I tried an electric bike to get me back into gravel riding without the shame of being woefully unfit
SOURCE:TechRadar|BY: Leon Poultney
With stealthy electric propulsion, the Ribble CGR E AL is the perfect excuse to get back in the saddle.
(Image credit: Future / Leon Poulteney)
It is not easy to stay “bike-fit”, especially as the ravages of time take hold and the weather turns sour. I know, excuses, excuses, but unless you have the time or motivation to get out for a couple of hours each day (whatever the forecast) or have access to one of the best exercise bikes or turbo trainers, it’s very easy to be spat out of the back of the peloton, so to speak.
That’s exactly what has happened to me, and despite my best intentions, including jumping on the Wattbike Atom at my local gym, I’ve found my bike fitness has suffered over the years.
Not only does this erode confidence, it also means that my cycling-mad friends have to put up with me huffing and puffing my way around our local routes, often slowing their pace so I don’t end up riding solo.
“But that’s cheating!” often come the cries from the cycling diehard. Well yes, it is if you want to start entering professional competitions, but that’s not what this is designed for.
Best of the specs
(Image credit: Future/Leon Poultney)
A quick recap on Ribble Cycles: the British business has been making bikes for over 100 years, but became a direct-to-consumer (DTC) brand in the 1980s, selling steel-framed machines through a mail order service.
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Fast forward to the internet age, and Ribble continued its DTC activity, this time selling online and passing the cash saved from not having physical showrooms onto the consumer. Cheaper bikes but very competitive quality.
That brings me on neatly to the Ribble CGR E AL — a machine that in its top specification packs Shimano’s reliable 105 mechanical groupset, Mavic rims, a lightweight aluminum frame and a Mahle X30 electric motor discreetly housed in the rear wheel.
It's not to be confused with the Ribble CGR AL e, as that is the older model that is no longer sold, despite packing an annoyingly familiar name.
Ribble sells worldwide, but not all models are available to all markets. In the UK, the CGR E AL costs £3,199 in its Shimano 105 layout (it is cheaper if you go for Tiagra or Sram Apex gearing). The company says it unfortunately can’t ship the product to the USA, despite listing a price of 'from $4,300'. It's the same story in Australia, where it has a sticker price of $6,310 but cannot be shipped to the region.
If you live in Europe, you’re largely covered. International users are missing out on one of the best subtly electric gravel bikes of recent years.
A platform to perform
(Image credit: Future/Leon Poultney)
Ribble’s machines come packaged and almost fully-built. All you need to do is get the handlebars in place and tightened up, add some pedals of your choosing and then tackled the carbon fibre seat post.
It doesn’t take long, but I have to admit, setting up the cockpit isn’t the easiest procedure. There are a number of tightly packed cables that have to run through the aero-enhanced handlebars and it takes a bit of fiddling. The same can be said for the seat post, as Ribble opts for an integrated seat wedge that’s a real pain to get into place without scratching anything.
Aside from this, the bike is a handsome thing to behold, with that 7005 hydroformed alloy frame bending aero aesthetics with a really purposeful stance. It is also paired with a contrasting carbon fork that really pops.
Look a little closer and there’s a discreet button on the top tube that activates the rear mode, another press of the same button cycles through the various assistance modes, while an illuminated LED strip gives a reliable indication of charge levels. The light also cycles through various hues depending on the riding mode.
Shimano’s reliable 105 mechanical 12-speed gearing takes care of cog swapping, which is razor sharp to cycle through the gears and easy enough to maintain. Finally, a set of Mavic Allroad wheels shod in 40mm Schwalbe G-One tires provide smooth rolling over a variety of surfaces.
A stealthy operator
(Image credit: Future/Leon Poultney)
As previously alluded to, it’s very difficult to tell that the CGR E AL packs any sort of electrical assistance at all. The rear hub motor is compact and hidden behind the rear cogs and disc brakes, while the tubes haven’t been oversized to cram in mammoth battery packs.
It’s also impressively lightweight, with Ribble claiming it tips the scales at around 10kg. Honestly, it feels even lighter than that and is really easy to shoulder should you have to traverse the odd fallen tree trunk or locked gate.
But the most impressive aspect is the Mahle X30 e-drive system, which delivers power in a way that it is barely noticeable — like a gentle helping hand as the gradients start to ramp up. There’s no surge of power as you turn the cranks, nor is there a telltale whining of the electric motor to give the game away.
(Image credit: Future/Leon Poultney)
During a few early rides, I cycled between activating the motor and switching it off entirely. The electrical assistance was so good, it almost made the trails I was tackling slightly too easy, even in its most gentle setting.
It was a similar story out on the road; where if it was nice and flat, I didn’t really have to rely on the system. But as soon as things turned hilly, I could stealthily switch it on and enjoy the mild boost up hills.
Those wanting to merely spin the cranks and not put in any effort should probably look elsewhere, as this isn’t that sort of electric bike. Instead, it rewards some effort and makes it much easier to spend hours in the saddle.
All day riding
(Image credit: Future/Leon Poultney)
Ribble says the discreet battery pack is good for 90km of riding, which is the equivalent of around 56 miles. That’s a massive day in the saddle for anyone, but also plenty enough when tackling a mix of on and off-road terrain.
Obviously, if you head straight for the hills and opt for maximum assistance, the battery is going to drain much faster, but I found it lasted for a couple of decent ride-outs a week. The Mahle smart charger is also neat, offering a charge indicator on the bottom, as well as portraying it on the top tube.
Ribble offers space for two bottle cages and will sell you a pannier rack kit that can hold up to 15kg of stuff for proper bike exploration. I own a set of soft bags and managed to attach these with ease when heading off for a bit of mild bike-packing.
Having the electrical assistance is a boon when you are fully laden with waterproof kit, a tarpaulin and a little grill for some impromptu winter barbecuing.
(Image credit: Future/Leon Poultney)
One thing to keep in mind is the potential lead times with Ribble product, as stock and availability can fluctuate drastically. I waited an absolute age for mine, although Ribble emailed and explained it was an issue “linked to media allocation rather than anything in the customer pipeline”.
“For anyone ordering through the website, bikes are currently being built and shipped within our usual turnaround times, depending on the model and spec,” a Ribble spokesperson said.
Still, it’s worth noting, as the downside of direct-to-consumer business is a lack of showroom to physically see the bike, test it out, try it on and then grab the salesperson’s details to berate when it doesn’t arrive on time.
Regardless, the bike was well worth the wait, not least because it is a good-looking, versatile gravel bike that can handle everything from the daily commute to all-day bike-packing adventures, but chiefly because it saved me from embarking on a six-week training plan just to get out cycling with my mates.
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Leon has been navigating a world where automotive and tech collide for almost 20 years, reporting on everything from in-car entertainment to robotised manufacturing plants. Currently, EVs are the focus of his attentions, but give it a few years and it will be electric vertical take-off and landing craft. Outside of work hours, he can be found tinkering with distinctly analogue motorcycles, because electric motors are no replacement for an old Honda inline four.
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