Britain's most successful Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, has revealed the Ridley Arena Carbon track bike she'll be riding during her hour record attempt on 28 February.
Storey will be attempting to beat the 12-year-old record of 46.065km, set by Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel in 2003, at round five of this year's Revolution Series at Lee Valley VeloPark, London.
The track star's diminutive Ridley Arena Carbon has a distinctively downward sloping top tube as well as an S-shaped wheel hugging seat tube that also forms the integrated seat mast, topped by Storey's ISM Adamo Attack split-nose saddle.
The fork uses the Belgian brand's patented drag-saving F-splitfork design, which is designed to offset the turbulence caused by the front wheel rotating against the incoming flow of air while riding.
Storey aboard her Ridley Arena wearing Pearl Izumi Pro Speed skinsuit and Lazer Wasp helmet
The frame uses S-surface, a structured surface that help keep the airstream in contact with the bike's droplet-shaped tubes. A mix of proprietary 50T, 40T and 30T SHM unidirectional carbon should offer Dame Storey the stiffness needed for the all-important static start and ensure no power is lost throughout the attempt.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Storey will use a Shimano Dura-Ace track chainring (and has been supplied with 49, 50 and 51T) joined to a 14T Dura-Ace sprocket by the brand's matching track chain. Storey's bike is pictured with an Infocrank power meter crankset. There's a Garmin mount pictured on the bike's top tube, but we've had no indication as yet whether Dame Sarah be watching the numbers on a head unit during the event or using the data for test runs and post-ride description. Pedals are standard Dura-Ace SPD-SL.
The front-end uses Pro Missile Evo components. Garmin mount visible on the top tube
The bike's cockpit comes from Shimano's component arm Pro and includes the brand's Missile Evo base bar, which has been specially adapted for Storey, matching ski-bend extensions and an 85mm, 10-degree rise Missile Evo carbon stem. Pro will also provide the wheels – a five-spoke front and disc rear, a departure from the recent men's hour record bikes, which have been specced with double discs.
Like male record holder Rohan Dennis, Storey will be wearing a slightly altered version of Pearl Izumi's Pro Speed Skinsuit. She'll also be wearing a Lazer Wasp TT helmet.
If you'd like to support Dame Sarah Storey in her attempt, tickets for round five of the Revolution Series (27 to 28 February) start from £15 and are available via www.cyclingrevolution.com.
Full bike specs Frame: Ridley Arena Carbon Front wheel: Pro 5 spoke Back wheel: Pro Disc Track Bars: Pro Missile Evo with ski-bend extensions Stem: Pro Missile Evo carbon, 85mm, 10-degree rise Crankset: Infocrank power meter Chainrings: Shimano Dura-Ace 49, 50 or 51T Rear sprocket: Shimano Dura-Ace 14T Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace Track Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL Saddle: ISM Adamo Attack
