Ribble electric bikes - What do they offer?

E-bikes are opening up cycling to a new generation of cyclists. Introducing riders of all ages to a more eco-friendly mode of transport that also happens to help keep you fit whilst providing a welcome boost to mental well-being. Then there's the extra savings counted in terms of petrol costs, motor insurance etc. In fact, they've now established themselves as a viable alternative to other forms of transport for short to medium-distance journeys. And as the technology continues to improve and evolve, we can fully expect e-bikes of the future to become even lighter and capable of travelling ever greater distances than they do already. Here, we explore the Ribble electric bike range and outline the benefits each model brings.

Electric bikes are brimful of infinite possibilities. They take you places you wouldn't ordinarily go, leaving you feeling fresher for longer and able to extend your rides beyond your typical limits. This is in no small part due to the extra kick of naturally smooth power assistance they deliver to each pedal stroke. However, it's not quite as simple as pressing a button to find yourself being propelled up climbs the like of Alpe D'Huez at speeds that would leave World Tour riders wheezing like overworked bellows.

Far from it in fact. No matter which Ribble electric bike you plump for, you can be sure of a great workout. These pedelecs don't take over your ride but instead blend invisbly into the background, letting you put as much, or as little, of yourself into the ride as you like. They amplify your pedalling efforts. Stop pedalling and can expect to find yourself going nowhere fast, and in pretty short order too. Just as you would if you were riding a conventional non-assisted bike.

In short, everybody from beginners to seasoned roadies or off-road enthusiasts can discover a new way of riding thanks to e-bikes.

• People from all walks of life, who may be looking to take up cycling as a means of transportation, leisure riding, or simply to get fit. Electric bikes allow you to build up stamina and fitness at a pace to suit you. As a result of the extra boost of assistance, you needn't restrict your rides to avoid hillier terrain in the fledgling stages of your new hobby.
• As an aid to recovery after serious illness or injury. Riding an e-bike lets you take it easy at first and build up fitness progressively. A seriously impressive tech feature of our e-bikes is the ability to set heart rate limits. When a heart rate limit is reached the assistance automatically kicks in. Clever stuff!
• Anyone looking to prolong their love for cycling but finds themselves being dropped on hilly group rides. On an e-bike you are very likely to be the one waiting for the group at the summit.
• They allow riders to extend their road or off-road rides, amp up the fun factor, ride faster and further than ever before.

Ribble unveiled its first-ever electric bike back in 2019. At the time of its launch, the Endurance SL e was the lightest e-road bike range in the world. In equipping this carbon endurance bike with the LEVEL 5 integrated handlebar system we created the first ever 'cable-free' e-bike for a UK bike brand.

Since the Endurance SL e's launch, our e-bike portfolio has expanded into other genres meaning you can now find an e-bike to match your cycling needs regardless of the terrain type or your riding style. So, on the assumption you are considering an e-bike purchase - which should you choose and why?

In this guide we take you through the various models in the Ribble electric bike range, highlighting the key features of each and what type of riding each one suits.

But first, we should probably start by highlighting the key features of the Ribble electric bike range as a whole.

Whether the bike is manufactured from carbon or aluminium, our electric bikes have one thing in common - weight, or lack thereof. During development we researched what it was that our e-bikes should offer. We were shocked to discover that many contemporary e-bikes often often tipped the scales at 20-30kgs. This meant the bike would would perform reasonably as expected when the assistance was being used. However, should you ever try to ride it without assistance, it would be akin to riding a brick, with the ride feeling sluggish and unresponsive. Riding the bike with the assistacne switched off to preserve battery range or simply riding under your own steam when you feel like a workout was nigh on mpossible. So, we went a different way and developed the lightest range of electric bikes on the market today.

To deliver the lightest e-bikes possible, we had to factor in a compact system that still provided enough of a kick to help dial down gravity a little. Reliability was another key factor, which is why the MAHLE X35 system was chosen. This compact hub drive motor system delivers up to 250W of smooth assistance to each pedal stroke while blending invisbly into the background. Just as importantly, it weighs just 3kgs for the entire system, including motor, battery and associated componentry.

Every e-bike model in the Ribble lineup is equipped with a control button. Depending upon the bike collection, this control unit is located either on the top tube or handlebars. A single press of the button is enough to activate the system. This provides you with ready access to three assistance modes; low, medium, and high. Each assistance mode offers a set percentage of the total power available, so you can choose the right one to suit the terrain or your mood. LED's set within the control unit indicate the current assist level selected. Additionally, the available battery charge is also displayed via a simple traffic light system. White indicates 75 to 100% and then it cycles down through Green, Amber, Red, and Red flash.

