A Belgian Classic

Ridley has, like Cycling Plus, been around for a quarter of a century. We travelled to Belgium to find out how the company has grown over the last 25 years to become the only global Belgian bike brand.

- Robin Wilmott

We just wanted a good-sounding name that was easy to pronounce in different languages,” explains Jochim Aerts as he tells us about the brand he founded just over 25 years ago. “Many Belgian companies and bike shops used their family name or tried to make the company sound Italian, such as Borghini. I loved Alien and Blade Runner, both directed by Ridley Scott, and thought Ridley would be a great name.”

We’re with Aerts at Ridley’s headquarters and factory in Beringen, north-east Belgium as he reminisces about the formation and growth of a bike company that runs almost parallel to Cycling Plus’s history. And the ‘name’ is a question he’s asked a lot as it’s caused confusion down the years. “For years people thought we were an American brand,” Aerts admits. “Now we proudly promote our Belgian roots.”

In just over a quarter of a century Ridley has gone from custom bike painter, to frame builder to global cycling brand recognised for innovation and racing success on the road and in cyclo-cross.

“My dad is crazy about cycling and my brother, who’s 10 years older than me [Aerts is 45], began racing bikes at 14. From the age of four all of my weekend memories are of watching him compete. I began racing road and cyclo-cross at 14. When I was 18 my brother, who’d already been a pro for two years, had a crash and didn’t get a contract, so stopped racing.”