LIKE their in-car counterparts, e-bikes are here to stay, so we took a look at the Ribble Hybrid AL e to see if it meets the needs of modern commuters.

With its contemporary design reminiscent of classic road bikes, the Hybrid AL e is arguably all the electric bike you need. It boasts a clean, clean design, state-of-the-art electric motor and superior specification to compete with top commuters, and is an impressive all-rounder that appeals to pros and novices alike.

Its versatility is its best asset – the perfect e-bike for commuting to work, it’s also perfect for scenic weekend rides, hill climbs and, thanks to its refined comfort, longer endurance rides.

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• Ribble Hybrid AL e, from £ 2,199 – buy here

Advantages

• Beautifully designed and expertly finished with an upscale feel
• Incredibly versatile and ideal for short or long trips
• High specification with quality components
• Easy to drive and use every day
• Lightweight and easy to maneuver (for an electric bike)

The inconvenients

• Like all electric bikes, it’s expensive
• Heavy compared to regular bikes in its price range
• Confusing instruction manual does not quickly explain button modes

Ribble electric bike review: quick summary

This is an incredibly good-looking and well-built electric bike, equipped to handle almost anything you throw at it. Versatile performance, the Hybrid AL e is suitable for novice riders as well as experienced cranksets. It makes cycling easy, from effortless climbing hills to navigating city streets, and it’s comfortable too.

It’s also fun to ride long distances – and backed by its 60-mile battery life – it’s a bike you’ll be happy to pack for the weekends, especially since it’s surprisingly light.

Few bikes can match its versatility – it’s fast, comfortable and handles well, ensuring it will perform beautifully no matter what you throw at it.

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Ribble electric bike test: complete test

Ribble is nothing new to the world of cycling, and it shows with the Hybrid AL e. From its humble beginnings as a bicycle shop in Preston in 1897, the British brand has grown over the decades to become one of the most respected names in cycling, and it has channeled that expertise into its cutting-edge range. of e-bikes.

A number of exciting start-ups have entered the e-bike space, which is a growing industry in line with electric motorcycles and cars. We will definitely see more and more e-bikes coming onto the market, especially for use in the city, as they are the fastest and most sustainable way to get around.

But while many new brands may face start-up issues and typically outsource manufacturing and assembly, with Ribble you buy into their heritage and reputation, as well as the knowledge that all of their bikes are still assembled to. hand in UK. Ribble has long perfected his craft, and it’s evident by the time you pick up your bike.

The brand is known for its premium finishes, and the Hybrid AL e is no different. Its lightweight 6061 T6 aluminum alloy frame looks expensive, with its hidden wiring, distinctive blue paintwork, and subtly integrated power button.

It looks quite like the luxury road bike, with its classic styling, cream-walled Schwalbe tires and sleek profile. It’s a bike you want to look at, but also want to ride.

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And when you do, you probably won’t be surprised – the Hybrid AL e rides as smoothly as it looks. It inspires confidence the moment you put a leg over it, making it ideal for those new to the world of e-bikes.

However, it will impress seasoned cycling veterans as well, as it feels and behaves like any other hand-finished premium road bike. This is because you can drive it without assistance, and because it is light, you won’t have any problems. But with the push of a button, it transforms into a high-performance machine that effortlessly rolls across the tarmac.

Its electric motor is deployed by pressing the button mounted on the upper frame, which flashes to reassure you. Pedal and you’ll instantly feel a boost, albeit subtle in the lower of the power modes.

The bike has three assist modes, and you progress through them by pressing the button twice. It begins with green, before moving on to amber and then to red, the universal color of speed.

If you’re like me, you’ll probably be spending most of your time in the red, the highest power mode. Unleashing the full force of the Mahle Ebikemotion X35 + motor, it instantly gives you 250 watts to play with as soon as you start pedaling. And it will last too, offering up to 60 miles of range.

If you’ve never experienced an electric bike before, this might surprise you at first. Although it only offers power when you pedal, do so and you’ll get a weird feeling that takes a while to get used to.

Ride a bike and you feel like someone is pushing you constantly, even with a gentle hand. It doesn’t look like a motor as such, but rather like riding a bike with a strong wind behind you, guiding you on your way as you do light work on previously difficult rides.

Power has a limit, of course. Government restrictions mean you’ll only hit a maximum of 15mph with electric assist like with any e-bike, but the feel is addictive and makes cycling a lot easier than you ever would have. believed possible.

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• Ribble Hybrid AL e, from £ 2,199 – buy here

It should be noted, however, that because you have to pedal, you still burn calories, so it’s not entirely a lazy experience. In full power mode, you’ll burn the same amount of calories as if you were walking, so do what you want with them.

Hills are a concern of the past with this bike. Steep slopes can be tackled comfortably from a seated position using the motor. It may seem odd to passers-by as you pedal uphill without even sweating, but you’ll feel powerful and agile, like you’ve suddenly stolen Bradley Wiggins’ thighs overnight.

Don’t press the power button halfway like I did, and suddenly lose your newfound super power.

Stopping is also effortless. Hydraulic disc brakes are powerful when pressed hard, stopping you quickly if you need to. This is not something that can be found with all e-bikes, because thanks to the bulky motors and batteries, they are usually a bit heavier than regular bikes.

But the brakes don’t have to work too hard, because the Hybrid is surprisingly light. The Mahle motor weighs just 3.5kg, while the rest of the bike combines for a total weight of 14.5kg, which isn’t much heavier than an equivalent fully mechanical road bike. The Hybrid is easy to lift and mounts comfortably in the back of your car, just like any bicycle.

You also feel this lack of weight throughout the journey. Agile and easy to maneuver at high speeds, the Hybrid is well equipped to tackle steep turns as well as narrower and narrower paths.

Its full carbon front fork handles vibration well, helping to make overall handling precise and intuitive, while its Mavic Allroad S UST wheels are able to absorb bumps with relative ease. That said, the ride is firmer, so extended cycles on a bumpy tarmac can be tiresome for some.

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Ribble electric bike test: the verdict

The Ribble Hybrid AL e is arguably the perfect all-round electric bike. Beautiful, well-built, and easy to ride, its long battery life and effortless performance make this a bike you’ll want to ride.

It inspires confidence from the first use, making the world of e-bikes accessible and fun. As with all e-bikes, its price is less accessible, but for the money you get very high specs with components that outperform rivals in this category.

The Hybrid AL e is an impressive device that combines beautiful design, smooth power deployment and complete versatility in a lightweight package.

Is the Ribble electric bike good value for money?

There’s no denying that the Ribble Hybrid AL e is expensive, with prices starting at £ 2,199, but so are all other e-bikes. There is currently no such thing as a cheap e-bike, so unfortunately you’ll have to fork out.

That said, for the money, the Hybrid does offer a lot. The Mahle Ebikemotion X35 electric motor is not the most powerful on the market, but its output of 250 watts is impressive, especially considering its size and light weight.

This makes this electric bike one of the lightest on the market, which at least partly justifies the price. Then there are the other components, which include (as tested) a full carbon fork, LEVEL grips and carbon seatpost, Brooks saddle, SRAM NX drivetrain, Schwalbe G-One Allround, tires tubeless, Mavic Allroad S UST wheels and more. It’s an awesome spec that other brands would charge you more money for.

Ribble can sell its bikes at a slightly lower price than competing brands because it sells directly to the consumer, eliminating the middleman. So in short, we think its electric bikes offer relatively good value for money.

If you enjoyed our Ribble electric bike review, you might be interested in the best child bike seats for 2021.

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