Ribble CGR Ti

The Ribble CGR Ti is a bike designed for all occasions

Across the pond, a new style of riding has been coming to the fore for some time now. American cyclists are ditching tarmac for gravel paths and with that they are riding bikes specifically designed for that terrain.

Riders are following this trend in Europe too, of course, even if they’re not quite ready to give up their road machines entirely at this point. This has bred a new style of bike: the allroad bike, a bike that’s at home on both surfaces, and the Ribble CGR Ti is one such bike.

‘What happened in the US with gravel hasn’t quite happened here in Europe but it has opened a door for riders who are looking to do everything from commuting, to going off-road, to riding the Sunday club ride on the one bike. The CGR Ti does this,’ says Ribble’s head of design, Jamie Burrows.

‘Put 28mm slicks on this frame and, aside from the longer wheelbase, you’ve got a pretty handy road bike. Replace those with 40mm knobbly tyres and it’s ready to go fully off-road.’

Burrows believes the CGR Ti is the most versatile bike in Ribble’s range thanks to wide tyre clearance, relaxed frame geometry and disc brakes with electronic shifting and carbon wheels.

The CGR titanium frame weighs in at 1.74kg and is constructed from triplebutted tubing that ensures the bike will offer the requisite compliancy to absorb road shock. Yet an ovalised top tube increases lateral stiffness and a full carbon fork keeps the weight down.

Performance is also boosted by Ribble’s choice of groupset: Shimano Ultegra R8070 Di2 disc. Electronic shifting provides smooth changes and longevity while Ribble’s ‘bike builder’ allows you to pick the gear ratio best suited to the riding you plan on doing.

The Ultegra R8020 hydraulic brakes provide incredible stopping power on all terrain, and the flat-mount callipers also allow clearance for 47mm tyres. With the added option of pannier and mudguard mounts, the CGR Ti is a truly versatile machine that’s worthy of its ‘all-road’ aspirations.

The Zipp 302 carbon wheels are equally comfortable on and off-road and are a boon at this price point, especially as they are joined by a complete Zipp Service Course SL aluminium finishing kit, which is both lightweight and robust.

Retailing at an affordable £3,999, the CGR Ti is a 24/7, 365 days a year bike that will happily keep up with the Sunday club run, hit the local wooded trails and then get you to and from work all week.

‘Put 28mm slicks on this frame and you’ve got a pretty handy road bike. Replace those with 40mm knobbly tyres and it’s ready to go fully off-road’