Ridley Bikes have unveiled the Dean FAST, a new time trial bike to be ridden by Lotto-Belisol in the three time trials of the 2013 Tour de France.
The aero machine is the successor to the Ridley Dean, ridden by Lotto Belisol’s GC leader, Jurgen Van Den Broeck, en route to fourth overall in last year’s Tour.
Ridley’s new time trial steed includes many of the features present on the Noah FAST, the aero road bike ridden by Lotto Belisol’s sprint leader, Andre Greipel.
Jochim Aerts, founder and CEO of the Belgian bike brand, said the two machines shared many of the same Future Aero Speed Technology (FAST) features, including air channels in the fork legs and a sandpaper-like finish on the headtube, seat-tube and top-tube.
“We have improved our integrated brake with full internal cable routing and a new adjustment system, the F-Splitfork is enlarged to the top of the wheel, and the F-Surface is for the first time integrated via the frame moulds.
“Thanks to the internal cabling through the stem that is integrated into the top-tube, there is hardly any cabling showing in the cockpit,” he said.
Aerts claimed that the air channels in the fork reduced turbulence from the spinning wheel.
“The same goes for the F-Brake, which, by integrating the brake in to the fork, minimizes the turbulence of the air flowing past the brake from forward movement but also the turbulence caused by the wheel spinning past the brake itself,” he added.
Aerts described the F-Surface as a “boundary layer”, intended to deliver a smoother airflow than a standard teardrop tube.
The F-Surface, previously applied to the frame, is now moulded into the downtube and seat-tube.
Cabling for the F-Brake is now internal and operates a centre-pull mechanism.
The most striking aspect of the Dean FAST is the integrated cockpit in which the junction of the stem and top-tube appears seamless.
“The frame, fork, bar and stem are holistically designed to accept all types of electronic shifting systems, like the internal battery Campagnolo is currently working on, enabling us to eliminate external cabling around the cockpit. These will be released later this summer,” said Aerts.
The rear drop outs are vertical, the result of Ridley’s collaboration with the Lotto Belisol mechanics, who said they made it easier to change and centre a wheel, ensuring its optimum position behind the seat-tube, regardless of tyre width.
A triathlon-specific version of the Dean FAST will be made available in custom geometry with custom handlebars later this year.
