When I was in the Yorkshire Dales with Wanda, my touring bike, a few weeks ago, I reflected on my ‘need’ (‘desire’ would perhaps be a better word) for a bicycle that would serve a different purpose other than long-distance touring or commuting and relatively short rides in my local area. I have three bikes at the moment, only two of which are rideable.
My Ridgeback Panorama, Reggie, is in the cellar and it would take a significant amount of time (and money) to get it road worthy again. I’m keeping hold of the bike for sentimental reasons. It was, of course, replaced by Wanda, my Koga WorldTraveller six years ago. It’s a wonderful Rolls Royce of a bicycle and I have travelled with it around the coninent as well as around the UK on many successful tours. Hopefully it will continue to accompany me in the future on similar adventures. Then there is Ronnie, my Ribble hybrid. A simple and relatively cheap bike that is excellent for my communtes to work. This bike has just one front plate and a gear ratio that is tailor-made for the hills of West Yorkshire. On that score it is hard to beat.
Yet in the Dales, where I was camping for two nights and cycling without the need to carry much equipment, the Koga did seem out of place (although I did carry the tent and camping equipment on the bike to and from the campsite). A robust, heavy bike that laboured up the hills. The pannier racks were all but redundant on the day I ventured out from Appletreewick north along the valley of the Wharfe. Other cyclists sped past me on their lightweight machines and yes, I was a tad jealous of their ability to cover a far greater distance than my modest foray to the pub in Buckden.
So I began to consider an n+1. For me, that would add up to 4, if we count the cellar-stricken Reggie, 3 if he is discounted.
In buying the Ribble hydrib a few years ago, I made an excellent choice.
It rides well and, as mentioned above, has almost unbeatable gear ratios that you could only realisitically beat if you went down the route of buying a mountain bike. It also looks good and has so far proved to be very reliable. I’ve never taken it outside of the local area. It’s perfect for communiting and ocasionally trips up and down the Calder Valley.
So in looking for my n+1, it seemed a reasonable place to start my search at Ribble Bikes. I think it may well be where I also finish my search. I drove over to their showroom in Clitheroe a few weeks ago for a look at the options available having already spotted a few candidate bikes on their website. It wasn’t long before my eye was drawn to this titanium beauty:
It’s the Ribble CGR TI Enthusiast. CGR stands for Cross-Gravel-Road and the marketing tag line is “One bike. Unlimited potential.” Here’s a bit more information about the bike from the Ribble marketing department:
I’m not a great fan of the knobbly G-One tyres. I could imagine them being replaced with Marathon Plus tyres at some point and my choice would be to go for the Brooks Cambium C15 saddle rather than the Selle, but the guy in the showroom won me over when talking about the electronic gear shifting system. I was initially a little sceptical but he did a good job in allowing me to lower my eyebrows. As with disc brakes, I suspect electronic shifting will, given time, become the norm. There is, apparently, an app that allows them to be adjusted via your phone. There is a heafty discount on the bike (should that concern me?) and, purchased via the Cycle to Work Scheme, the stated initial RRP would be almost cut in half.
When I posted to Facebook my temptation to buy one of the Ribble CGR Ti bikes, the comments were very favourable. Jocasta wrote “I have had a CGR Ti for about 3 yrs now I absolutely love it! Great for touring, great winter bike.” I wouldn’t be using it for touring myself but it’s good to know that the option is there. Marc wrote “I’ve been ogling this exact bike for ages as an n+1… they look lovely and bulletproof and there are a lot of good review videos on YouTube.” There are and I’ve watched a few of them. More generally, there are fans of titanium out there, including Andy. He noted “Definitely recommend Ti for that magic carpet ride quality; they seem to float over the road surface.“
The Cycle to Work administration takes a few weeks and there is an estimated delivery delay for the bike of 10-15 days . It may be hoping for too much to have the CGR Ti by the end of May and the half-term holiday. After my trip to the Dales, I have caught the bug for short cycling trips where I stay in one place and take the bike on day trips. I’m thinking of a three-night escape to the Lakes, perhaps YHA or camping. I would drive up. This would require me to buy a rack for the car and that in itself is not easy as the Mini Cooper is not compatible with most racks. I’ve identified this one that is…
…but I’d prefer the two-bike version, the EX 2. Alas it doesn’t seem to be available in the UK.
And then, of course, there is the biggest question of all; what would the Ribble CGR Ti be called?
LATEST CYCLING EUROPE POSTS:
- EuroVelo Update: Galicia
- The Baltic Bikepack : Nida To Riga
- Votre Premier Grand Voyage À Vélo À Travers L’Europe : Comment Transformer Votre Rêve En Un Itinéraire, Et Non En Une Source De Stress
- New Developments in Turkey: Advantages and Risks
- The Ultimate Guide To The Best Cycling Routes In Europe
Subscribe to the Cycling Europe YouTube Channel
Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda, was published in May 2024 and recounts Andrew P. Sykes’ journey around France, into the Alps and down the Rhine in the summer of 2022. It is available as a paperback and as and eBook from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com (and other international Amazon sites). The paperback is also available from Waterstones or Foyles and the eBook from Apple iBooks.
Since 2009, CyclingEurope.org has established itself as a valued, FREE cycle touring resource. There’s now even a podcast, The Cycling Europe Podcast. If you enjoy the website and the podcast, please consider supporting the work of CyclingEurope.org with a donation. More information here.
Catch up with The Cycling Europe Podcast:
Discover more from CyclingEurope.org
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
A new bike is always fun and people spend their money how they wish.
Sad to think Reggie is mouldering away somewhere, he deserves some love (cash) lavished on him.
You unfortunately may be correct about electronic shifting becoming the norm but for me it’s another step in taking what should be a simple machine and complicating it with electronics.
Every electronic thing I’ve owned, from phones to cameras to smart TV’s has gone wrong at some time. I’d prefer to avoid a chance of spoiling a ride or tour by introducing electronic shifting. I always carry a spare gear cable on the bike having once had one break and nowhere near a bike shop.
Having said all this I hope you enjoy your new bike but if it was me I’d be thinking along the lines of a folding bike that I could take on the train, giving me the opportunity to explore further afield without cycling a long way to my chosen area.
Always interesting to read the thoughts of others. I have to admit that I’m a bit of a sucker for new technology so the Ribble sales guy didn’t have too many hurdles to overcome in persuading me to his way of thinking!! Folding bike? Mmm… Perhaps in a few years. That could be my n+2 🙂