Ridley Bikes was started in 1997 by Jochim Aerts, a frame builder and painter who had been producing frames for Belgian bicycle companies since 1990. In a few years, Ridley became the market leader in Belgium for racing bikes.^[1] They are the main bike sponsors for team Lotto–Soudal.^[2]

Ridley boasts of having developed the fastest time trial machines in the world with the types Dean and Noah, which were created after intensive wind tunnel tests.^[3] These tests led to findings for a new wheel series, the future aero speed technology - FAST for the road.^[4] Before 2001, Race Productions NV started developing and selling wheel components such as saddles, handlebars, wheels, etc. under the brand name 4ZA-FORZA.^[5]

Ridley bikes are currently owned by Belgium company, Race Productions, who also bought out Eddy Merckx when the company was struggling in 2017^[6]