RIBBLE CGR

Ribble has always done winter bikes well, and its latest CGR promises even greater versatility

MODEL: Ribble CGR GROUPSET: Shimano Ultegra GEARING: 50/34t crankset, 11-25t cassette WHEELS: Fulcrum Racing Sport DB TYRES: Vittoria Corsa G+, 700x25c FINISHING KIT: Deda RHM 02 handlebars, Deda Zero 2 stem, CSN Carbon SE seatpost, Fabric Scoop Elite saddle WEIGHT: 9.92kg (56cm) PRICE: £1,550 CONTACT: ribblecycles.co.uk

NEIL’S SUMMARY

The Ribble CGR was immediately easy to get on with. The fit and geometry were ideal for my riding style and it felt comfortable and stable on bumpy descents. The handling was well balanced with no nasty surprises, so I was able to carry speed confidently through corners, especially on the Vittoria Corsa G+ tyres, which are some of the grippiest I’ve ever used. The frame wasn’t so stiff that it rattled my fillings, but it was plenty stiff enough to put the power down when it was needed. Shimano’s Ultegra groupset provided flawless shifting, but more importantly the performance of the disc brakes impressed me the most. Come rain or shine the brakes gave superb modulation and feedback to enable precise and controlled braking. The compact chainset helped me deal with the big Welsh mountain passes, but I would have benefitted more from a larger range of gears than the supplied 12-25t cassette.

The hi-viz yellow frame might not be to everyone’s taste but I loved it, and from a practical sense it’s no bad thing for a winter bike to be really bright when it’s likely to be ridden in low light and poor visibility conditions.