Ribble launches new R872 road bike for 2017

This handsome bike is the brand new R872 from British brand Ribble Cycles. We first saw it at the Cycle Show earlier this year but it’s now available to purchase.  

It’s an updated of a bike that has been the company’s best-selling model since it launched five years ago. The changes bring the bike bang up to date whilst retaining what it describes as a “proven geometry” of the outgoing bike. 

The focus of the update has been on improving frame stiffness. It’s achieved this by upping the quality of the carbon fibre used in the layup, with a mix of T1000 and T800 high modulus fibre to provide stiffness increases in all key areas that matter.

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Ready for some numbers? Ribble claims the new frame is 15.4% stiffer in the bottom bracket, 14% stiffer chainstays, 8% stiffer in the head tube, 26.5% increased lateral stiffness and 16.4& improvement in fork stiffness.

Aside from the stiffness improvements, Ribble has also given the new R872 a slight aerodynamic facelift. It has adopted the same integrated down tube and fork crown as used on its Aero 883 bike.

Switching to a skinnier 27.2mm seatpost should provide a greater scope with deflection, and with the sloping top tube, there’s more exposed seatpost. The frame features internal cable routing and it’s Di2 compatible. 

The R872 is available in two colours, the existing black paint scheme and a brand new matt silver option. 

Complete bike prices start at £1,099 but you can very easily customise the build with plenty of options available on groupsets, wheels and finishing kit, using Ribble’s BikeBuilder. Check it out here. 

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Ribble’s recommended spec costs £1,684 with full Shimano Ultegra, Fulcrum Racing Sport wheels and Deda Zero 2 finishing kit. More at www.ribblecycles.co.uk