Following the release of their Endurance e-Road Bike, British bicycle manufacturers Ribble Cycles, have added two new fully integrated eBikes to their lineup; the Ribble Urban E and the Ribble Hybrid AL E Trail. With step-thru and step-over aluminium frames to choose from, these are two town eBikes that will likely appeal to a wide and diverse range of commuters.
Ribble Urban and Hybrid eBikes
The Ribble Urban E and Ribble Hybrid AL E Trail are eBikes designed to beat the traffic; whether you’re on your way to work or the grocery store, the superlight MAHLE Ebikemotion hub drive motor system will get you there in record time.
The Pulsar One smart display integrated into the handlebars gives you control over the level of pedal assist, which can also be controlled by the handlebar mounted iWoc Trio control button, positioned slightly inboard of the grip.
Of course, buttons provide the positive tactile feedback that a touchscreen lacks. They are the safer option for switching between modes while navigating the streets.
The motor system also has a “walk” feature. You can select this when you need to dismount the bike for a period. The motor kicks in just a little to help you push the bike along, something that would be super welcome if you’re having to push the bike up a hill.
So what are the differences between the Urban E and the Hybrid AL E?
The biggest difference is the frame design. While the Urban E runs a step-thru frame for easy mounting and dismounting, the Hybrid AL E Trail has a step-over frame. Folk with experience of riding traditional step-over design frames, perhaps those who also have a road bike or a mountain bike and are well familiar with mounting and dismounting in this way, will likely tend toward the Hybrid AL E Trail. Less experienced riders may prefer the step-thru design.
The Hybrid AL E Trail also gets a suspension fork, hence the addition of “Trail”, while the Urban E runs a rigid carbon fork. If your commute includes some off-road sections, perhaps along a tow-path or gravel-surfaced cycle path, then the Hybrid AL E Trail will definitely be the more comfortable option. That said, both run Schwalbe Marathon Rigid 700c x 35c tires on Mavic All Road rims, so both will happily take to gravel sections.
The new Ribble town eBikes have a geometry that provides an upright riding position, making it easier for riders to keep their head up and looking ahead. The significant backsweep on the handlebars will also help with that. Both are available in sizes S, M & L, servicing rider heights from 5′ to 6’2″.
Ribble suggest a SRAM Apex 1×11 speed drivetrain, though they do offer several options for custom builds.
Pricing & Availability
Pricing for the Ribble Urban E starts at £2,499 while the Ribble Hybrid AL E Trail retails at £2,599.
