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TDU 2017 Tech: Adam Hansen’s Ridley Helium SLX

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Adam Hansen has a wee bit of pedigree. Former winner of Australia’s toughest off-road race, the Crocodile trophy, he has taken his success off-road to the WorldTour, and is now the record holder for the number of consecutive grand tours completed, at sixteen. His 2016 Vuelta ride officially broke the record – an absolutely amazing achievement. Adam also has a reputation as a bike tinkerer, shoe maker, and even software developer. Is there anywhere Adam’s talents don’t extend? Drop past the break to get up close with his unique bike setup…

Adam’s bike setup certainly is unorthodox. Case in point is his Deda seatpost with just a smidge of setback, but flipped around, and the Selle Italia Flite carbon rail saddle jammed all of the way forward, likely as far as the UCI will let him.

However, with a track record like Hansen’s, clearly the unorthodox works out just fine.

Double security around the seat cluster. His bike gets a standard seatpost clamp, plus a secondary clamp around the post itself to prevent slippage. This little addition is something we normally only spot in the rough Spring Classics, but would be handy for traveling – nigh on impossible to mess up one’s saddle height!

Hansen also must be quite flexible, as his bike gets one of the greatest saddle to handlebar drops you’ll ever spot.

The Deda handlebars and Zero 100 stem in -20° looks a little lower than usual, but that is only partly because Adam’s bike was suspended at the rear wheel on a bike stand.

Regardless, that position isn’t for everyone – remember, bike fit is a personal choice.

Beneath the stem resides the newest ANT+ and Bluetooth compatible Campagnolo EPS V3 control unit, so he can keep an eye on his setup from a smartphone or pair it with a regular cycling computer.

A new bike livery for Lotto Soudal means suitably coordinated handlebar tape.

#BE Tough – #AU Tough if you’re Adam Hansen.

SRM is the official power meter sponsor for Lotto Soudal, and the bikes of all riders are fitted with the PC8 head unit.

Lotto Soudal is one of three teams riding Campagnolo components this season, and Super Record EPS is the choice for the team. Classy.

Heat shink tubing has been used by a lot of pro team mechanics to keep the wiring associated with Campagnolo and Shimano electronic drivetrains looking neat. Note the Campagnolo EPS wires enters at the same spot on the frame as the rear brake cable.

Of great interest is the crankset on Adam’s bike. Lotto’s head mechanic, Steven Van Olmen, told me it is a prototype SRM unit. However, it greatly resembles the Lightning Bikes carbon crankset, albeit with a matte surface finish and no logos.

Assuming this to be true, Lightning Bikes claim their crankset and bottom bracket assembly is the lightest on the market. Note the surface finish around the spider area of the crank. Because Adam Hansen uses 180mm cranks, availability is the limiting factor. Custom or otherwise, not every manufacturer produces such a crankset.

According to Lightning Bikes, a 170mm crank with 130BCD and a BB86 bottom bracket weighs 405 grams sans chainrings. Hansen is not shy to some unique custom carbon, so we’ll be interested to try an find even more about these things.

The bottom bracket also receives an upgrade courtesy of C-Bear ceramic bearings, who have a been a long-time supplier to the team.

Look Keo Blade 2 Pro Team Carbon / Titanium pedals.

Campagnolo Super Record EPS rear derailleur, matched to an 11-25 ratio cassette, the standard gearing choice for most riders at the 2017 Tour Down Under.

This braze on mount K-Edge chain catcher keeps the chain from dropping in the event of an errant gear shift.

Continental isn’t dominating the pro tire scene like it was in 2017. The Vittoria Corsa has been spotted on several team’s bikes – this is the 700c x 25mm tubular.

No tricky aero brakes here, just the proven performance of Campagnolo’s Super Record brake calipers.

The rear brake with race number mount ready to go.

Elite supply the team’s Cannibal bottle cages and bidons.

Adam, good luck for this season!

Ridley Bikes


Article and photos by Gravel Cyclist. Jayson O’Mahoney is the Gravel Cyclist: A website about the Gravel Cycling Experience.

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Timbo!
Timbo!
7 years ago

Hansen’s setup is always good for a smile. Also, it’s cool seeing such a Euro-centric collection of frame and parts. What was once the norm is now the quirky exception. Thanks for all of the detail shots!

thesteve4761
thesteve4761
7 years ago

Disgracefully dirty chain.

