Ridley Helium ridden and rated
Tested by: Paul Norman | Miles ridden: 386 | Weight: 7.52kg | Size tested: 54cm
When Thomas de Gendt heads off on yet another doomed breakaway, he’s riding the Ridley Helium SLX. As a pro-level bike, the Helium SLX attracts a premium price tag.
The Helium X comes out of the same mould as the SLX but it’s made of a mix of 30T (30 tonne) and 24T highmodulus carbon rather than the Helium SLX’S 60T-40T30T higher-modulus mix. This makes the frame a bit heavier but it lowers the overall price tag.
Frame
The Ridley Helium X is a lightweight frame with a robust head tube/ down tube junction and chunky chainstays for power delivery. The skinny seatstays are designed to add some cushioning for extra ride comfort. Ridley uses threaded outboard bottom bracket bearings for more efficient running and ease of maintenance.
The head tube is a bit taller than on some race machines, although the stack means the ride position remains low, again reflecting the Helium X’s big brother’s pro race credentials.
The 73° head tube angle and 97.7cm wheelbase on the size 54 tested are quite aggressive, leading to handling that is more edgy than relaxed.
Like the frame, the Helium X’s fork is all carbon and made of the same highmodulus 30T-24T mix.
Specification
Our test Helium X is a 2017 model with an Ultegra 6800 groupset, including chainset and brakes. The new Ultegra R8000 has since been launched and will figure in next year’s build. However, even with ‘old’ Ultegra the shifting is faultless and braking effective.
Although they’re not a premium wheelset, the Fulcrum Racing 5 LG CX wheels have a quality build and are deep enough to give a sporty look to the bike. Their wide, asymmetric 17mm rim coupled with the 25mm Continental Ultrasport tyres give plenty of air volume, a wide stance to the sidewalls and a comfortable ride. With the extra volume, you can also lower the tyre pressure to add comfort.
Ridley’s in-house component brand, Forza, sells
a comprehensive range of finishing kit and the Helium X makes use of this, with a Forza alloy cockpit, carbon seatpost and saddle.
For 2018, the Ridley Helium X will come with a Rotor 3D30 chainset in place of Ultegra R8000 and Forza alloy wheels with Vittoria Zaffiro tyres in place of the Fulcrums.
Ride
The Ridley shows its racing credentials in a lively ride, which makes you want to ride faster and put its handling to use. With the stem slammed, the ride position is racy enough to put you quite long and low, although there are spacers to get the bars 4.5cm higher if you prefer.
Although it feels fast, the Helium X isn’t a handful to pilot and is quite happy to be ridden rapidly on faster flats and descents. There’s plenty of rigidity to the bottom bracket and chainstays so you can put the power down and climb effectively. Although billed as a lightweight machine, that rigidity does mean that the Helium X is a bit less plush than some of the alternatives. While it couldn’t be described as a harsh ride, you can definitely feel the miles on typical UK tarmac a bit more than on some other machines.
Value
At close to £3,000 in Ultegra spec, the Helium X is a bit pricier than some alternatives, although it’s on a par with other premium offerings so isn’t way over budget. But for your money you are getting a Worldtour-level frame tested by Thomas de Gendt and others on the Lotto-soudal team, albeit made out of slightly lower-spec carbon.
And Ridley has built the Helium X with a range of quality components. Not just the full Shimano groupset, but the wheels and own-brand finishing kit befit a top-end machine too.