KINESIS R1
Elegance and simplicity perfected
Riding in whatever the weather gods throw at you is hard enough, but the R1 is a very capable and rewarding place to be
With the incessant rain and quantity of tractor-borne mud on our local roads throughout October, never was there a better demonstration of the worth of mudguard-equipped bikes.
Of our five models, The Light Blue’s Robinson was always going to plough its own furrow, struggling to match the outright performance of the others, but bringing its own calm ride quality to proceedings. Its beautiful frame and competent spec have their appeal, but will fare better on flatter terrain.
Next up, we have a three-way tie between the Trek Checkpoint AL 4, Ribble CGR AL and Cannondale Synapse AL. They’re separated on paper by almost £600, but on the road, each has its merits and all are very worthy choices, which are easily up to being your ideal all-weather bike. While the Ribble and Trek are essentially gravel bikes that do road very well, the Synapse is road-focused and also impressively light for the money. Its money-saving features cost it a few per cent here and there with average brakes, sluggish wheels and slightly harsh handlebar, but it’s still a bike we enjoyed greatly, thanks to its composed ride.
The Checkpoint impressed with its potential for going far beyond the tarmac and it has a well-conceived overall package. Clashing our knees with the cables became frustrating, and the chirpy mudguards weren’t ideal, but the Trek is great fun to ride. Ribble’s CGR is a story of potential versatility and thoroughly decent road manners, but it felt a little harder over broken tarmac than we hoped and although pretty swift, it lacked some feedback.
Our winner is – at the time of writing – the first Kinesis R1 in the UK. Based on its lively ride feel, up-to-date 1x drivetrain, simplicity and execution, it’s a deserved winner. Riding year round in whatever the weather gods throw at you is hard enough, but the R1 feels fresh and a very capable and rewarding place to be.