There's good news and bad news about the Ridley Noah road bike. The good news is that the bike just comes to life at about 32mph. It awakens as if from a deep slumber and realizes that it's time to take over from me. I guess that this is when the aerodynamics of the slotted fork and seat stays actually does something worthwhile. It becomes so stable at high speeds that I have wondered whether or not it's actually a bicycle then. It's amazing. The bad news is that I don't get to 32mph nearly often enough.

I have read that the ride of the Noah was harsh. With that expectation, I've been pleasantly surprised at how comfortable of a ride it has been. Chip-seal roads that were bone-rattlers on my last bike (aluminum) are barely noticeable now. I think that the slotted fork and seatstays actually provide some softening from what would probably be a really stiff ride otherwise. I've ridden a few other high-end carbon fiber bikes and they all have had a similar "buttery" smoothness to them that I'm glad to enjoy on the Noah.

Handling is phenomenal. I'm faster and more confident in corners than ever before. I feel far more stable and don't even think about whether or not the bike will can handle it when I dive into a sharp corner with a group of other riders around me.

I don't have any real hills in my immediate area, but there are a few "speedbumps" that we call hills - 200 feet or so. The group that I ride usually ride with usually races to the top of these hills. I'm now at the top of these short climbs with the fastest guys and am a real contender in the sprints to the top. When I push the bike, it translates all of my (meek) power into forward momentum.

The one problem with this bike is its attitude. This bike laughs at me when I ride it hard. Here I am going anaerobic bridging a gap and my bike is saying to me, "is that all you've got?". I really do think it has that attitude.

Seriously, I really don't have real any criticisms yet. It's a great bike that I've enjoyed riding each time.