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The Ridgeback Century is a steel framed light tourer or Audax / sportive bike. The frame is made from Reynolds 520 double-butted chromoly steel (this is the same as 525, but made under quality-controlled licence in Taiwan), which gives it a high strength and a surprisingly low weight. The transmission is provided by Shimano Sora / Tiagra mix 9 speed, using a compact double chainset to give a useful range of 18 gears. High spec 28mm Continental Duraskin+K tyres sit beneath high quality chromoplastic mudguards.

The advantage of using good quality butted steel tubing in any frame, but particularly a road frame, is that the inherent material springiness (elasticity is the term used by engineers) makes for a very comfortable ride. When you're in the saddle for more than 4 hours or so, this can have a profound effect in terms of reduction in fatigue and discomfort at your contact points.

The Century is a seriously good-looking bike: its narrow frame tubes and delicate welds bestow it with an elegance that no aluminium framed bike can hope for.

This is a bike for a sportive or Audax ride, for fast light touring or commuting or as a winter or training bike for roadies. Ridgeback is one of the few brands that offers road bikes that you can realistically use through the British winter.