Another benefit of choosing the X35 motor system is its incredibly minimalist design. Which has enabled us to create a range of 'stealth' e-bikes that at first glance look like any ordinary bike. In fact, many people cannot tell them apart from their non-electric counterparts. This is achieved by way of the battery being hidden within the frame's downtube and the motor being situated in the rear hub. All in all, it makes for a very neat solution to big, ugly and heavy e-bikes.

Everything you love about cycling and more! Our cutting-edge electric road bikes are amongst the lightest to be found worldwide. They provide a welcome boost of natural feeling power assistance to help you keep up on hilly group rides or smash that bucket list climb that you've always dreamed of conquering.

The Endurance SL e is the high-performance road bike option of our e-bike range. In terms of frame design, it's almost identical to the Endurance SL. It shares the same carbon construction of a high-grade blend of Toray T800/T1000 carbon fibre. This combination enhances both torsional stiffness and power transfer, resulting in the SL e being our lightest and fastest electric bike. In keeping with the philosophy of the SL series, the frames aerodynamic tube shapes make it extremely aero efficient. With improved drag reduction this translates into less effort for more speed.

Builds start from as little as 10.5 kg which makes it one of the lightest range of e-bikes available worldwide.

Features

• A frameset constructed from Toray T800/T1000 carbon fibres with an EPS inner core system offers class-leading stiffness and power transfer.
• A road optimised endurance geometry for all day in the saddle comfort which can also be optimised to provide a slightly more aggressive position. As per the riders preference.
• Intended only to be used on paved surfaces and as a consequence is only available with road specific groupsets. These groupsets all feature two chainrings at the front and the cassette is configurable through our BikeBuilder function. This customisation allows you to select the best gear range that suits you.
• A wide tyre clearance of up to 30 mm without mudguards or 25 mm with full coverage mudguards fitted. Expanding the contact patch with the road improves comfort while enhancing traction and grip.
• There are no pannier rack mounts.
• A dropped road handlebar provides multiple hand positions for comfort and efficiency when climbing, on the flats, and descending.
• Discreet mudguard mounts enable the fitting of full-coverage mudguards for improved wet weather protection.

A hybrid bike as its name suggests is a mix of two bikes. It takes the more upright riding position of an MTB and combines it with the extra efficiency of road bike componentry. As a result, the electric hybrid bike is fast and comfortable on the roads whilst offering confidence inspired handling for light off-road excursions. For these reasons alone, the hybrid bike is by far the most popular choice for beginners and urban leisure cyclists.

However, you're not just limited to the road. Not by a long chalk. Fit a Hybrid bike with slick tyres and it fairly flies on paved surfaces. However, opt for a tyre with a little tread and before you know it, you will be exploring towpaths and bridleways. With a gear range wide enough to cope with steep inclines and light off-road adventures, the hybrid bike is a highly capable all-rounder.

Whether you're looking for a bike to improve fitness, work commute, or for the family weekend rides, the award-winning Hybrid AL e offers a super smooth ride. It perfectly blends classic British styling with the natural feeling power assistance of industry-leading e-bike technology.

Features

• Material - Constructed from 6061- T6 Aluminium with full carbon forks, the frame is lightweight yet robust enough to handle multiple terrains. Carbon forks absorb vibration from rough surfaces whilst keeping the steering light and precise.
• Weight - Builds start from approximately 13kg
• Geometry - The upright riding position of the Hybrid AL e does not offer the outright speed of a road bike. It does however offer a ride position that many will find comfortable and affords a head up view of the road that some will find safer in traffic.
• Control Button - The easy to use, top-tube mounted control button enables the power assistance to be selected whilst on the move. Additionally it also indicates the amount of battery charge remaining.
• Gearing - We offer two build options, both built around the single ring simplicity of a SRAM NX 1x11 gear system. Upfront there is a single chainring and at the rear a wide gear range that enables you to take the long way home from work or explore the paths less travelled.
• Tyre Clearance - With ample clearance for large volume tyres up to a width of 45mm (40mm if mudguards are fitted) a vast choice of tyres becomes available. You can tailor the tyres to provide more comfort, traction, and grip on the road, off-road, or a mix of both
• Luggage - Built-in mounts for a rear pannier rack allow you to carry those essentials on the daily commute or enjoy a day trip out with family or friends. Our fully loaded build comes fitted with the everyday essentials of a pannier rack, mudguards, lights, bell, and pedals (pedals not fitted).
• Handlebars - Flat handlebars provide confidence inspired stability and control, particularly when riding in traffic or over rough terrain.
• Versatility - Built-in mudguard mounts enable the fitting of full coverage mudguards to fend off the dirt. So you can enjoy riding the the Hybrid AL e come rain or shine.

In all respects, the Hybrid AL e Step Through offers all of the same benefits as the Hybrid AL e listed above. The same comfortable upright riding position and multi-terrain versatility. Where it differs, however, is in its low top tube 'step through' design. This enables the rider to simply hop on/off the bike with greater ease. Making the bike especially suited to riders whose flexibility may be restricted.

