Ribble Cycles launches four new gravel bikes
Ribble Cycles has unveiled a new range of gravel bikes featuring three frame materials across four different models. The British brand, which dates back to 1897, has focused on lightweight frames, stability, and tyre clearance in designing a range it claims is faster, smoother, and ready for exploring challenging terrain. Ribble claims to now have a gravel bike for everything from extreme racing through to the bike-packing adventurer.
Indeed, there are a lot of options with with titanium, carbon, and aluminium frame materials offered in frame-only and a range of complete build packages. Furthermore, riders can customise their build with Ribble’s BikeBuilder tool and even the paint with the Custom Colour Tool.
The new range gets tyre clearance for up to 45 mm with 700c wheels or 47 mm with 650b. On the design front, the frames all feature some level of internal cable routing, with fully internal cabling through the frame and optional integrated carbon bars and stem available on the carbon SL variant. In terms of functionality, Ribble has included multiple mounting points on the frame and forks for extra luggage carrying capacity.
The internal routing ports feature interchangeable plugs to accommodate different drivetrain configurations. 
Certain models are offered with a one-piece carbon bar-and-stem combo, complete with fully internal routing there, too. 
Interested in a Shimano GRX groupset of some sort? Ribble has that (or at least offers it). 
Or would you rather prefer Campagnolo’s Ekar groupset? That’s an option, too. 
It’s good to see so many frame material choices from a mainstream brand.
“Our new gravel range has been created from a vast wealth of experience and design expertise, incorporating new R&D technologies and off-road specific details across the platform, and will enable riders to experience trails in an extremely new and exciting way,” explained Ribble CEO Andy Smallwood.
Sitting at the top of the frame range is the Gravel Ti, a handcrafted, tripled-butted, custom-profiled 3Al/2.5V titanium frame with complete build options starting from US$3,000 / AU$4,330 / £2,599 / €2,545. The Gravel SL is, as the name suggests, a lighter carbon modular monocoque option with aero cues. Build options on the SL start at US$2,775 / AU$4,000 / £2,399 / €2,350 for a GRX RX600 equipped bike, while topping out at Shimano GRX Di2 with an integrated carbon bar-and-stem setup.
Both the Gravel AL and the Gravel AL E are built from custom formed 6061-T6 heat-treated aluminium. The Gravel AL offers a value-focused alloy gravel bike with a number of build options starting at US$1,850 / AU$2,665 / £1,599 / €1,565. Meanwhile, the AL E is a gravel e-bike that Ribble claims, “looks, rides, and feels just like a traditional off-road bike”. The AL E gets its ride assisting power courtesy of a Mahle Ebikemotion X356+ hub system. Just like the rest of the range, the AL E is available in a range of build options starting with a GRX RX400 equipped bike all the way up to a Di2-equipped model with prices starting at US$3,125 / AU$4,500 / £2,699 / €2,643.
“We’ve designed the frames with a gravel-optimised long-and-low geometry with an oversized head tube, a short stem, and flared bars to provide greater confidence and a more planted feel over varied technical terrain,” explained Ribble head of product Jamie Burrow. “We have optimised the design of the new platform around integration, compatibility, and attention to detail to give the rider a bike that will perform whatever their chosen style of off-road riding.”
The Ribble Gravel Ti and SL models are available now, while the AL and AL E are available to pre-order.
For more information, visit RibbleCycles.co.uk.
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