Hugo (72) climbs like a young mountain goat thanks to the E-Noah: “I often still have three bars of battery left”
In the beautiful Maasland region, between the whisper boats and Konik horses, Hugo Meus (72) feels at home. He truly relaxes on his brand-new E-Noah in candy red, our first aero e-road bike. Hugo rides most of his kilometers under his own power, but on the toughest sections he gets support from his TQ motor. “At my age, you have to be realistic and embrace technology. I’m not afraid of putting in an effort, but I also allow myself that extra bit of power sometimes,” he explains.
From Stokkem, you experience the magic of the Meuse on the many dikes. It’s also not far from Dutch Limburg, well known in cycling circles for the Amstel Gold Race. “After just a few kilometers, we’re already on the Slingerberg, and then you can ride straight through towards the Cauberg,” Hugo says. With this rolling landscape in mind, he had been looking for a new bike for several months. “About every five years, my race bike needs replacing. I’m still quite fit, but for the first time I started looking at an e-bike. You don’t want to regret in two years, when your body starts to push back, that you didn’t make this choice now.”
After several test rides, including on Ridley’s e-gravel bikes, Hugo made his decision. He bought the sparkling E-Noah, our newest addition to the range. “The idea is that I still put in the effort myself, so I didn’t want half a motorbike. This choice has turned out extremely well after a few months. In fact, I hardly notice when the support drops away. The transition is very gradual. That may also have to do with the bike’s light weight.”
From Stokkem, you experience the magic of the Meuse on the many dikes. It’s also not far from Dutch Limburg, well known in cycling circles for the Amstel Gold Race. “After just a few kilometers, we’re already on the Slingerberg, and then you can ride straight through towards the Cauberg,” Hugo says. With this rolling landscape in mind, he had been looking for a new bike for several months. “About every five years, my race bike needs replacing. I’m still quite fit, but for the first time I started looking at an e-bike. You don’t want to regret in two years, when your body starts to push back, that you didn’t make this choice now.”
After several test rides, including on Ridley’s e-gravel bikes, Hugo made his decision. He bought the sparkling E-Noah, our newest addition to the range. “The idea is that I still put in the effort myself, so I didn’t want half a motorbike. This choice has turned out extremely well after a few months. In fact, I hardly notice when the support drops away. The transition is very gradual. That may also have to do with the bike’s light weight.”
Aerodynamic properties
Hugo’s motor mainly kicks in on climbs. “Still, I also feel a difference on flat rides. When we do a twisty loop, the motor helps when accelerating. After that, I reach a speed of 25 km/h and there’s no more support. At that point, I obviously benefit from the bike’s aerodynamic properties. I like to push a bit harder to reach 35; the E-Noah remains an incredibly fast bike even without the motor.”
Many riders are mainly concerned about battery life. That is often unnecessary, as the motor only assists up to speeds of 25 km/h. “Usually, we average a bit above that pace. And still, after 80 to 100 kilometers, I notice that out of the five bars, three are still fully green. So I’ve only used about one and a half bars.”
Many riders are mainly concerned about battery life. That is often unnecessary, as the motor only assists up to speeds of 25 km/h. “Usually, we average a bit above that pace. And still, after 80 to 100 kilometers, I notice that out of the five bars, three are still fully green. So I’ve only used about one and a half bars.”
E-Noah
The First Aero E-Race BikeThe Ridley E-Noah is the first electric version of Ridley’s iconic aero race bike, combining top-level performance with subtle electric assistance. Thanks to the ultracompact TQ HPR40 system, the bike remains exceptionally light (under 11 kg) while preserving its aerodynamic shape. The motor and battery are fully integrated, making the E-Noah almost indistinguishable from a traditional racing bike. With 40 Nm of torque and 200 W of extra power, it delivers a natural and powerful riding sensation that can be personalized via the TQ app. The E-Noah is designed for sporty riders who want to go further and longer without losing the authentic racing feel — setting a new standard for aero e-performance.
Read moreNo showing off
For Hugo, the bike is primarily a way to enjoy himself. “That has become a bit easier since I got the E-Noah. In the past, I used to curse when hills appeared in the distance; now I actually look forward to them. In those moments, I can recover a bit compared to the other riders. I still stay nicely with the group and don’t ride off ahead. That wouldn’t feel appropriate.”
Quite a few of Hugo’s cycling friends are now also showing interest in his E-Noah. “At least, when they know I’m riding a bike with assistance. If you don’t tell them, they don’t notice. The Noah Fast also has that huge downtube, of course. I can definitely recommend the bike to them, because I’m very satisfied with it.”
Quite a few of Hugo’s cycling friends are now also showing interest in his E-Noah. “At least, when they know I’m riding a bike with assistance. If you don’t tell them, they don’t notice. The Noah Fast also has that huge downtube, of course. I can definitely recommend the bike to them, because I’m very satisfied with it.”
