Sportline’s 2018 bike highlights from Genesis, Ridgeback and Saracen

Within dealers this week headed up to Sportline UK’s MY18 reveal CI.N has hand-picked some of the range highlights worthy of shop floor space for the seasons ahead.

Genesis 

Two new bikes join the MY18 Genesis catalogue – the Fugio and the Mantle (pictured right).

Described as “the highlight of the 2018 range”, the Mantle hardtail will land as a frameset at £1,499.99, or two build kits at £2,599.99 (Mantle 20) and £3,599.99 (Mantle 30).

The Mantle 30 features a Shimano Deore XT 1X drivetrain paired to a Fox 32 Step Cast fork, all rolling on DT Swiss M1501 29” wheels. The 20 switches out XT for SLX and a slightly lower end set of DT wheels, but keeps the fork to offer a more affordable – but just as enjoyable – way into this new off-road machine.

When it comes to adventure bikes Genesis continues to drive froward progress. The Fugio is described as a combination of an Equilibrium Disc, Croix de Fer, Tarn and a pinch of CDA. Designed as a road plus monster, the Fugio rolls on 650b wheels and Clement 50c tyres to create a drop bar bike capable on the harshest gravel roads.

Available as a frameset or complete build, the foundation of the Fugio is a double-butted Mjölnir Cromo frame with a carbon road plus fork. Complementing that is a Shimano 105 groupset paired to RS-505 hydraulic disc brakes and a pair of 160mm rotors to give you perfect stopping power on or off-road.

A frameset will come in at £799.99, while a £1,999.99 105 build is ready to roll right out of the shop.

Ridgeback

Key to the 2018 Ridgeback launches is a further addition of an electric bike in the Cyclone, which joins the existing E-Flight, Electron and off-road ready X3.

A brand new e-Bike for the 2018 range, the £2,399.99 Cyclone is Ridgeback’s remedy to commuter woes.

Coming with racks and mudguards as standard, it’s an e-Bike with the capacity to carry and the Shimano STEPS pedal assistance system can give up to 125 kilometer of Eco mode assistance.

Available in a standard or open frame, the Cyclone is perfect for anyone who wants to commute by bike, but doesn’t want to turn up at the office looking like they’ve just rolled out of a spin class.

For those looking to rack up distance under their own steam, Ridgeback stays true to its roots with the introduction of the 2018’s Panorama and Panorama tandem.

Another of the World Series bikes, the Panorama is ready for the open road straight out of the box. Mudguards, racks, multiple bottle cages, disc brakes and a Shimano triple chainset mean that the bike is ready for whatever you want to throw at it. Or mount on it, more to the point.

There’s also the Panorama Tandem, for those who fancy a whole new type of challenge, or even the Panorama Deluxe, a gorgeous frameset made from Reynolds 853 tubing which is a perfect platform if your customer is looking to build the touring bike of their dreams.

Ridley 

New from Ridley for the marathon and XC enthusiast is the 100mm Sablo.

Built versatile, the 2,000 gram frame is di2 and internal dropper routing ready and bolsters longevity with the inclusion of Enduro bearings. Attention to detail has been crucial to creating a bike built to go the distance, says the firm, which has thrown in subtle design upgrades such as a forked hinge at the dropout as opposed to a more traditional asymmetric connection.

Weighing around 10kg for a complete build with SRAM Eagle and DT Swiss wheels the flagship is expected to retail for £6,999 via UK distributor Sportline. SRAM XO and Shimano XT builds will also be on offer, each with the same Factory tuned shock to ensure the same benefits and kinematics at lower pricepoints.

Saracen

12 months in the making, Saracen brand manager Simon Wild is particularly excited by the 2018 portfolio.

“We are immensely excited about our 2018 range of bikes, particularly the new Ariel LT. The Ariel platform has been evolving over the years and this new beast is something that we are really proud of. We have gone all-out on this one. Elsewhere, we can’t wait for people to see the new E-Bike, entry-level Kili, range of women’s bikes and the Hack in Black. We are just a small team, but love riding bikes and really hope people will love riding these.”

Starting with Wild’s highlight, the £4,999.99 LT utilises a 24T/40T/3K Toray UD Carbon blend on the front triangle and a Toray UD Carbon swingarm, keeping weight low whilst not compromising on durability. As seen on the Myst, the custom headtube allows you to adjust the front centre +/-5mm in order to perfect your ride position.

Internal cable routing and a specific Di2 battery holder in the downtube keep the bike looking as fresh as possible whilst still being practical. A full Shimano 1 x 11 speed groupset with M8000 XT brakes takes care of stopping duties. The cherries on the cake come in the form of a DT Swiss M1900 wheelset wrapped in Maxxis Minion DHF II tyres and carbon Enve bars at the cockpit.

Aside from the LT build, a cheaper Elite package comes in at £3,299.99.

As has been teased previously, Saracen too are getting in on the e-Bike action with the £3,399.99 Zen.

Building on 2017’s Zen+, the MY18 bike has now been combined with the Shimano STEPS E8000 system to create an altogether different yet familiar beast. 130mm Rockshox Recon RL fork keeps the front end stable at high speeds and 2.6in Maxxis Forekaster tyres help keep traction to the maximum. Shimano SLX 1 x 10-speed drivetrain keep things moving forward and Saracen’s own brand bar and stem take care of the finishing touches.

Heading along to the Sportline Show between September 12th to 14th? Dealers are encouraged to register here, while the exhibition is found at: 

74 Alston Drive
Bradwell Abbey
Milton Keynes
MK13 9HA