The missing link between mountain biking and gravel, that's the new Ridley Ignite GTX

Do you remember the phrase "they are going to end up inventing the mountain bike"? That seems to point to the new Ridley Ignite GTX, a bike that if it weren't for the rigid fork and curved handlebar could well be an XC rigid bike. The Belgian brand's proposal for those who understand gravel as a discipline focused on long distances but also on transit through difficult terrain.

Ridley Ignite GTX, the most radical gravel from Ridley

Normally, the gravel discipline has been nourished by road cyclists who found in riding on the trails a motivating activity that allowed them to ride at very similar speeds to asphalt with the freedom and full contact with nature that riding on traffic-free roads allows. However, a good number of mountain bikers have also approached gravel, not facing extremely technical routes that require the radical double suspension bikes that now populate the market.

To please the latter, those who were finding gravel bikes falling short and facing an approach towards the most demanding ultra-distance events on the calendar, Ridley has launched this Ignite GTX, essentially a mountain bike with a rigid fork and curved handlebar.

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An assertion supported by the fact that the Ridley Ignite GTX has a MTB geometry, with a 70° head angle, not as open as what is currently fashionable but a geometry that would not have stood out among mountain bikes from a few years ago, in fact, the bike easily accepts the mounting of a 100mm suspension fork.

Also, the wheel clearance of this Ridley Ignite GTX reveals its mountain bike genes, with enough space to mount tires up to 29x2.3, the largest currently available in a gravel model. In fact, converting their old mountain bikes into gravel models is something that many have been doing thanks to the gravel boom.

The Ridley Ignite GTX, which can be chosen as standard with a rigid fork or with a Rock Shox SID. In addition, the rear triangle has flex zones to achieve maximum absorption on that axis, adding to what the mountain bike tires already provide.

A bike that is already available on the Ridley website and at the brand's usual points of sale with five setups starting with the one equipped with 11-speed mechanical SRAM Apex, priced at €2,799 and can be upgraded with the Rock Shox fork option, up to the one mounted with 12-speed GRX820 and suspension fork reaching €4,299. In between, we have the option of SRAM Rival in a setup with or without suspension.