Ribble Cycles has unveiled its new top-of-the-range Ultimate SL, a carbon-fibre frame built to a ‘racing’ geometry and weighing a claimed 840g. That makes it Ribble’s lightest frame.
“The bike is ideal for riders looking for a superlight machine for the road,” says Ribble. “The Ultimate SL excels in racing and epic challenge rides in the hills and big mountains.”
The Ultimate is designed with what Ribble calls a ‘racing’ geometry. The large sized model, for example, has a 530mm seat tube, a 561.7mm effective top tube and a 180.1mm head tube. The stack (the vertical distance from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube) is 578mm and the reach (the horizontal distance between those points) is 385mm.
Those figures don’t suggest a riding position that’s as aggressive as that of Ribble’s R872, for instance. With 405mm chainstays, the wheelbase is short at 990.3mm.
The frame features tube profiles that are designed to be aerodynamically efficient. An oversized bottom bracket and tapered head tube are intended to add efficiency, and Ribble says that the narrow seatstays and 27.2mm seatpost provide comfort.
The 840g claimed weight refers to a medium sized frame, painted and with decals.
The Ultimate SL is available as a complete bike from £1,599 although Ribble’s recommended build – with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 11-speed groupset, Mavic Ksyrium Elite Wheel and Deda Zero finishing kit – is £2,999.
As ever, you can use Ribble’s online Bike Builder system to select the groupset, wheels and other components according to your taste and budget. It’s really simple to add your choices and have the frame built up exactly the way you want it.
Like other Ribble bikes, the Ultimate SL comes with a six year warranty and a 30-day no-questions-asked returns policy.
Go to www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-ultimate-sl for more information.
You can't do around getting rid of grass verges. They provide much needed parking space.
I've found riding primary into upcoming blind bends certainly seems to discourage drivers from overtaking as they would have no choice but to cross...
"Put down your weapon. You have 20 seconds to comply"
Kona makes practical, affordable commuter bikes and goes bust. Colnago makes toys for the affluent and it is booming. Just goes to show that the...
To answer your question, yes you can sometimes feel the difference. Built a set of wheels for a friend and he installed them with new lightweight...
Cycling infrastructure does not force drivers to break the law, drivers are the reason they break the law, no one else.
Ah but taking pictures of things to defy the man (avoid a fine) is righteous. Taking pictures of people to grass on them to the cops (perhaps...
As a woman, this works great for me! My chain broke once, and a kind guy stopped with a chain breaker and sorted it all out for me. We stopped at a...
Same. I also have gone through a bunch of their tyres, and only the extralight disappointed (torn sidewall) but the standards are fantastic....
thanks for the ideas....