Bart Wellen's Ridley 08

Bart Wellen may not have had a great 2007/08 season missing out on a big win, despite that he remains one of the big stars of the Professional Cross scene.

More pictures of Bart's bike and that of team mate Tom Meeusen

Bart's pedigree is without question having been crowned World Champion in 2003 and 2004,and is three time Belgian National Cyclo-cross Champion (2000, 2005 and 2007 - A title fight that features all the top Belgians!)

Dressed up in Belgian Championship colours Bart's 2007/08 cross bike is a full carbon Ridley X-Night specific to the Fidea race team featuring an integrated seat post. 'Customer' teams such as Sun Web or the bike of newly crowned Under 23 World Champion Niels Albert, ride X-Night's with conventional framesets.

Ridley have developed their range of cross bikes with great rider input, Jan Guedons of Ridley told us that 'The riders have their input on the design and geometry of the frame. The X-night with integrated seatpost has been designed together with the guys of the team". The Fidea X-Nite is not yet available to buy, but it should make an appearance next season. One major factor in cross bike design is the general trend toward fast open courses, with this bottom bracket height's have come down a a great deal, and Niels Albert's bike is lower than most.

Bart's bike is pictured in training mode and has Kysrium wheels with Michelin semi-slick clincher tyres.

Bike Spec

Frame - X-night with integrated seatpost and titanium drop outs

Forks - Ridley carbon

Gears - Shimano Dura Ace

Levers - Shimano Dura Ace

Saddle - Flite

Seat Post - Integrated

Bars/Stem - Umarked alloy

Brakes - 4ZA CB2 or 4ZA HG cross brakes

Wheels - 4ZA T50

Tyres - Challenge Tubs

Ridley - www.ridley-bikes.com/