Trade Shows

Ribble 2017 road bike range – first look

Ultimate SL introduced, R872 revamped, Aero 883 Disc added to range and more highlights from Lancashire brand's new line-up

Ribble Cycle have overhauled their range for 2017, revamping a number of old models, including the best-selling R872, and introducing a clutch of new bikes, topped by the super-light Ultimate SL.

This is the biggest change to the Ribble line-up for some time and, perhaps most significantly, each of the new frames, apart from the Eliminator track bike, is unique to the Lancashire-based online brand, which holds a reputation for both impressive value and flexible specifications through the online bike builder.

Other highlights from the 2017 range include three new disc-equipped road bikes based around existing Ribble models – the Aero 883 Disc, Sportive Racing Disc and Gran Fondo Disc – as well as the versatile CGR training bike and CX5 cyclo-cross machine. As an aside, Ribble will also be expanding into the market bike market in 2017.

Back to the new road range and will continue to let customers custom-spec their machines through the online bike builder, with a wide-ranging choice of components, but they will also now offer each bike in a ‘recommended spec’.

That’s the top-line information – now let’s take a closer look at the bikes in the new Ribble road range.

Ribble Ultimate SL

You may have already spotted the Ultimate SL in our highlights reel from the Cycle Show, where Ribble launched the 2017 range. It’s their lightest frame yet, based around an 840g frame – that’s right on the money for a super-light chassis.

The Ultimate SL is Ribble’s lightest bike yet

The frame has incredibly thin seatstays, not unlike the Cannondale SuperSix EVO or Cervelo R5, to build some comfort into the rear end, and the 27.2mm seatpost is also designed to take some sting out of rough roads.

Otherwise, the frame has an oversized bottom bracket shell and tapered headtube to boost stiffness, and it’s built around what Ribble describe as a ‘racing geometry’.

The Ultimate SL starts from £1,699 or the recommended spec with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset and Ribble’s own carbon clincher wheels comes in at £2,799.99.

Ribble R872

As we’ve already mentioned, the R872 is Ribble’s best-selling bike, popular as a value-packed, carbon fibre race machine.

The frame has been updated for 2017, with fresh tube profiles: the R872 is sleeker and less angular around the seattube and toptube junction, with the theme continuing at the headtube, while the downtube tapers as it meets the bottom bracket. The chainstays are also chunkier and the R872 now has a PressFit bottom bracket – that adds up to a claimed ten per cent improvement in stiffness.

On the other hand, the R872 now also has a 27.2mm seatpost, to add a little more comfort to the ride. Oh, and the frame is available in two colours: black and silver. The geometry, however, remains unchanged to maintain the race-orientated position.

Ribble’s recommended spec pairs a Shimano Ultegra groupset with Mavic Ksyrium wheels for £1,499.99, while builds start from £1,199.99.

Ribble Aero 883 Disc

The Aero 883 is one of a number of bikes in the Ribble range to get a disc brake update for 2017.

The Ribble Aero 883 is now available with disc brakes

The frame is, on the whole, unchanged, with the deep, truncated tube profiles, aero-profiled seatpost (with integrated clamp), and huge chainstays and bottom bracket, but it also gains flat mount disc brake calipers and thru-axles at the front and rear.

Complete bikes start from £1,599.99, while the recommended spec pictured sees the Aero 883 Disc frame dressed in a Shimano Ultegra groupset and Fulcrum Racing Quattro DB wheels for £2,699.99.

Of course, the rim brake Aero 883 remains in the range and start from £1,499.99, with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 and Mavic Cosmic build coming in at £2,499.99.

Ribble Gran Fondo Disc

Ribble describe the Gran Fondo as their most comfortable bike and, like the Aero 883, there’s a disc-ready model in the range for 2017.

Ribble have also tweaked the geometry (on both the disc and non-disc frames), slackening the headtube to increase the trail. That should add a little more stability to the handling.

