RIDLEY Fenix SLiC vs SLA [Review for 2022] Budget Aluminum to Top Carbon Road Bike

RIDLEY Fenix SLA Disc Aluminum VS Fenix SLiC Carbon. Review for 2022!
Frame, specs, weight, tire clearance, geometry, models’ comparison [SRAM, Ultegra, 105]

Material	Aluminum
Weight	9.37kg
Tires	Vittoria Zaffiro V // 700x25c // Black
Platform	Fenix ​​SLA Disc
brake type	Disc
Cassette	Shimano 105 R7000 // 11s // 11-32
Group	Shimano 105 2x11sp
Price	€ 2,735.00
Size	M

From Belgian manufacturer Ridley, here comes the 2022 version of the Fenix, a performance-oriented road bike with a classic endurance geometry.

The Fenix ​​SL Disc is a really tough bike. It shines on all types of roads, uphill, on flats and downhill, and with a tire clearance of 28c it can also handle difficult Paris-Roubaix style cobblestones. Wherever the road takes you, you’ll have a reliable, stiff, and responsive bike between your legs.

As stiffness is really its main characteristic, the Fenix SLiC is not really a bike for everyone

As often is the case in the road bike world, Ridley manufactures an aluminum version, the Fenix SLA, and a carbon model, Fenix SLiC.

The compact and aggressive geometry make it delightful to pedal for trained endurance cyclists who love to push their limits, but if you’re a beginner in endurance cycling, maybe something a bit more comfortable could do you better – but here’s where the Fenix SLA comes in to play, we’ll see how the slightly different geometry and the aluminum frame are actually an advantage for beginners and folks who like comfort above performance.

The Fenix ​​SLA Disc shares indeed many qualities with their top model, the SLiC carbon. It incorporates a diamond-shaped down tube that adds strength and stiffness to this endurance road bike. 

But it also has thinner and lower saddle stays, which greatly increases your comfort level. Its responsiveness is also unbeatable thanks to its wide bottom bracket and stiff front tube. Albeit a bit heavier and featuring of course more basic components, the SLA is the winner of our value for money competition for the Fenix series.

The RIDLEY Fenix SLA Disc made it into our list of
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PROS:

• A broad bottom bracket contributed to the bike’s stiffness, which was amplified by the short chainstays. An arched top-tube and carbon/resin construction (SLiC) adds to the compliance for endurance.
• Ridley’s own website has a custom paint program for consumers.

CONS:

• The SLA and SLiC Disc models’ contact points (including saddles and bar-tape) were found to be excessively abrasive for extended endurance rides.
• The SLX’s ride can be felt as a little harsh and uncomfortable on long trips. The SLA’s ride was described as ‘somewhat hard’.

Ridley Fenix SLA Disc Geometry

Ridley Fenix Geometry

As geometry is concerned, all parameters are in the average range for endurance road bikes, the aluminum version though has a longer stack, slightly shorter reach, and way longer seat and head tube.

	XXS	XS	yes	M	L	XL
TO	740	770	800	830	860	890
B.	450	480	510	540	570	600
C	515	525	545	565	585	600
D	107	127	142	172	202	227
AND	75	74	73.5	73	72.5	72.5
F	71.8	72	73	73.5	73.5	74
G	410	410	410	410	413	413
H	68	68	66	66	63	63
I	973	973	982	992	1010	1019
J	732	757	778	810	841	868
yes	507	527	543	573	599	625
R	379	374	384	390	396	403

The Ridley Fenix 2022 Models – SLA Disc vs SLiC SRAM VS SLiC Ultegra

As we can see from the table below, the Ridley Fenix SLA model refers to aluminium frame, while the SLiC series is made of high-grade carbon.

As usual for different models of the same road bike, the main difference sits in the groupset, with the presence of an electronic drivetrain in all SLiC models, the name of the models indeed specify which drivetrain is used, SRAM Rival eTap, SRAM Rival AXS, or Shimano Ultegra DI2.

