RIBBLE CR3 £1299.99

There are plenty of bikes for cyclo-cross, gravel or road cycling, but Ribble’s CR3 is taking aim at all three. Of course you could ride almost any bike anywhere, but designing a bike for such disparate disciplines carries expectations.

Ribble’s full-carbon CR3 looks a steal in theory, with Shimano 105 mechs, hydraulic discs and FSA’s excellent Gossamer Pro chainset. Our bike came with 35mm ’cross rubber, and there’s room for a bit more. There are mudguard mounts too, although they’d be a squeeze behind the seat-tube with these tyres.

Our large frame’s shortish 16cm head-tube gives it a road-bike look, but the square-profiled stays, plus wide-stance, chunky fork legs with unusual rearward sweep hint at something else. Our test route across Salisbury Plain followed a road that switches from tarmac to gravel, with climbing and singletrack.

At 50psi, road progress was quick rather than racy, but fat slicks would quicken things on both tarmac and gravel. There’s ample frame stiffness, and handling is keen and predictable. The RX31 wheels try hard and look good, but their weight holds them back.

On flattish gravel the CR3 feels composed and quite comfortable, but bigger bumps can feel sharp. In the woods, the tyres come in to their own, and the hydraulic discs were superb in every scenario.

A shelf behind the PF30 bottom bracket shell does collect mud, and the 31.6mm seatpost sacrifices flex for solidity, but they’re not deal breakers. The CR3 copes well on gravel, but within the same ride, tyre selection and pressure will always compromise road and off- road performance.

SPECIFICATION Weight

9.25kg (57cm) Carbon fibre Carbon fibre Shimano RS685 levers, 105 mechs, FSA 46/36 rings, 11-28 Shimano RS785 hydraulic Shimano RX31

Frame Fork Gears Brakes Wheels Finishing kit

Deda stem, bar and seatpost, Selle Italia SLS saddle, 35mm Continental Cyclo X King tyres