Staff Lotto-Dstny, and particularly Maxim van Gils has been noticed on the Critérium du Dauphiné on what seems to be a brand new prototype Ridley bike forward of stage one. The brand new bike is marked with UCI prototype stickers and includes a matte black body with chrome Ridley logos. We’ve got additionally noticed a brand new BMC prototype bike on the Dauphine, because it appears producers are quickly gearing as much as roll out new tools within the run as much as and through the Tour de France.
The Lotto-Dstny group have the Noah FAST aero bike and the lighter weight Helium to select from. Other than these fashions Ridley additionally manufactures the Fenix Endurance bike. This new prototype seems to obviously have completely different body tubing profiles in comparison with the Noah FAST aero bike and might be a mix of options from a couple of completely different fashions within the Ridley line, maybe changing an present mannequin or bringing one thing new to the desk.
Gear smart, the bike construct seems to be similar to the opposite group bikes, with the identical Deda built-in handlebars and stem, Dura-Ace groupset, bling gold KMC chains and DT Swiss and Vittoria tyre and wheel mixtures.
The above picture supplies an attention-grabbing comparability between the groups present Noah FAST aero bike and the prototype mannequin. The brand new bike seems to have a unique seat keep / seat tube be part of with a barely much less aero profile and barely much less seat keep drop.
The headtube is a barely completely different form too, and the highest tube additionally appears to be extra horizontal, although this might simply be the digicam angle. Maybe it is a bit just like the variations between the Specialised Venge and Tarmac, with Ridley streamlining the 2 fashions into only one bike.
The Prototype belonged to Maxim Van Gils, and given a race quantity is connected it is secure to say this bike will see motion. Maybe the entire group can be utilizing the brand new bike come the Tour de France, the place the UCI will roll out it is new tools registration guidelines this 12 months.
The prototype bikes seems to have an oval or teardrop formed proprietary seatpost with a wedge clamp and rubber cowl to assist aerodynamics, and hold filth and water out of the meeting.
The group additionally look to be working the newly launched this 12 months Vittoria Corsa Professional tyres, which we have now seen within the peloton for a number of months now however have solely just lately been formally launched by Vittoria.
The body is clearly completely different to the Noah and Helium Ridley fashions and appears if something to have most in frequent with the Fenix, which is Ridley’s endurance bike. It seems like extra of an all rounder, fairly than a hyper aero or featherweight bike.
The prototype does not seem to have the identical fork crown with aero profiling because the Noah FAST. Maybe this headtube and fork association is definitely sooner. The bikes additionally characteristic the identical bar and stem because the group Noah’s on the race, although this unit leaves the highest cap uncovered and sitting barely proud within the wind.
The above UCI prototype sticker confirms it it is a new child on the block. The DT Swiss ARC wheels additionally got here out high once we took a bunch of wheelsets to the wind tunnel for aero testing. Ridley has its personal wind tunnel facility so maybe it is aware of this already from its personal testing and determined to go together with DT Swiss.
As ever, keep tuned and we are going to replace this web page as and when any new data arises.
