Ribble’s Allroad SL R is one of a trio of versatile, contemporary all-road bikes the Preston-based brand launched last summer under its Road+ banner. Pricewise, it takes middle honours in the lineup, the other two bikes being the more elemental Allroad SL and the visually striking titanium-framed Allroad Ti. All three owe a debt to Ribble’s existing Endurance range, but they’re genuinely new models developed from the ground up for mixed surface riding.
The Allroad SL R clearly borrows design cues from the Ultra SL R, Ribble’s hardcore aero race machine. You only need to glance at the uncompromising aero cockpit and thick Kamm-shaped frame tubes to spot the family resemblance. These aero enhancements provide the Allroad SL R with some performance advantages but, as I’ll reveal, they come at a cost.