Stendhal
Stendhal
7 years ago

This is the bicycle equivalent of, “kids, don’t try this at home.” Rock on, Adam.

Mike
Mike
7 years ago

I didn’t see mention of the 38cm (c/c) bar, if that’s what he still uses. Stem appears to be a 130.

Dinger
Dinger
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike

I just saw him in some Aussie race footage and if he wasn’t riding a 38cm, then I reckon he’s gone even narrower. Looked like he could’ve touched his thumbs together with his hands on the hoods!

I’ve read an interview where he talks about his fit. Everything has a simple and reasonable explanation. Basically his job is driving the pace on the front for long miles, so he’s crafted his road bike to behave as much like a TT bike as he reasonably can.

OGMarkV
OGMarkV
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike

The narrowest Deda Zero100 handlebar size is 38cm, but like all Deda Elementi dropbars, that’s outside-outside (no flare). So it actually measures 35.5cm center-center. I’ve always wondered if Hansen is running the 40cm size and people are reporting he’s on a 38 because that’s the more common measuring convention, or if he’s really on the Deda “38”.

Tom
Tom
7 years ago

His chain doesn’t appear to be Super Record or even Record! (no hollow pins) Lower spec for added strength?

Luis Raventós - Biomecanica 3D

Amazing fit. This demonstrates the fit is always individual

Greg
Greg
7 years ago

Chain is Chorus. Outer ring appears to be Shimano 7800 with the logos taped over. Shimano logos still visible on the chainring bolts, though.
Crank is absolutely Lightning, and as mentioned, one of the few to make carbon cranks in 180.

Tom.
Tom.
7 years ago
Reply to  Greg

good spot with the drive-train!

TomM
TomM
7 years ago

Is it just me, or does his big chainring loom huge?

durianrider
7 years ago

The 9 spd inner ring and 7800 big dog snub the ‘you have you use 11spd rings with 11spd chains!’ BS.

I reckon AH should run a smaller frame. This one is far too big. That way you dont have to flip the post, the frame is stiffer and the handling will be better with a non flipped stem. Ive got a 48cm he can borrow for a bit.

Adam Hansen
Adam Hansen
7 years ago
Reply to  durianrider

I run a 83.5cm seathight and I’m on a medium frame. Next size would be too small. I’ve currently got the longest stem (140mm) even with a medium it is too short. So a smaller frame is not long enough and I’d have to have a super long seat post and already it looks strange.

AK_Ben
AK_Ben
7 years ago
Reply to  durianrider

Well, it’s a good thing the expert has chimed in! I’m sure Hansen will immediately be swapping over based on @durianrider’s recommendation. Oh wait, sounds like he’s got pretty good reasons for his setup, unorthodox though it may be. Thank you to Adam Hansen for that response!
On another note, it would be interesting to see what a custom frame for Adam would look like, something not cobbled together to make the team sponsor’s frame work.

Kristina Koscova
7 years ago

The small chainring is Specialites TA Hegoa CNC. An old 9/10speed model. It is no longer in production. But it works excellent with 11speed chains. It has great durability, too.

Alex
Alex
7 years ago

Curious if Adam has been in the wind tunnel and has had a chance to quantify how well his fit works for example, regarding aerodynamics vs power produced. Intuitively low and narrow makes a lot of sense. But then there have been cases of the wind tunnel showing the opposite – thinking of the case of hand on drops vs hoods – hoods sometimes being faster for some riders, since frontal area is smaller.

RobertW
RobertW
7 years ago

I enjoyed this article immensely. Pro bikes are usually so generic.

thewaywardcyclist
thewaywardcyclist
7 years ago

Strangely enough, this is the only bike in the Pro peloton I could probably ride and have fun on. The bottom bracket though… what’s the Q factor on that? It looks a little… outboard. I’m sure Adam knows and it works for him.. but just in case I want to steal his bike, these are important measurements to know before my epic ride getaway.

Timothy R. Brummer
7 years ago

The bottom bracket cups are stock Lightning PF30, Q factor with these cups and the stock Lightning crank arms is 150mm. The reason for outboard PF30 cups is we make the crank arms to fit all popular BBs including EVO 386 and BB86, then make special cups to adapt the arms to each specific BB.

These crank arms pictured are the slightly heavier and stronger HD version to handle the 185mm length and strong rider.

Bud
Bud
7 years ago

Why does Adam ride such a small frame.

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