The tube profiles have also been updated, with s-bend seatstays introduced to add a little more comfort into the frame. Stiffness, on the other hand, has reportedly been improved thanks to a new PressFit bottom bracket.

The Gran Fondo Disc starts from £1,249.99 and there’s a build with Shimano Ultegra, hydraulic disc brakes and Fulcrum Racing Sport DB wheels for £1,499.99.

The rim brake version of the Gran Fondo is available from £999.99, with the recommended spec, made up of a Shimano Ultegra groupset and Mavic Cosmic wheels, coming in at £1,199.99.

Ribble Sportive Racing Disc

The Sportive Racing Disc is another popular model in the Ribble line-up – and another machine now available with disc brakes.

The Sportive Racing does what it says on the tine – it’s a bike designed to thrive whether riding a sportive or a road race, and that’s reflected in the geometry, which sits somewhere between aggressive and relaxed.

The Sportive Racing Disc has the same front triangle as the regular Sportive Racing, but the rear triangle and fork have been reworked and now have mudguard eyelets and clearance for 28mm tyres, further increasing the bike’s versatility.

You can get hold of a Ribble Sportive Racing Disc from £1,149.99, while the recommended spec here costs £1,199.99 with Shimano 105, hydraulic disc brakes and Fulcrum Racing Sport DB wheels.

The rim brake Ribble Sportive Racing is unchanged for now (there are no mudguard eyelets and tyre clearance remains 25mm) and starts from £999.99. The recommended spec with Shimano 105 and Fulcrum Racing Sport wheels comes in at £1,149.99. The frame is also now available in two colours, with a black and green option alongside an all-black paintjob.

Ribble Evo Pro

The Evo Pro has been Ribble’s entry-level, carbon fibre road bike for some time but this is a completely new frame for 2017.

The tube profiles have been updated, most notably around the headtube, toptube and seatstays, giving the frame a much sleeker appearance. The frame itself now also has internal cable routing and is compatible with electronic groupsets, while the geometry has been updated.

Complete bikes start from £849.99, while the recommended spec with Shimano Tiagra comes in at a penny under £1,000.

Ribble CGR

The CGR is a new addition to the Ribble line-up. CGR stands for ‘Cross, Gravel, Road’, which gives a clue as to the versatility Ribble believe this frame delivers. A bike which they say as happy in the heat of a cyclo-cross race, exploring unknown gravel tracks and bridleways, or on the daily commute to work.

While the majority of Ribble’s frames are carbon fibre, this one is made from 7005-grade aluminium, and is paired with a carbon fork. There’s stacks of tyre clearance, with room for 35mm rubber, and you’ll also find eyelets ready to accept full mudguards and a rack.

The CGR is a disc-ready frame and complete bikes start at £899.99, while the recommended spec with Shimano Tiagra and Fulcrum Racing Sport DB wheels comes in at £999.99.

Ribble CX5

While the CGR’s calling card is its versatility, the new CX5 is designed as a fully-fledged cyclo-cross race bike.

You get a carbon fibre frame with a tapered headtube, 27.2mm seatpost, internal cable routing, 12mm thru axles and clearance for 35mm tyres.

Ribble’s recommended spec pairs the CX5 frame with a Shimano Ultegra groupset for £1,499.99. Complete bikes start at £1.299.99.

Ribble 7005 Winter

The 7005 Winter is a mainstay of the Ribble range – a frame designed with winter training and commuting in mind.

The 7005 Winter is Ribble’s affordable, alloy training bike

That means you get a tough, 7005-series aluminium frame (paired with a carbon fork) and mudguard eyelets. Affordability is key, too, and the 7005 Winter starts from £649.99, or you can get it with Shimano Sora, Rodi Airline wheels and mudguards for £749.99.

Ribble Eliminator

Finally, the Eliminator is Ribble’s first carbon fibre track bike. It’s based around a track-specific geometry and is all about stiffness and aerodynamics.