The RIbble Allroad Ti is the latest endurance bike from British brand Ribble, using 3D-printed titanium, and it marks a ‘new era of titanium innovation’ for the company.
3D-printed titanium has previously been the preserve of the highest-end manufacturers, often making custom geometry frames for the most discerning of riders. Now, it embodies the very essence of trickle-down tech, but is it worth it?
I’ve spent the past few weeks thrashing the Allroad Ti around on everything from fast club rides to pootles to the cafe and even a bit of gravel to see what the fuss is all about. The test bike I’ve been riding is positively dripping with top-end components and has caught many an eye.
How does it compare to the best road bikes, and what are the strengths and weaknesses of the all-titanium Ribble?
Ribble Allroad Ti review
Price and availability
Depending on the sort of riding you do, there are plenty of options of the Ti at Ribble. I’ve been riding the Hero (£7999) variant of the Allroad Ti but there are a number of levels below, starting at £3499 for 12spd 105 (Allroad Ti Sport), £4099 for 105 Di2 (Allroad Ti Enthusiast) and £5499 for Ultegra Di2 (Allroad Ti Pro). All models are available in sizes XS to XL which should suit riders between 160cm and 193cm according to Ribble.
Frame
3D printed titanium isn’t a new innovation in the cycling industry, many boutique brands are producing frames that use the technology but they're often wildly expensive and nothing more than a dream for most. Ribble are hoping to change that though with the Allroad Ti which combines cutting edge additive manufacturing with traditional construction techniques to create a bike that is very unique at this price point.
Titanium is a revered material in the cycling world for offering a great balance between weight, stiffness and ride feel. This is a result of titanium being about half as dense as steel meaning the frame can be both lighter and stiffer than steel equivalent. The downside is that it is harder to weld than steel which can contribute to increased costs.
The Allroad Ti’s frame is made from corrosion resistant 3AL-2.5V Titanium, with the headtube and seat tube junctions made with additive manufacturing; Ribble says this has allowed these areas to be aerodynamically optimised in a way that would not be possible with traditional round tubes. These areas certainly look striking, especially the headtube with its very organic form that allows the top of the headtube to transition seamlessly into the upper headset cover.
The frame features fully internal cable routing which does look very clean, the only visible cable on this bike is the small cable into the rear mech. Home and shop mechanics will rejoice at the sight of a T47 threaded bottom bracket which should stay creak free for many miles. There are also front and rear mudguard mounts to make the Allroad Ti into the ultimate winter bike.
Components
This example of the Allroad Ti that I’ve been testing is the Hero spec featuring 12spd Shimano Dura Ace Di2, Zipp 303 Firecrest carbon wheels, 3D printed Selle Italia saddle and Ribble’s own UB-2 Carbon Handlebar.
The handlebar is the most standout component aside from the frame. Plucked from the brand's race bike and then modified to use a traditional stem, the UB-2 bars certainly raised some eyebrows. Optimised for aerodynamics, the handlebars feature a very chunky aerofoil shape top section which then tapers down into the drops. The brake levers are integrated into the bars using a special clamp which looks incredibly neat and tidy.
All the cables are run internally down through the stem and into the frame which does mean it becomes a more involved job to replace headset bearings or trim the steerer, as brakes will have to be disconnected to do so.
An integrated outfront mount is included that allows a Garmin or Wahoo computer to be used as the bars do not have any round tube to clamp the traditional mount to. On the underside of the mount is a light attachment point which keeps everything looking very neat and tidy but of course isn't compatible with all lights.
As one might expect from a top tier groupset, Dura Ace Di2 is exceptional. In the near 1000 kilometers I rode the bike, it didn't miss a shift and required virtually no attention beyond some oil on the chain. Ergonomics of the shifters are great, fitting in the hands beautifully and the user programmable shift buttons mean you can set the shift up exactly how you want it. It is disappointing to not have a power metre included at this price point, as Shimano offer a unit that integrates seamlessly into the crankset.
The Zipp 303 Firecrest carbon wheels are a mainstay in the pro peloton and didn't miss a beat here either. The 25mm internal width of the rim meant the tyres had plenty of volume and once I had set them up tubeless, I could run lower pressures to absorb any vibrations from the road. It’s disappointing that they didn't come tubeless from the factory but all of the required bits were included in the box, so I just had to add sealant.
