Ribble Cycles has just hit us up with news of a couple of alloy hardcore hardtails with top geometry and premium finishes.
When it comes to a hardcore hardtail, UK brands seem to have it nailed with plenty of choices when it comes to steel, alloy, 29er or 27.5in rigs to choose from. Today though, hardtail lovers have a few more options to add to their list.
Ribble HT AL
The Ribble HT AL is a new alloy hardtail from Ribble Cycles. Designed and developed in the UK for shredding UK trails, the HT is a 27.5in wheeled bike with geometry optimised around a 150mm fork.
Built from 6061 T6 alloy, the frameset has a really lovely clean finish with internal cable and hose routing plus really gorgeous welds that have been smoothed out to give an almost carbon-like appearance.
Designed for shredding around the woods, hitting jumps and general trail fun, the Ribble HT boasts gussets in all the right places and a geometry that promises to be stable at speed but fun in the ruts.
Ribble HT AL Geometry
| FRAME SIZE | Medium | Large | X-Large |
| A – SEAT TUBE LENGTH C/T (MM) | 426 | 457 | 508 |
| B – HEAD ANGLE | 64º | 64º | 64º |
| C – SEAT ANGLE | 74º | 74º | 74º |
| D – EFFECTIVE TOP TUBE (MM) | 630 | 650 | 670 |
| E – BB DROP (MM) | 43 | 43 | 43 |
| F – CHAINSTAY LENGTH (MM) | 440 | 440 | 440 |
| G – HEADTUBE LENGTH (MM) | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| H – WHEELBASE (MM) | 1226 | 1248 | 1270 |
Ribble HT Trail AL 29
If your idea of hardtail fun revolves around larger 29in wheels, then the Ribble HT Trail AL 29 is for you. Again built around a smooth 6061 T6 alloy frameset with internal cable routing, the 29er version of the Ribble HT is built for a 130mm fork for general trail and trail centre duties.
Ribble HT Trail AL 29 Geometry
| FRAME SIZE | Medium | Large | X-Large |
| A – SEAT TUBE LENGTH C/T (MM) | 430 | 457 | 485 |
| B – HEAD ANGLE | 65º | 65º | 65º |
| C – SEAT ANGLE | 74º | 74º | 74º |
| D – EFFECTIVE TOP TUBE (MM) | 628 | 650 | 670 |
| E – BB DROP (MM) | 43 | 43 | 43 |
| F – CHAINSTAY LENGTH (MM) | 455 | 455 | 455 |
| G – HEADTUBE LENGTH (MM) | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| H – WHEELBASE (MM) | 1195 | 1217 | 1239 |
Ribble has already updated its online store with details of both bikes plus build options. Complete bikes start at an impressive £1399 rising to £1999. Each build comes with an SRAM Eagle 1×12 drivetrain, SRAM brakes, RockShox forks and both the mid and high-level builds feature dropper posts out of the box too.
If you already have the parts to build your own bike, then Ribble also offers the Ribble HT Trail AL and HT as framesets only costing £599. We’re planning to jump on one of these UK trails smashers soon so watch this space.
Can’t argue with that package. 29er with less fork travel would be my choice.
Looks like an impressive quality of finish on the frames. Nice sanding on the welds. They’ll sell a lot of those, particularly the 29er I suspect.
Always like Ribble hardtails, will more than likely be my next and good to see they’re widening the range.
Sorry to introduce a note of negativity, but they have poor quality forks for the money and it’s a bit of a stretch to say “Only £599” for an aluminium hardtail frame.
I know Ribble want to be more of an aspirational brand nowadays, but other direct-to-consumer offerings piss all over these.
The On-One Scandal full build is currently 12sp GX and RS-35 fork for £1400. Compared to these, it’s somewhere mid spec, The choice is do you want a good fork, or move up the SRAM groupsets? people will make their own choices I guess. Certainly don’t think it “pisses over these” though.
Crikey, every week is new bike week at Ribble.
What’s coming next week?
Expensive frame, cheap forks and long CS for a 27.5. Where are the reach and stack numbers?
They do look a bit pricey for direct to consumer jobbies.
I had a look and a GX build with a Pike is £2,200.
A titanium Titus Fireline with GX and MRP fork is £2,300 from Planet X.
An alu Zero AM from Bird with a dropper, Deore and a Lyrik is £1,800.
@nickc
Ribble want £1,700 for NX groupset and a RS 35 fork, the Scandal is £300 less and you get GX.
Vitus ask £50 more for a Sentier with a Fox 34 Performance, SLX/XT drivetrain & SLX brakes.
The Nukeproof Scout 290 is £100 more and has a Z2, Deore 12sp with 4-pot brakes and you can buy it from a bike shop (eventually).
So I stand firmly by my statement.
Could Singletrack be a little more critical with the press release regurgitation, I wonder?
@chapaking, arguably a better quality finished frame, tyres and a dropper post from Ribble though. But agree, there are cheaper bikes with a similar spec.
I went for a look at these this morning based on my lack of mountain bike and desperation for something. I noped right out when I considered the frame price is only slightly less than the current crop of rather nice steel frames out there (Stanton/Cotic/Pipedream etc.)
There’s validity to some of the criticism here. There are certainly cheaper options for a similar spec, or better value options at the same price.
The groupset I’d not be so worried about as it can be gradually upgraded as parts wear out. But there’s no getting away from the big-hit cost of upgrading a fork, and to a slightly lesser extent the wheelset. It looks like an RS Revelation is the highest spec they offer in their customiser, which is a bit disappointing. It’s not a bad fork, but not as supple or well controlled as a Pike.
There’s an option to upgrade to a Hope Fortus 26 wheelset for £250. Nice to have some quality hubs, but I doubt they’re much lighter than the stock wheels, and the rim is narrower which will affect tyre shape and potentially ride quality. So I’d save my money and stick with the stock option there.
I just think of Blackadder the 4th saying ‘wibble’
Ah, on the 27.5 version there’s a Pike and a Fox 34 upgrade option. So I suspect the lack of options on the 29er is down to lack of current availability, which is understandable.
Frame price isn’t far short of a chameleon!
Why no reach figures?
Doesn’t seem the most cost conscious build build spec for the price.
The 150 Recons on the 27.5 will be a bit flexi at 64deg.
Some of the ‘upgrade’ prices are eye watering!
455mm chainstays!
“Nice sanding on the welds.”
Polyfilla then sanded and painted – that’s how most of them that are as smooth/filleted as that are done. Nothing wrong with it, looks good. If not filler they’ve done a particularly good job of a smooth weld process.