Chris Sidwells on Tour at Ribble; Tom Simpson
Evening book talk & presentation; Cycling Legends 01 Tom Simpson
With the UCI Road World Championships taking place in the UK this year, Ribble are pleased to announce a series of evenings hosted by Chris Sidwells, talking about his new Cycling Legends 01 Tom Simpson biography.
As well as discussing the life of, arguably, Britain's greatest-ever cyclist, Chris will be bringing Tom Simpson memorabilia and equipment, including the bike on which he won Paris-Nice in 1967, beating his team-mate Eddy Merckx.
A miner's son from Nottinghamshire, Tom Simpson made the trip to Europe on his own, as a 21-year old, with £100 and two bikes, looking to break into professional racing. A year later, he made his Tour de France debut. Simpson's story inspired and captured the imaginations of cycling and general sports fans in both France and the UK. In 1965, he became the first British rider to win the road world championships and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Chris Sidwells, a longtime contributor to Cycling Weekly, Cycle Sport and many other publications, will be previewing 'Cycling Legends 01 Tom Simpson', his new biography, that reveals the full story of his life, complete with input from team-mates, led by Eddy Merckx, and many previously unpublished photographs. Chris is keen to present Tom Simpson's inspirational story, a story that is often overshadowed by his tragic death during the 1967 Tour de France.
Chris’s Ribble Tour will start before the World Champs in Leeds (19thSeptember), and then move on to Preston (24thSeptember), Birmingham (26thSeptember) and Bluewater (27thSeptember). Each evening will start at 7pm. Store locations can be found here.
Admission is free and we will allocate places on a first come first served basis. To book your space, please RSVP:
Leeds – [email protected]
Preston - [email protected]
Birmingham - [email protected]
Bluewater - [email protected]
Fancy a crack at track cycling? Check out our guide for more information.
Team Ribble sponsored athlete Adam Bowden's race report form the latest round of Ironman 70.3 Dun Laoghaire. Read it here.
Ribble CustomColour, what is it? How does it work and how much does it cost? All you will ever need to know explained here.
ULTRA-ROAD vs ULTRA-RACE: Which One Is Right For You?
Two bikes, one range, two different kinds of fast. We take a look at the ULTRA-ROAD and ULTRA-RACE to help you decide which is the right bike for you.
Why Your Race Bike Might Be Making You Slower
A longer, lower, more aggressive position means faster right? Not always. We take a look at the reality of performance that's sustainable.
How We Built ULTRA-ROAD: Behind The Design
We take a look at the design of the ULTRA-ROAD. Not a comfort bike, or a softer alternative to a race bike, but a performance road bike designed around the way most riders actually ride.
Everything You Need to Know About the ALLROAD CARBON
The ALLROAD CARBON takes everything riders already loved about the ALLROAD SL and refines it for the way modern road riding actually looks. Lighter, smoother and more capable across rough roads, long rides and changing conditions, it is built to keep going when the tarmac stops being perfect.
Gravel Bike vs Road Bike: How to Choose
Gravel bike or road bike? One's built for speed, the other for versatility, but the right choice comes down to how and where you ride. Here's how to decide.
Built for the Margins: Sophie Wright’s Ultra-Grit Special Edition
At the sharp end of racing, the difference is made in the fine margins. Sophie Wright’s ULTRA-GRIT Special Edition is built for those margins. A one-off race bike built by our development team to be lighter, more focused and stripped back to what matters.
Best Gravel Bikes 2026
What actually makes ‘the best’ gravel bike in 2026? A clear guide to choosing the best bike for how you actually ride.
What is a Gravel Bike?
Gravel bikes are changing how people ride. Sitting right in the middle of road and off-road, they're fast on tarmac and stable on loose ground. Comfortable over long distances and ready for whatever the ride throws at you.
Gravel Bikes - Which frame material is right for you?
More cyclists than ever are seizing the opportunity to take their rides off-piste in search of freedom and adventure. But to do so, you need the right tool for the job - a gravel bike. The Ribble gravel range consists of four frame materials. Each of these offers something a little different in terms of ride quality, longevity and performance characteristics. So how do you decide which frame material is right for you?
Tyre Choice and Pressures for UK Gravel
Tyres can make or break your gravel ride. This blog cuts through the guesswork on width, tread and pressure, showing you what actually works for UK conditions.
Getting the right set up is half the battle
Getting your gravel bike set up right is the difference between enjoying the ride and counting down the miles. This blog breaks down the key adjustments that actually matter, from saddle height to bar position and tyre pressure, without drowning you in jargon.
Why Gravel Riding Works In February
February gravel isn’t about hero rides. It’s about quiet trails, mixed surfaces and riding for the sake of it. This blog dives into why Ribble staff and the Outliers keep choosing gravel when winter drags on, from traffic-free routes to bikes built to handle proper UK conditions.