Ride
There’s a lot of talk of aerodynamics surrounding the Allroad range and it’s hard to deny that aerodynamics are an important part of cycling when it comes to performance, frame design has come a long way in the last 10 years with different shaped tubes to cut through the wind. Almost all of this development has been focussed on carbon bikes, as it’s much easier to make an aerodynamic tube shape in carbon than it is in metal, which brings me back to the Allroad Ti.
The main benefit of using 3D printed parts on this frame seems to be for aerodynamic gain; the deep headtube should allow the bike to slice through the air, coupled with the narrow and relatively aggressive handlebar, which encourages the rider to hunker down and power on.
This optimisation is then undone by the fairly sedate geometry; the headtube is oddly tall, some 32mm taller than the Specialized Roubaix which is the bike that pretty much defined the endurance bike category, forcing the rider into a reasonably upright and decidedly un-aero position.
I had to take all of the spacers out from under the stem to find a comfortable position but still feel quite upright. Granted I prefer a more aggressive position but I find the contrast between the tall headtube yet long reach a curious one.
The handlebars of this bike also confused me. I actually found them very comfortable; the shape of the tops was great, and the drops inspired confidence when descending hard. Oddly, though, only the drops of these bars are taped, with the tape stopping an inch short of the underside of the hoods, meaning the tops are bare, glossy carbon. Glossy carbon is not very grippy at all, and add in a bit of sweat, rain, or both, and they become very slippery indeed. I feel this could be resolved with a textured finish on the tops to aid grip.
Ribble offers a more conventional one-piece cockpit as part of its configuration options, which is my personal preference.
Get the Allroad Ti up to speed on a flat road, and it will cruise along quite happily, although some of this should be credited to the Zipp 303 wheels. Some bikes love to be ridden hard, urging you to attack out of every corner or slight rise in the road and reward you for doing so. The same can't be said for the Allroad Ti – it prefers a less frantic riding style and feels a little sluggish when ridden hard. It’s much more at home cruising along than being flogged out of every corner on a local chaingang.
The flipside to this is that the Allroad Ti is a very comfortable ride, the wide Pirelli tyres and D shaped carbon seatpost absorbing any vibrations from broken tarmac and the inherent property of titanium meant that I felt isolated but not disconnected from whatever was whizzing under my tyres.
Swapping to my personal bike, a carbon race bike with 28mm tyres, the difference in comfort was staggering. If being comfortable is more appealing than going fast, then the Allroad Ti is a fantastic option. I even rode the bike on some smooth gravel and it coped very well.
One undoing of the bike, though, is climbing; it’s no featherweight, tipping my scales at 9.6kg (size XL), which does blunt the acceleration and general liveliness when the road points upwards. The weight is quite high for a bike of this spec, A Sonder Colibri Ti with Campagnolo Chorus weighed 9.73kg on my scales and that’s a bike that costs some £6000 less. It’ll be tricky to trim excess weight from the Allroad Ti, so if you're looking for something that’s at home in the hills, then look elsewhere.
There's no denying the value for money with this bike is outstanding, Dura Ace Di2 and Zipp 303’s on a bike costing £7999 is almost unheard of, let alone with a titanium frame but if it were me, I’d go for something different. The ENVE Melee can be specced with one tier lower Ultegra Di2 and full ENVE finishing kit including wheels for around £300 more. The geometry feels more dialed, it’s got much racier intentions yet can still accept 35mm tyres and is considerably lighter.
Verdict
Looking beyond the quirks of the handlebars and geometry, the Ribble Allroad Ti is a very capable bike, capable of soaking up the worst road surfaces. The finishing kit is top-tier and adds up to a very polished riding experience. For covering big distances in comfort, the Allroad Ti is a stellar choice. However, those looking for a more lively feel and aggressive geometry will be better off looking elsewhere.
Also consider
There are a handful of brands making titanium all road bikes. The Reilly Cycleworks Fusion offers 32mm tyre clearance and a higher cost when specced the same as the Allroad Ti Hero.
Homegrown brand Sonder also offer a line of titanium all road bikes in the shape of the Colibri Ti. Accepting up to 36mm tyres and built on an endurance geometry, the lineup offers scintillating value for money, £3,599 for an Ultegra Di2 build, albeit with alloy wheels and finishing kit.
Away from Titanium, I’ve already mentioned the Enve Melee with clarence for 35mm tyres and a racier ride.
