Ribble Cycles have launched the all-new Ultra Road, an aero-optimised road bike featuring innovative frame and handlebar designs designed to offer ultimate aerodynamic performance.
The brief for the new design was ambitious: to develop the world's most aerodynamically advanced road platform. And after three years of development, Ribble's R&D team are confident they've come up with a world-class bike.
"The Ultra Road project is a clear statement of our position as a world-class, innovative and exciting British cycling brand," says Ribble CEO Andy Smallwood.
"Core to our culture is challenging convention and not being afraid to explore new ground in our pursuit of developing a better performing product. The Ultra Road is perfectly aligned to this with its Ribble derived technology giving Pro riders and our customers a proven and meaningful performance advantage, meaning this bike is as much for me as it is our Pro Teams."
Most of the aerodynamic drag that affects cyclists is created by the rider, not the bike - and so Ribble's project started with extensive exploration of the specific forces that need to be overcome by the rider, influencing the physical shape and form of the new platform.
The team used a 3D digital scan of the Ribble test rider to provide complete consistency across the entire testing process, from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to wind tunnel testing of prototypes to real world.
CFD allowed the team to understand the aerodynamic challenges and how to use the design to maximise and manipulate the airflow to generate a significant performance gain across a full range of YAW (cross wind) angles from 0 to an extreme 20 degrees. Designs were tested at two key speeds: Pro rider speed of 29mph, and the more average (albeit fast) road cyclist speed of 22mph.
Every section of the frame, fork, seat post and handlebar was been aerodynamically optimised, with particular attention made to component integration.
The next stage utilised Rapid Prototyping for both further aerodynamic as well as ergonomic optimisation with particular attention being made to the handlebar - which, say Ribble, is critical from both an aerodynamic and primary rider contact point perspective.
When the shape and initial component material layup had been defined, extensive and detailed wind tunnel testing was employed to test and qualify the gains seen at CFD level.
"The wind tunnel results are extraordinary and illustrate the importance of considering the total package of bike and rider to obtain the best aerodynamic efficiencies," say Ribble.
The next step was to create rideable samples to fully understand the aerodynamic gains in real world conditions and to fine tune the weight, stiffness, handling and ride characteristics by putting the various iterations of prototype through their paces on the road.
One of the key innovations is the design of the Ultra Bar. Ribble say their new Ultra carbon integrated cockpit achieves unmatched aerodynamic integration.
"Working as a holistic proposition with the rider, the bars work to manage airflow upstream of the rider with the wake generating design creating a drag reduction zone (DRZ) for the rider to sit in as well as directing vortexes around the rider further enhancing the airflow.
"Lightweight, super-stiff and with component integration the carbon monocoque handlebar system has also undergone a full ergonomic study, maximising control, grip and comfort. The design has also been optimised aerodynamically in the drop and the hood positions."
Jamie Burrow, Head of Product, Ribble Cycles explains further: "To understand the full performance of a bike you need to understand how the airflow interacts with the rider and the resultant gains made by the bike and rider as a total package.
"Minimising drag-inducing effects increases the bike's aerodynamic efficiency which allows you to maintain the same speed for less effort or more speed for the same effort - either way the Ultra SL R equals better performance."
The Ribble Ultra SL R is an aerodynamically efficient performance bike with an improvement over the already aero-optimised, race proven Endurance SL R with a 75.1second saving over 40km at 22mph across the average of 5 and 10 degrees of yaw and 61.4 seconds over the same 40km at 29mph. This equates to an approximate 3 minute saving for the Ultra SL R on a typical 100km ride with average yaw conditions.
The Ultra Road is available as two models: Ultra SL R and Ultra SL - both with multiple pre-spec options and further specification customisation through Bike Builder and full personalisation through Custom Colour.
The Platform also includes a Tri Specific version: Ultra SL R Tri Edition. All models are disc brake only.
As for pricing, builds for the Ultra SL start from £3,199 while the Ultra SL R starts at £3,899. The Ultra SL R Tri Edition with Shimano Di2 weighs in at £6,599.
Speaking of weight, Ribble say the Ultra SL R tips the scales at 7.6kg (based on a medium frame) - which is light for an aero bike with disc brakes. The Ultra SL has a slightly heavier frame with builds expected to start around 7.8kg.
Intriguingly, one area where weight has been saved is on the new integrated Ultra Bar. The drops feature a textured finish to enhance grip, and the bars are designed to be used without bar tape - Ribble reasoning that the slight flex of carbon offers enough comfort by itself.
The new Ultra Road is available for pre-order now with shipping expected in - brace yourselves - first quarter of 2022. Guess there are some things even Ribble can't speed up...
For more information visit www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ultra-road-range.
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