Ridley Cordis 2 (2017) - Review

The Ridley Cordis 2 comes with a 661 alloy frame. The frame has neatly welded tubes, which are thin. The frame geometry is a perfect mix of comfort and aggressiveness needed to ride in the city. The frame was light enough to carry across medians and staircases. The build quality helped in keeping the ride responsive as well as fast. The rigid forks on this bicycle were bladed and made the front of the bicycle aero. This frame is available in four sizes: 16’’, 17.3’’, 19.6’’ and 2.8’’.

The Ridley Cordis 2 is a performance focused hybrid bicycle and gearing on this bicycle does reflect the same to an extent. The Shimano Tourney at the front and Shimano Acera at the rear constitute the drivetrain of this bicycle. During the test ride these gears worked perfectly fine with no major glitches. The 24-speed Shimano Altus shifters were super-efficient and easy to use.

The Cordis 2 which I test rode came in a full black colour with green and blue graphics. The 3-striped blue design on the seat tube is a standard design symbol of Ridley bicycles across the world. The blue and green shades bring in contrast to the black primary colour. The gloss paint job looked neat and enhanced the aesthetics of this bicycle.

The stopping power on the Cordis 2 is taken care of by a pair of Promax V-brakes. During the test ride amidst traffic these brakes were sufficient. Wet condition braking will also prove to be reactive and hence the lack of disc brakes isn’t something be worried about.The Zoom Alloy 62mm handlebar was wide and gave an ‘open chested’ riding posture. The handlebar grips felt hard and lacked padding.

The Kenda Kwik Tendril 7x32C is an excellent tire for city riding and commuting. The STC rubber compound and smooth center tread offer a great combination speed and wear resistance. Iron Cap puncture-protection helps keep out broken glass and thorns, and the folding bead keeps the weight down.The Ridley stock saddle was as good as the ones found on the Belgium made Ridley bicycles. They were ergonomically designed to keep you soreness free while on the saddle for long hours. The overall ride quality was fast and comfortable on urban roads.