Cadel Evans’ Ridley Helium awaits the final stage of June’s Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré.Ben Atkins
Like the other top Ridley frames the Helium’s head tube tapers from 1 1/8 up top to 1 1/2 inches at the fork crown.Ben Atkins
The Helium weighs a claimed 900g for the medium size partly due to a hefty looking bottom bracket area that has been lightened by removing excess material.Ben Atkins
The top tube joins the seat tube in a solid joint and those thin seat stays are stronger than they look.Ben Atkins
The triangular section down tube morphs into a horizontal oval at the bottom bracket.Ben Atkins
Those curved and profiled chain stays help to make this year’s Helium stiffer than last year’s.Ben Atkins
The super-thin seat stays drop more weight and allow some vertical compliance, but Ridley claims that the Helium is one of the most durable lightweight carbon frames out there.Ben Atkins
The curved Helium fork was chosen for use by Cadel Evans and that’s what Ridley puts on the frames it sells.Ben Atkins
Evans’ bike comes with a replaceable rear derailleur hanger to minimise crash damage.Ben Atkins
The head on the integrated seatpost can be adjusted fore and aft to accommodate different rider physiologies.Ben Atkins
Silence-Lotto is sponsored by Campagnolo and uses Record chainsets throughout.Ben Atkins
A Campagnolo Record rear derailleur keeps shifting accurate for Evans…Ben Atkins
… but a pair of FSA jockey wheels with ceramic bearings keep the chain running even smoother.Ben Atkins
Campagnolo’s C10 Record chain has hollow pins and punched-out links to make it even lighter.Ben Atkins
Evans has a steel and titanium Record cassette with a very much all-terrain sprocket tooth range of 11-25.Ben Atkins
The Helium has no braze-on derailleur hanger so Evans’ frame is fitted with a clamp-on Record front derailleur.Ben Atkins
Like most Campagnolo-sponsored pros Evans uses the Red version Record Ergopower levers.James Huang
To make his climbing position that bit more comfortable Cadel Evans tilts his Ergopower levers up slightly.James Huang
Oval provides the stems to Silence-Lotto and Evans uses the carbon version of the R900 upgraded with a carbon faceplate and titanium hardware.James Huang
Morgan Nicol of Oval Concepts doesn’t believe in oversized bars so they’re all 26.0mm in diameter on team bikes.James Huang
So as not to lose his chain Evans’ bike is fitted with a handy chain watcher.James Huang
Evans’ saddle is a Racing Replica version of Selle San Marco’s Aspide.James Huang
There’s little mistaking who makes this saddle.James Huang
The Campagnolo Record D-Skeleton front brake runs on bearings and has a dual pivot for stronger braking where you need it.James Huang
Unlike the front, the rear brake has a single pivot as it doesn’t need to be so powerful.Ben Atkins
Campagnolo Hyperon Ultra wheels run on these minimal looking carbon hubs.Ben Atkins
The Campagnolo Hyperon Ultra rear hub is “ceramic ready” but runs on steel bearings as standard.Ben Atkins
The Hyperon Ultra’s front rim has a symmetric spoke pattern…Ben Atkins
… but the rear is asymmetric giving it a better dish and greater rigidity and strength.Ben Atkins
Vredestein provides Silence-Lotto’s tyres and Evans has its top-of-the-line Fortezza Pro TriComp tubulars.Ben Atkins
Evans uses two Tacx Tao bottle cages.Ben Atkins
Nothing flash for recording his stats here; Evans has a simple Cateye Strada computer.Ben Atkins
Despite being a Belgian bike and a Belgian team Evans displays his Southern Cross with pride.Ben Atkins