RIBBLE ENDURANCE TI DISC
£3324 (£3299 + £25 for ’guards) Titanium for every day of the year
The Endurance Ti Disc is available in three models: the ‘Pro’ with Shimano Ultegra Di2 and carbon wheels at £4299; a 105 ‘Sport’ version at £2299 with alloy wheels; and this £3299 ‘Enthusiast’ model that comes with full mechanical Ultegra with hydraulic disc brakes and Level’s 35 wheels (plus £25 for the mudguard upgrade).
At over three grand it’s the most expensive bike on test, but you get a well-finished titanium frame that closely follows Ribble’s road-line design, with dropped seatstays and geometry that’s on the sporty side of sportive. The finish is outstanding (1) and under the skin it’s doublebutted tubing. It’s rare to find such a high-grade set of pipes when most of its rivals at this price use standard unbutted tubes.
The chassis uses flat-mounts for the disc brakes and the minimal rear dropouts look premium. Ribble has tidily integrated mudguard mounts onto the slender, kinked rear seatstays and retained a proper bridge to provide a secure mount for the ’guards (2). The brake hose is internally routed through the straight-legged fork, in keeping with the full internal routing on the frame that results in a cleanlooking bike, even with ’guards.
The ride position is sporty but not slammed – something I approve of – with the large frame measuring up with a 562mm stack and 396mm reach. It comes up a little longer than the average endurance-shaped bike and a little lower, too. Personally, I think Ribble has got the position right and it feels totally dialled when you combine the geometry with superlative contact points.
The in-house brand Level handlebar (3) has a slight backsweep, so when you put your hands up on the tops to take a short breather, the reach is shortened a little. It makes
things more relaxed and I found it a comfortable handhold for long, steady climbs. The bar is wrapped in Level-branded PU tape with a great all-weather texture. At the back, the slender (27.2mm) carbon seatpost is topped with a Fizik Aliante. For me, it’s one of the best long-distance saddle shapes ever.
The Endurance rolls on UK-built Level 35 wheels with a 35mm-deep aero profile rim that’s held together with aero-bladed spokes laced onto straight-pull hubs (straight pull is when the spokes route straight through the hub flange, rather than in a traditional ‘J’ bend, and it’s claimed to be lighter, stronger and less prone to long-term fatigue). The wheels rolled smoothly while the rims mean the 28mm tyres blow up closer to 30mm. The tyres are the same quality Continentals as seen on the Condor.
I’ve said plenty about Shimano’s latest Ultegra since it launched in 2017. Suffice to say, it’s the best pound-for-pound mechanical groupset you can buy. You could go fancier with Dura-Ace or Campagnolo Record, but for accurate smooth shifting, awesome braking and reliability, I certainly wouldn’t spend more.
The smoothness of the tyres, the compliance of the carbon post along with the great contact points combine with a frameset that’s comfortable yet lively enough in the handling stakes to satisfy the most combative rider. All of these factors add up to a bike that simply shines on the road.
The way in which the Endurance glides over poor surfaces, allowing you to keep your pace up, is on a par with some of the best titanium bikes I’ve ridden. The only real moot point is the full-length Ribble ’guards. I like the safety fixings but both front and rear lack flaps for the final few inches. That didn’t cause a problem for following riders but, for me, it meant my shoes came back much more muck-spattered than from the other bikes on test here.
The Ribble is much more than a winter road bike. It looks stunning and is every inch a premium machine. The ride is superb and the (relative) value for money impresses. If you want a bike that’s built to last and rideable come rain or shine, then I’d fully recommend the Endurance.
If you want a bike that’s built to last and incredible come rain or shine, then I’d thoroughly recommend the Endurance