Ridley’s latest aero carbon Omnium Fast track bike is unsurprisingly optimized for going fast in the omnium races at the velodrome. Those are the ones that pit you head-to-head with other riders on the track. And these disciplines require a careful balance of aerodynamic speed, stiffness, and handling that’s a bit different than when you are burning solo laps in tight circles on the boards. These are the one we see with some of the most powerful cyclists going shoulder-to-shoulder around the steep banked turns at shockingly high speeds.
Ridley Omnium Fast aero carbon track bike for group racing
Just over a year ago Ridley launched two new Arena track bikes – either the affordable alloy all-rounder or the no-holds-barred aero carbon Arena Fast, but for group racing on the velodrome – like scratch, tempo, elimination & points races – you need a different geometry and position, still designed to go fast.
With constant surges in speed and unpredictable movement for your competitors, group events on the velodrome require a more responsive bike.
That’s where the new Ridley Omnium Fast comes in with geometry “designed for quick and confident reactions” to the sudden movements in the bunch. And so this has become Omnium World Champ Lindsay De Vylder’s “weapon of choice”.
(Also note that he’s racing with those new 167g Nimbl Ultimate Air carbon shoes that I wrote about yesterday.)
“I am very satisfied with the Omnium Fast! Ridley invited me to their headquarters to explain the details of this track bike, and I also had the opportunity to share my feedback. The result is an ultra-fast bike that handles perfectly in the peloton. The special rainbow design makes it clear that I am the world champion in this discipline. With this bike, the road to Los Angeles is wide open, and I look forward to achieving many more highlights on the Omnium Fast!”
– Lindsay De Vylder, reigning UCI Track Omnium World Champion
What’s new?
Aerodynamically, the Omnium Fast takes the same deep aero shaping we saw on both the track Arena Fast & time trial Dean Fast after the 2022 UCI shift that allowed thinner, longer tubes up to a 8:1 ratio. Here the aerodynamics are toned down a bit, mostly to fit a conventional stem & handlebar for more cockpit adjustability.
The Omnium Fast also features completely different geometry for quicker maneuverability and a more upright rider position with dropbars. There’s a steeper 74° headtube angle and the same short chainstays, but longer overall wheelbases with about 3cm higher Stack & similar Reach figures.
New flip-chips at the fork dropouts give riders the option to fine-tune the Omnium Fast’s rake by 10mm, easily adjusting real fork Trail from 38-49mm to change how responsive the bike is on the track. “Placing the flip chips in the forward position reduces Trail, making the bike more responsive. A larger trail, achieved in the rearward flip chip position, results in more forgiving handling.”
Both the fork dropouts and rear track ends are also ‘future-proof’ thanks to replaceable inserts that works with either conventional bolt-on axles or newer 12mm thru-axles.
All-new Forza Track handlebar
Paired with the new Omnium Fast is an all-new carbon track handlebar, too. Ridley developed the new Forza Track bar to push the limits of UCI regulation. What you get is a super narrow bar with a bit of flare to the drops, standard 31.8mm clamping, a relatively long 105mm reach but average 120mm drop, and horns for a more aero out-front position on the bar.
The handlebar is the UCI minimum width of 35cm, measured outside-to-outside at the drops (real 33cm wide center-to-center). But it’s just 30cm wide at the tops, with a little flare to make room for the rider’s wrists when deep in the drops.
Its most obvious features though, are the horns out front that mimic a set of road bike hoods to give track riders a secure and UCI-compliant grip further forward onto the narrower top half of the bar. A textured finish to the carbon bar provides grip without the aero drag of bar tape.
Tech details
- hi-mod carbon Omnium Fast aero track frame
- reinforced flat plate bolt-on track ends dropouts with integrated tensioners
- aerodynamic F-Tubing NACA tube shaping with F-Surface Plus turbulence-inducing grooves throughout
- proprietary aero carbon seatpost, with large fore-aft saddle adjustment & Ritchey 1-bolt head
- integrated wedge-type seatpost clamp
- PressFit PF30 bottom bracket
- IS42/47 headset for tapered 1.125-1.25″ steerer tube
- 32mm maximum tire size!
- 70T max chainring!
- full carbon fork with flip-chips for adjustable 35mm or 45mm rake, bolt-on and 12x120mm thru-axle compatible
- UCI-approved
- available in 3 sizes (S-L)
- 1046g frame weight (M, unpainted), 506g fork, 147g seatpost (400mm)
Ridley Omnium Fast – Pricing, options & availability
Ridley calls the new Omnium Fast their new benchmark custom track bike for group events. That custom bit comes down to the fact that almost all riders are going to tailor their bike build to their own individual needs. So for the most part they expect to sell the new Omnium Fast as a frameset, for 5000€ which includes the carbon frame, fork with flip-chip, proprietary aero seatpost, headset, and also a 30mm Rotor Track axle + 144×5 BCD Rotor Track Spider + Cema Interlock bottom bracket – you supply the crankarms, for some reason.
Or if you do want a ready-to-ride complete Ridley also offers a 6000€ Omnium Fast build with a basic alloy Miche crankset, shallow alloy DT Swiss T1800 wheels, a Selle Italia SLR saddle, and the new Forza Track handlebar. Basically, a nothing special spec so you can roll it out of your bike shop until the rest of your limitless pro track bike building budget materializes.
Or you should even be able to fully customize it with Ridley’s online bike ‘configurator’ tool, letting you select a custom component build and even customizable paint.
Any way you look at it way, the Ridley Omnium Fast is a pretty niche bike so they are assembled to order. Reach out to your local Ridley dealer, and it will take at least a month to get one to your shop, depending on size & spec availability.
As for the new carbon Forza Track bar, it is available to order from your local shop now for 450€.
