RIDLEY Fenix SLiC vs SLA – Budget Aluminum to Top Carbon Road Bike

Last Updated on 6 January 2026 by Cycloscope

RIDLEY Fenix SLA Disc Aluminum VS Fenix SLiC Carbon.
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 comes the 2022 version of the Fenix, a performance-oriented road bike with 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 brutal 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 is often the case in the road bike world, Ridley manufactures an aluminum version, the Fenix SLA, and a carbon model, the Fenix SLiC.

The compact and aggressive geometry makes 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 into 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 indeed shares many qualities with its top model, the SLiC carbon. It incorporates a diamond-shaped down tube that enhances the strength and stiffness of this endurance road bike. 

But it also has thinner, lower saddle stays, which significantly increase your comfort. 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
> 11 Best Road Bikes for Ladies [from Cheap to Top, from Beginner to Pro]

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) add to the compliance for endurance.
• Ridley’s own website has a custom paint program for consumers.

CONS:

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

Ridley Fenix Geometry

As for geometry, all parameters are in the average range for endurance road bikes; the aluminum version, though, has a longer stack, slightly shorter reach, and much 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 – SLA Disc vs SLiC SRAM VS SLiC Ultegra

As shown in the table below, the Ridley Fenix SLA model features an aluminium frame, while the SLiC series is made of high-grade carbon.

As usual, across different models of the same road bike, the main difference lies in the groupset, with all SLiC models featuring an electronic drivetrain. The model names 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

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 models feature similar components, except for the Forza Aero Integrated handlebars on the Ultegra version, which don’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	Forza Stratos, Compact // 420 mm (cc)	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 // 15 mm Offset // 350 mm // 27,2 mm	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 // 15 mm Offset // 350 mm // 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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