• Material - Constructed from 6061-T6 Aluminium with full carbon forks, the frame is lightweight yet robust enough to handle multiple terrains. Carbon forks damp vibration from rough surfaces while keeping the steering light and precise.
• Weight - The standard edition (not fully loaded) weighs in at 13.75kg, which is supremely light for a hybrid bike, let alone one equipped with a battery and motor system.
• Geometry - A confidence inspiring, easy access hop on/off design allows you to step through the bike to mount the bike. Without the necessity of swinging your leg over the saddle and any luggage that might be present.
• Control Button- Keep both hands on the bars and your eyes on the road, whilst having the option to choose between 3 assistance levels with the conveniently positioned Trio handlebar control button.
• Gearing - SRAM's 1x gear system is simple and efficient, with a single gear shifter giving you access to all the gears that you need for riding uphill or down.
• Tyre Clearance - With ample clearance for large volume tyres up to a width of 45mm (40mm if mudguards are fitted) a vast choice of tyres becomes available. You can tailor the tyres to provide more comfort, traction, and grip on the road, off-road, or a mix of both.
• Luggage - Mounting points for a rear pannier rack takes care of any luggage carrying needs.
• Handlebars - Flat handlebars provide confidence inspired stability and control, particularly when riding in traffic or over rough terrain.
• Versatility - Built in mounts for mudguards improve wet weather protection. A fully loaded edition is also available and comes equipped with everything that you need to get around town and beyond. A rear pannier rack for luggage carrying duties, mudguards to fend off the dirt, light and a bell all contribute to your ride comfort, safety, and enjoyment.

The Hybrid AL e Trail's natural feeling pedal-assistance, distance-shrinking range and handy features are designed to make your daily rides quicker and easier in every way possible. A low step-over design for ease-of-use and bump-smoothing suspension delivers a comfortable ride, no matter where the road or trail may take you.

• Material - Constructed from 6061-T6 Aluminium with full carbon forks, the frame is lightweight yet robust enough to handle challenging off-road terrain. Suspension forks provide 60mm of travel to smooth out the bumps for a more comfortable ride, no matter the terrain.
• Weight - The Hybrid AL e Trail weighs in at 19.5kg including, computer, pannier rack, mudguards, integrated lights, and kickstand.
• Geometry - The low step-over design makes it easier to mount and dismount whilst providing a head up view of your surroundings.
• Control Button - Keep both hands on the bars and your eyes on the road, whilst having the option to choose between 3 assistance levels with the conveniently positioned Trio handlebar control button.
• Gearing - SRAM's 1x gear system is simple and efficient, with a single gear shifter giving you access to all the gears that you need for riding uphill or down.
• Tyre Clearance - With ample clearance for large volume tyres up to a width of 45mm (40mm if mudguards are fitted) a vast choice of tyres becomes available. You can tailor the tyres to provide more comfort, traction, and grip on the road, off-road, or a mix of both.
• Luggage - Mounting points for a rear pannier rack take care of any luggage carrying needs.
• Handlebars - Ergonomically designed handlebars deliver a comfortable and upright riding position for a commanding view of your surroundings. An integrated computer mount enables the fitting of a Miche Pulsar One head unit that lets you keep track of all the important information in one convenient location.
• Versatility - Built-in mounts for mudguards improves wet weather protection. The Hybrid AL e Trail is fully equipped with everything that you need to get around town and beyond. A rear pannier rack for luggage carrying duties, mudguards to fend off the dirt, powerful integrated lights and a bell all contribute to your ride comfort, safety, and enjoyment.

The Urban AL e's contemporary style and easy-to-use power assistance will quickly make it your ideal companion as you zip around town; running errands, shopping for groceries, or commuting to work. Every aspect has been designed to make your everyday ride easier. A refined hop on/off design provides easy access, and its low weight makes carrying it onto public transport or up and down the stairs a simple task. Beat the traffic through the city streets or take the long route for fitness or fun.