Maximum available speeds are:

• Ridley Fenix SLA Disc – Shimano 105 2x11sp – 63 km/h
• Ridley Fenix SLiC – SRAM Rival eTap AXS – 67 km/h
• Ridley Fenix SLiC – Sram Rival AXS 2x12sp – 67 km/h
• Ridley Fenix SLiC – Shimano Ultegra DI2 2x12sp – 66 km/h

	Fenix SLA Disc – Shimano 105 2x11sp	Fenix SLiC – SRAM Rival eTap AXS	Fenix SLiC – Sram Rival AXS 2x12sp	Fenix SLiC – Shimano Ultegra DI2 2x12sp
RRP	€2,159	€4,548	€5,079	€6,399
Online Price	$3,099 [2022] AT BACKCOUNTRY $2,599 [2021] AT BACKCOUNTRY	€4,159 AT WIGGLE	N/A	£3,198 AT CHAIN REACTION
Category	Endurance	Endurance	Endurance	Endurance
Weight	9.4 kg	8.5 kg	8.4 kg	8.4 kg
Frame	Aluminum	Carbon	Carbon	Carbon
Fork	Carbon	Carbon	Carbon	Carbon
Wheel Size	700c	700c	700c	700c
Wheel Material	Aluminium	Aluminium	Aluminium	Aluminium
Brake Type	Hydraulic Disc	Hydraulic Disc	Hydraulic Disc	Hydraulic Disc
Groupset	105	Rival eTAP	Rival eTAP	Ultegra Di2
Drivetrain	2 × 11	2 × 12 Electronic	2 × 12 Electronic	2 × 11 Electronic

Ridley Fenix Specs

Again here we can see how the main differences are of course between the budget Fenix SLA and the more expensive SLiC.

All the SLiC indeed feature similar components, with the exception of the Forza Aero Integrated handlebars on the Ultegra version, which doesn’t require a stem.

Rims and saddle are also updated on the Fenix SLiC Shimano Ultegra DI2.

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	Fenix SLA Disc – Shimano 105	Fenix SLiC – SRAM Rival eTap AXS	Fenix SLiC – Sram Rival AXS	Fenix SLiC – Shimano Ultegra DI2
Frame	Fenix SLA Disc 7E5	Fenix, 30T-24T HM UD Carbon, Diamond Shape, F-Steerer Head Tube, TA 12x142mm	Fenix, 30T-24T HM UD Carbon, Diamond Shape, F-Steerer Head Tube, TA 12x142mm	Fenix, 30T-24T HM UD Carbon, Diamond Shape, F-Steerer Head Tube, TA 12x142mm
Fork	Fenix SLA Disc 7E5	Fenix, 30T-24T HM UD Carbon, TA 12×100 mm	Fenix, 30T-24T HM UD Carbon, TA 12×100 mm	Fenix, 30T-24T HM UD Carbon, TA 12×100 mm
Stem	Forza Stratos // 110 mm	Deda Super Box POB 110mm	Deda Super Box // 120 mm
Handlebar	Forza Stratos, Compact // 420mm (cc)	DEDA Zero2 // 420mm (cc)	DEDA Zero2 // 420mm (cc)	Forza Aero Integrated // 120mm – 420mm (cc)
Saddle	Selle Italia Model X	Selle Italia XR	Selle Italia XR	Selle Italia SLR Boost // Manganese Rails
Seatpost	Forza Stratos // 15mm Offset // 350mm // 27,2mm	Forza Cirrus // Carbon-Alloy // 24mm Offset // 350mm // 27,2mm	Forza Cirrus // Carbon-Alloy // 10mm Offset // 350mm // 27,2mm	Forza Cirrus // Carbon-Alloy // 10mm Offset // 350mm // 27,2mm
Rims	Shimano RS171 DB // Shimano 11s // Clincher	Forza Levanto db // Shimano 11s // TA 12x142mm // Clincher-TLR // Forza 3 Beaufort hub // 19mm Internal Width // 38mm deep	Forza Levanto db // Shimano-Campagnolo 11s // TA 12x142mm // Clincher-TLR // Forza 3 Beaufort hub // 19mm Internal Width // 38mm deep	Forza Levanto db // Shimano 11s // TA 12x142mm // Clincher-TLR // Forza 3

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