Ribble Gravel AL Fanatic SRAM Rival 1x Review
A mid-variety alloy gravel bike with seams and trip that rival carbon fibre builds
Ribble Gravel AL a% shot of SRAM Rival 1X gravel bike
Ribble’s naming conventions are quite self-explanatory, so that you recognize what you are getting with Gravel AL. This ยฃ1,999 construct is kitted out with 1X SRAM Rival groupset (Shimano a hundred and five equivalent), Mavic Allroad 650b wheels and chunky WTB Sendero tyres.
Other groupset configurations are to be had with the Gravel AL, consisting of SRAM Apex 1X (ยฃ1,699), Shimano GRX RX400 (ยฃ1,699), Shimano GRX RX600 (ยฃ1,999) and Shimano GRX RX800 (ยฃ2,300) digital groupsets. Carbon fibre is likewise on provide whilst you step as much as the Gravel SL models.
For better budgets, Gravel Ti titanium builds are on provide, at the side of brought assist with the Gravel AL e electric powered gravel bike.
Ribble Gravel AL Enthusiast SRAM Rival 1x body details
Even with the huge forty seven mm tires, there’s lots of clearance.
At first glance, you may be forgiven for mistaking the Gravel AL for a carbon bike, for its splendidly clean welds among the body tubes and exquisite shaping round the pinnacle tube.
Unlike a few different bikes withinside the finances alloy category, the specific alloy weld is most effective seen whilst you forged your eye toward the chainstay.
Up front, a super-chunky carbon fork has lots of area across the furnished 47mm-huge tires, which can be actually first rate for clearing dust withinside the wintry weather months. Each fork blade is decorated with 3 mounts, so that you can load up with cages to hold packages or water in case you need some days (or months) at the trails.
Offered in a single colorway with regions of matte and gloss with a British Racing Green finish, this has demonstrated to be an actual head-turner.
However, in case you need something specific, Ribble additionally gives a custom colour program. For simply ยฃ299, you may feel the paintjob of your dreams.
It’s without problems configured via the brand’s online layout platform, wherein you may select the body and sticker colour, in addition to gloss, matte or glitter finishes. A few bikes were privately repainted over the years, which looks like a quite first rate cost.
Ribble Gravel AL Fanatic SRAM Rival 1x Configuration
The geometry is quite regular for a cutting-edge gravel bike, with this length XS measuring 1,036mm wheelbase and a 70.five-diploma head tube angle.
The Gravel AL is obtainable in a top notch variety of sizes, from XXS (for riders as much as 152cm/5ft tall) to XL (for riders as much as 194cm/6ft4in).
There’s a first rate stage of tire clearance on provide, as much as 47mm for the 650b tires and 45mm for the 700c; The Gravel AL can take each wheelset sizes.
Ribble Gravel AL Fanatic SRAM Rival 1x Specification
You get an excellent spec for the charge.
The SRAM Rival 1x construct package gives a reasonably beneficent variety of gears in a simple, easy-to-use layout with a forty two-enamel chainring and 11-forty two enamel cassette. Hydraulic disc brakes also are a must whilst taking over difficult stuff.
Unsurprisingly, the mid-variety Gravel AL capabilities an alloy layback seatpost, stem and gravel riser handlebars with a completing package from Ribble’s in-residence factor brand, LEVEL, which gives 20mm of upward push, in addition to a beneficent sixteen-diploma flare. Drops.
Mavic Allroad 650b wheels are spec’d with chunky 47mm WTB Sendero tyres. With a tread just like cross-united states of america mountain bike tires, those free up interesting tiers of functionality on gnarlier terrain with the Ribble Gravel AL.
Ribble Gravel AL Fanatic SRAM Rival 1x Ride Feeling
A 20mm upward push withinside the bar facilitates stability.
Agile, successful and a blast to trip: the Gravel AL surely inspired in testing. While chunky Senderos are not the quickest gravel bike tires at the avenue, they actually come into their personal as quickly as you hit greater technical gravel and singletrack.
Equally, in case you discover yourself spending greater time on tarmac and softer tracks, swapping those out for the much less aggressively dealt with 650b tires might not be an ordeal.
The most effective place I felt the Gravel AL ought to enhance turned into the fit. At 165cm, I fell slap-bang withinside the centre of the XS length, and whilst the body length is a superb fit, the attainment is lengthy. I slammed the saddle forwards to offset the layback seatpost a bit, however the centre of the handlebar pinnacle to the hood role is actually pretty far.
Women have proportionally longer legs and shorter torsos than men.