• Material - Constructed from 6061-T6 Aluminium with full carbon forks, the frame is lightweight yet robust enough to demands of the city environment. Carbon forks reduce vibration from uneven road surfaces while keeping the steering light and precise.
• Geometry - A confidence-inspiring, easy access hop on/off design allows you to step through the bike to mount the bike. Without the necessity of swinging your leg over the saddle and any luggage that might be present.
• Control Button - Keep both hands on the bars and your eyes on the road, whilst having the option to choose between 3 assistance levels with the conveniently positioned Trio handlebar control button.
• Gearing - Easy-to-use and dependable gears get you where you need to be. At your own pace and with complete peace of mind of having the gears to tacke any inclines that come your way.
• Tyre Clearance - With ample clearance for large volume tyres up to a width of 45mm (40mm if mudguards are fitted) a vast choice of tyres becomes available. You can tailor the tyres to provide more comfort, traction, and grip on the road, off-road, or a mix of both.
• Luggage - Front and rear racks carry everything that you could possilby need to get around town. Pop to the store for groceries or carry your kit to the gym, work, univeristy, or college.
• Handlebars - Ergonomically designed handlebars deliver a comfortable and upright riding position with a commanding view of the scenery and the road ahead. An integrated computer mounts allows easy installation of the Pulsar One head unit to display all the information that you need on one screen.
• Versatility - Perfect for the everyday, the Urban AL comes equipped with robust alloy mudguards to fend off the dirt, front and rear racks, powerful integrated lights to announce your presence and a kick stand for easy parking.

An e-bike version of our best-selling and popular all-road CGR range. The letters CGR stand for Commute/Gravel/Road which gives you some indication as to how versatile this all-rounder is. Where it differs from say a bike like the Hybrid AL e is in the geometry and handlebars. The CGR's geometry is more akin to that of an endurance road bike, albeit with a few adjustments to enhance stability and control when tackling varied terrain.

Features

• Material - Constructed from 6061 T6 Aluminium with full carbon forks, the frame is lightweight yet robust enough to handle the most challenging terrain. Carbon forks damp vibrations from rough surfaces, keeping the steering light, precise, and predictable.
• Geometry - A geometry that offers stability and poised handling regardless of the terrain. Dropped seatstays enhance the frames ability to soak up the lumps and bumps.
• Control Button - The easy to use, top-tube mounted control button enables the power assistance to be selected whilst on the move. Additionally it also indicates the amount of battery charge remaining.
• Gearing - Available with a range of double chainring gear systems from Shimano and SRAM. These are intended for road use, however the lower geared options are also suited to riding off the beaten track. Or there's the option of single ring 1x gear systems to maximise the CGR AL e's off-road performance and reliability.
• Tyre Clearance - The CGR AL e offers compatibility with 650b and 700c wheels which opens up a wealth of tyre options. The tyre/wheel combo can be fine-tuned to suit your choice of terrains, with clearance for 47mm tyres on 650b and 45mm on 700c wheels.
• Luggage - Built-in mounts for a rear pannier rack enable you to carry those essentials for the daily commute or indulge in some bikepacking exploration.
• Handlebars - Standard road drop bars provide multiple hand positions for comfort and efficiency when climbing, on the flats, and descending.
• Versatility - Built-in mudguard mounts allows the fitting of full coverage mudguards to fend off the dirt. Making the CGR AL e perfectly suited to the more adventurous all-weather commute.

Where the road ends and the off-road adventure begins is where our electric gravel bikes explode into life. Lightweight frames, stable off-road geometry, and huge tyre clearance make for a range of gravel bikes that will help you ride further and faster than you could ever possibly imagine. Power your gravel adventure on an e-gravel machine that sets the benchmark for power-assisted, all-terrain performance. Lightweight, nimble, and composed over loose, technical terrain, the Gravel AL e is the ideal riding partner for long-distance off-road epics.

• Material - Constructed from 6061-T6 Aluminium with full carbon forks, the frame is lightweight yet robust enough to handle the most challenging terrain. Full carbon forks damp vibrations from rough surfaces, keeping the steering light, precise, and predictable. Carryall mounts enable oversize cages to be fitted for carrying rolled upluggage such as ground mats, sleeping bags etc.
• Geometry - Designed for extreme gravel tracks, a long and low geometry offers a planted feel over even the most challenging technical terrain.
• Control Button - The easy to use, top-tube mounted control button enables the power assistance to be selected whilst on the move. Additionally it also indicates the amount of battery charge remaining.
• Gearing - With its gravel-specific ergonomics, optimised gearing options and rugged reliability, Shimano GRX helps you to explore beyond. Available in double or single ring configurations to suit your riding needs.
• Tyre Clearance - The Gravel AL e offers compatibility with 650b and 700c wheels which opens up a wealth of tyre options. The tyre/wheel combo can be fine-tuned to suit your choice of terrains, with clearance for 47mm tyres on 650b and 45mm on 700c wheels.
• Luggage - Multiple frame mounts ensure ample luggage capacity for even the most extreme of bikepacking adventures.
• Handlebars - Gravel riser bars offer more space on the bars when running a barbag. Flared drops provide a wider, more stable stance when navigating technical descents.
• Versatility - Integrated mudguard mounts enable the fittng of full coverage mudguards to fend off the worst of the dirt. Making the Gravel AL e suited to year-round gravel riding.

Unsure of what gear sizes you need? Read our gearing explained blog here.

More than just an electric bike, ebikemotion's smartphone app. The essential tool for your e-bike experience. Find out more here.