puts an end to the N+1 rule. The so-called rule, for those unfamiliar, is in relation to the number of bikes one should own, where N is the number one currently owns. We’re a hilarious bunch, eh?
Regardless, it is as entrenched in cycling as deeply as the tubular vs clincher debate or Eddy Merckx’s claim that it never gets easier, you just go faster.
Ridley believes it has created a bike so versatile that the rule need no longer apply, suggesting that this bike can do it all. In reality, it’s an ‘all-road’ bike, also known as ‘gravel light’ or ‘road plus’, even ‘gnarmac’ if you must. Pick your poison.
It’s called the Grifn, reportedly named after the mythical beast, the griffin, which, with its lion body and eagle wings, symbolises the ruling over two realms. You can probably see where this is going, but I’ll say it anyway: Ridley claims that “as a Grifn rider, you’ll reign both tarmac and dirt roads.”
In seriousness, though, the Grifn does look like a really good option for anyone seeking a road bike that can handle wide tyres, rough roads, with the option to mount fenders, bikepacking bags and even internally routed Dynamo lights.
It’s available in a variety of preconfigured specs, comprising Shimano 105 and GRX groupsets across both mechanical and electronic guises, and the price ranges from £2,909.00 for 105 mechanical or GRX600 to £4,279.00 for 105 Di2.
You can alternatively configure it with a GRX Di2 groupset paired with a Classified two-speed rear hub for €6,759.00 (GBP not confirmed) and pleasingly, that’s what landed at Cyclingnews HQ. I’ve been putting it to the test for the past few weeks to see just how many realms I could conquer aboard this mythical little beast, and to try and work out if it should feature among our guide to the best road bikes, the best gravel bikes, neither, or both.
Design and specifications
I started my research not on the road, nor on the trail, but in the geometry charts provided by Ridley’s very helpful pre-launch press release.
Comparing the Grifn against a variety of bikes, ranging from endurance road to all-out gravel, it appears the Grifn is more than just an endurance bike with fat tyres. In fact, a size medium has a stack of 587mm, with a reach of 391mm, suggesting it’s more race-yourself than pace-yourself.
The head angle, meanwhile sits at 72 degrees; in between the Kanzo Fast gravel race bike and the…
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