Women’s gravel and avenue bikes generally tend to deal with this, both with decreased unique geometry or a barely unique choice of components, however in this situation you could need to take topics into your personal arms with this unisex version.
The choice of short-attain handlebars and an in-line alloy seatpost at no more fee make this presentation with the aid of Ribble’s bike customizer greater attractive to many lady riders.
The chunky WTB Sendero tires are at domestic off-avenue.
I located the saddle very comfortable, notwithstanding being a unisex version in preference to one of the first-class women’s bike saddles. You get a desire of 5 unique saddles in customization at no more fee, consisting of a few women’s models.
SRAM Rival transferring turned into clean and stable (bar one cable anxiety adjustment, that is to be predicted from a brand new bike), and effective hydraulic brakes gave me manipulation over descents and difficult ground.
While the gearing is ok for maximum of Dartmoor’s tarmac slopes, the smaller 40- or 38-enamel chainring is available for turning up unfastened dust climbs, particularly whilst loaded up for bikepacking.
Component picks frequently make sense. Although the bars were too huge for me at 42cm, the 20mm upward push turned into nice. For shorter riders, this offers the bar bag more tire clearance.
If you need a zero-upward push bar, you may choose this at no more fee in Ribble’s customization options, regrettably 42cm is the most effective width to be had throughout all body sizes.
At 10.3kg, the Ribble Gravel AL is pretty mild despite thick WTB Sendero tyres.
Product specifications
product PriceGBP ยฃ1999.00
Weight10.3kg (XS) – with out bottle cage/pedals
Available SizesXXS, XS, S, M, L, XL
Handlebar Level Gravel Riser Alloy, sixteen diploma flare, forty two cm
TiresWTB Sendero TCS Road Plus 650bx47mm
StemStage 1 6061 Alloy 70mm
The shifter is a SRAM competitor
SeatpostStage 1 alloy layback
SaddleSale Italia X3 Boost
The rear derailleur is a SRAM competitor
Grips/TapeLevel embossed bar tape
Bottom bracketSRAM GXP, BSA thread
Frame6061 T6 heat-dealt with aluminium
ForkFull carbon with convey mounts
CranksSRAM Rival 1 X-Sync forty two
ChainSRAM PC1110
CassetteSRAM PG 1130 11-velocity 11-forty two
BrakesSRAM Rival hydraulic disc, 160mm rotors
Wheels Mavic Allroad 650b wheelset HG, 24h, 25mm internal width
How we tested
Gravel bikes are designed to be as successful as viable at the avenue. They must be dependable partners for every day commutes, in addition to weekend adventures and, in a few cases, lengthy bikepacking trips.
At the ยฃ2,000 mark, you are in all likelihood to discover bikes withinside the centre of the spectrum among aero gravel-racing machines and hardtail mountain bike-fashion steeds.
These flexible all-rounders have to have 10- or 11-velocity drivetrains from Shimano or SRAM, hydraulic disc brakes, best gravel tires, and frequent mounts for bikepacking bags.
We positioned their versatility to take a look at with the aid of using driving the bikes on a combination of terrain in and around Dartmoor National Park in southwest England. We evaluated how they rolled on United States of America lanes, their cap potential to venture singletrack, their managing on flowing hearthplace roads and their velocity on desirable gravel cycleways.
In the exam
- Cannondale Topstone Alloy 2
- Ribble Gravel AL Fanatic SRAM Rival 1x
- Vitus Material VRS-1 HT Apex
Our review
An excellent-cost bike with the cap potential to advantage from similarly factor customization
Pros: Ability on difficult materials; lovely paint activity; Good spec for the charge; Construction of mild
Cons: Reach too lengthy; Sendero tires are dragging at the avenue; The forty two-enamel chainring is simply too big
Ribble Gravel AL Enthusiast SRAM Rival 1x Conclusion
It’s a great laugh to take a trip and the first rate costs money.
The Ribble Gravel AL is lots of a laugh to trip and I’m actually proud to personally ride the bike.
The cost you get at this charge is actually impressive. While I’d need to spend a bit more to optimise the fit, key elements of the construct just like the best SRAM Rival drivetrain and Mavic Allroad wheelset cannot be overlooked.
The 650b, chunky tire setup is refreshingly greater competitive than you may see on maximum gravel bikes, even though I’m positive the construct might be similarly a laugh on tarmac and mild gravel with the 700c, 40mm tire configuration.
I just like the British Racing Green matte and gloss paint, however if it is now no longer your cup of tea, you may select your personal dream paint activity for ยฃ299.
Our score: 9 out of 10
