Adam Hansen’s Ridley Helium SLX gallery

Check out the Aussie hard man's one-of-a-kind race bike

January 19, 2018 at 8:00 am

Adam Hansen is a tinkerer. From his homemade carbon fibre shoes to the logistics software he wrote for his team Lotto-Soudal, the same mindset extends to his Ridley Helium SLX race bike, which is pretty unique.

With this, he is also more than likely a mechanic’s nightmare, not only with his one-of-a-kind fit, his bike also sports quite a lot of black electrical tape and magic marker too in an effort to keep things sponsor-correct.

Like the other climbers on the Lotto-Soudal team, he’s riding a Ridley Helium SLX frameset, complete with a Campagnolo Super Record groupset and brakes.

Instead of the Campy Super Record SRM crank he’s using what appears to be the same custom SRM as last year. While the 180mm bare carbon crank arms are unmarked, we think they are from Lightning Carbon. And the mechanics have blacked out the chainrings, but upon close inspection they are Bor Germany’s 2X 130BCD TT Triathlin 55t rings — an update from the Dura-Ace 7800 rings from last year.

The mechanics have done a pretty good job hiding Hansen’s Bor chainrings

Colin Levitch / Immeidate Media

At the top of the seat tube the mechanics have employed at a bit more black electrical tape to hide the logos on Hansen’s PRO Vibe Carbon seatpost. With 20mm of setback, Hansen actually has the post in the bike backwards — so it’s actually set forwards — and his well-used Selle Italia Flight saddle is slammed all the way forward on the rails, well past the normal safety limits.

At the front, the Aussie rider is using a -15-degree 150mm Deda Zero 100 stem and 38cm Deda Zero 100 bars.

As with the rest of the team, he’s rolling on Campy Bora Ultra 35s, wrapped in 25c Vittoria Corsa tubs.

Given Hansen is a climber it’s no surprise to see him on the Bora Ultra 35s

Colin Levitch / Immeidate Media

With all of Hansen’s tinkering and known weight weenie tendencies, his race bike tipped our scales at 6.75kg. So the mechanics are going to have to drop a few chain links down his seat tube before the race starts.

Complete bike specifications

Frame: Ridley Helium SLX HM unidirectional carbon
Fork: Ridley Helium SLX HM unidirectional carbon
Stem: Deda Zero 100 150mm
Handlebar: Deda Zero 100, 38mm
Tape: Lizard Skins DPS
Front brake: Campagnolo Super Record
Rear brake: Campagnolo Super Record
Brake/shift levers: Campagnolo Super Record EPS
Cassette: Campagnolo Super Record, 11-29T
Chain: Campagnolo Super Record
Crankset: Lightning Carbon, SRM, 180mm Cranks
Wheelset: Campagnolo Bora Ultra 35
Tyres: Vittoria Corsa tubular, 25mm
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite
Seatpost: PRO Vibe Carbon
Bottle cages: Tacx Deva

Critical measurements

Rider’s weight: 75kg / 165lb
Rider’s height: 1.86m / 6ft 1in
Saddle height, from bottom bracket (c-t): 805mm
Seat tube length: 54mm
Tip of saddle nose to centre of handlebars: 575mm
Head tube length: 172mm
Top tube length: 565mm
Total bike weight: 6.75kg

Click or swipe through the gallery above for a detailed look at Adam Hansen’s very unique race bike.

Colin Levitch

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Colin now resides on the Gold Coast in Australia. Holding a media degree, Colin is focused on the adventure sport media world. Coming from a ski background, his father a former European pro convinced him to try collegiate crit racing. Although his bright socks say full roadie, he can often found exploring singletrack or grinding down a gravel road.