CGR stands for 'Cross, Gravel, Road'... meaning that it qualifies for this guide based on the third initial, and not only that, but it's our top-recommended e-road bike all things considered.
The CGR AL e Sport model with SRAM Apex 1x gearing is a cracking machine for the money. Comfortable and stable over very rough ground, it’s also highly capable at eating up the road miles. The electric assist is delightfully discreet and intuitive, too.
If you’re after a steed that pretty much completely hides its electronic nature, then the CGR is the one for you. The downtube housing the 250Wh Panasonic battery is similar size to non-electronic bikes and the motor is hidden smartly away in the rear hub.
Said motor system is Mahle’s lightweight SmartBike Systems X35+, which comes in at 3.5kg. This particular build (SRAM Apex 1x) is more roadie than gravel, with narrow bars and slick Schwalbe 700x40c tyres. Ribble offers three other build options in the form of the Pro, Enthusiast and Sport (Shimano Tiagra), or you can build the CGR online into a configuration that suits you.
A feature of the X35 system is that the power assistance is sparked by the cassette lockring as it turns, which is handy for getting a boost over tricky sections where you can’t pedal a full revolution. You can also turn on ‘heart rate assist’ via an app, which programmes power to kick in once a certain heart rate is reached.
The CGR is most suited to those already reasonably fit as assist is tied to revs – when it slows, the amount of power also drops – which makes for a completely different, yet still highly enjoyable ride experience.
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It'd be nice if at least one relatively budget option could be included.
It is a feature on "stealth" road bikes, i.e. ones with discreet motors and batteries; as far as I know there aren't really any lower budget options for this type of bike, the Boardman, Bianchi and Ribble are about as cheap as you can get in this sector, at least from reputable manufacturers and retailers. Obviously there are cheap Chinese imports available on eBay etc but they look pretty dodgy.
A word of caution about the Mahle system, or rather two: firstly aftersales care is virtually non-existent, in my experience if anything goes wrong they'll tell you to go to the bike manufacturer and the manufacturer will tell you to go to Mahle. I couldn't find anyone in London prepared to work on the system either. The second warning is that replacement parts are enormously expensive, difficult to source and take ages to arrive. I have an Orbea Gain D40 for commuting, when the motor went, out of warranty, I found that for less than the cost of a replacement motor (£450) I could get a whole new conversion kit of battery, motor wheel and controller which works just as well and that I can work on myself. It's taken away the bike's "stealth" look but I don't really care about that, I know I've got three unpowered bikes that I ride further each year than the ebike, if people want to sneer or look down their noses at it, let them!