Ribble Allroad SL R Hero review: impressive pace and performance, but it's definitely not an all-road bike

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Ribble says its new Allroad range is the result of three years of research, development and testing.

The platform’s concept involved taking the lessons learned from Ribble's aero race bike, the Ultra SL R, and trickling that technology into an endurance road bike.

It's certainly not an all-road bike, offering both pace and performance more akin to aero road bikes, but with a level of comfort on tarmac you'd expect from endurance bikes.

With prices starting at £6,999 (£8,799 as tested), the Allroad SL R offers better value for money than its closest competitors.

Ribble Allroad SL R frameset

Ribble's aero-shaped seat tube has a rear-wheel cutout, giving the SL R a generous (for the road) 38mm of tyre clearance. It's topped by an aero seatpost that looks like a scaled-down version of the deeper post found on the Ultra.

The down tube on the Allroad SL R is aerodynamically shaped and incorporates a dedicated aero-optimised bottle cage. Underneath the cage is a useful storage port, inside which is a dedicated bag system made by UK bike bag specialist Restrap.

The front end of the Allroad combines a wide, aero-optimised fork that integrates smoothly into the head tube.

On the earliest versions of the Allroad SL R, the front end came with steering stops, limiting the steering angle to 45 degrees. Later models have thankfully removed this, though, and early models can be updated by Ribble.

At the back, the Allroad retains Ribble’s signature stepped seatstays, as seen on the Ribble Gravel SL and CGR. However, the Allroad’s stays are aero-shaped rather than flattened like the off-road designs.

It’s good to see Ribble has included provision for mudguards, and offers a kit to enable fitting them as an optional extra. Tyre clearance is 38mm, or 32mm with mudguards.

Clearance of 38mm is generous by current road bike standards, although with Pirelli now offering a huge 40mm option for its race tyres, it might not be long before other bike brands catch up.

The Allroad SL R is constructed using a blend of T1000 M46 carbon fibres, which Ribble claims offers a blend of stiffness, compliance and low weight where needed. It has flat mount brakes, thru-axles and a BSA 68mm threaded bottom bracket shell for Shimano’s standard BBR60 bottom bracket.

The SL R Hero is certainly a light bike, tipping the scales at 8.43kg for my size-XL test bike, complete with storage bags, out-front mount and two aero bottle cages.

Ribble Allroad SL R geometry

The geometry is in the endurance space, but at the sporty end of it.

My XL test bike (equivalent to a 58cm) features 606.7mm of stack and a long 405.3mm reach that, when combined with the 120mm stem, creates a stretched-out ride position.

Fortunately, that’s evened out by a taller front end. For comparison, our 2024 Road Bike of the Year, Giant’s Defy Advanced, has 596mm stack and 393mm reach in an equivalent size.

It’s an interesting approach and one that could represent the closest link between race and endurance yet.

Ribble Allroad SL R Hero build

The Allroad SL R Hero is the range-topping build. In its base spec, it’s priced at a very competitive £6,999 – making it one of the cheapest Dura-Ace Di2-equipped bikes on sale today.

Our test bike, however, pushed the upgrade option, adding Zipp’s 353 NSW wheelset over the standard 303 Firecrest. This raises the price to £8,799, but it’s still cheaper than many rivals.

For example, Specialized’s S-Works Roubaix SL8 with SRAM’s Red AXS groupset is priced at £12,000, while the Giant Defy Advanced SL 0 costs £11,499.

Up front, the Allroad SL R Hero gets Ribble’s distinctive UB-2 (Ultra bar, second generation) handlebar.

This takes the radical aerodynamic shape of Ribble’s Ultra bar, with its patented airflow-disrupting wake generators and sculpted drops, along with direct-mounting brake levers.

Thankfully, unlike the Ultra, the Allroad’s UB-2 comes as standard bar with a separate stem.

This affords riders far more choice to optimise their cockpit setup, and Ribble offers the bar in 340mm at the hoods and 380mm in the drops, as well as 360/400mm, 380/420mm and 400/440mm options.

My size-XL test bike came with the widest, 400/440mm option. The UB-2 bar comes with a bonded-in textured grip in place of bar tape, although bar tape can be specced at the point of purchase if desired.

The shape is distinct, but its dimensions of a 95mm reach and 120mm drop are very much in the compact bar range, favoured for endurance bikes.

Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 takes care of the drivetrain and brakes, and the 11-30t cassette and 50/34 crankset cement the Allroad’s sporty endurance credentials.

The Zipp 353 NSW wheelset weighed in at 1,304g when I tested it back in 2021, and the wheels are wrapped with Pirelli’s 32mm P Zero tyres.

The seatpost is a proprietary aero carbon option, topped with a 3D-printed Selle Italia SL R Boost 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow – which alone would set you back a penny shy of £400.

Ribble Allroad SL R Hero ride impressions

The Allroad SL R doesn’t ride like your average endurance platform. Where I’d expect a relaxed position, compliance and comfort in abundance, instead it’s a mix of efficient speed with just enough road smoothing.

The ride position is a little taller at the front, but the reach is long, which suits the way I ride. For times when you want to push your speed, it’s easy to adopt a more aerodynamic position – swoop down into the compact drops and go for it.

When you want a more relaxed cruising position, it's good up on the hoods, and it feels much more akin to a pure endurance bike on the tops.

I appreciate that Ribble has looked for rider aero improvements by fitting a relatively narrow handlebar, and the current trend in racing is for narrower bars.

I find they compromise the handling, though, and if you’re a broad-shouldered rider like me, the overarching feeling is one of being cramped.

You can opt for a different bar, though, and that’s the option I’d go for – even though I enjoy the bulbous shape of the UB-2, and especially the direct-mount lever design. I just wish Ribble offered a wider 420/460mm option.

Some might baulk at the lack of bar tape, but I tested the bike through winter with gloved hands and had no issues with comfort or grip. I tested the electric version of the Allroad last summer and didn’t find the bar uncomfortable either.

Handlebar aside, the Allroad SL R is a quick bike that excels on rolling terrain. The efficient, reliable Dura-Ace shifting and the close-ratio 11-30t cassette are a superb match for a bike that gets up to speed quickly and can maintain it.

The Zipp 353 NSW wheelset is light, stable in high winds and feels special. The freehub pick-up is quick and the minimal friction on freewheeling adds to the efficiency the Allroad SL R exudes.

The Pirelli P Zero Race TLR tyres are an excellent, low-rolling-resistance option and the large, 32mm size here offers excellent comfort.

It’s something the Allroad SL R needs because the frame is on the firm side. I switched out the NSWs with the 32s for an alternative wheelset with 28mm tyres to confirm this.

In this respect, the Allroad SL R frame and fork are much more akin to an aero road bike than a softer, more compliant endurance platform.

The Allroad SL R climbs well too, and the lightweight rolling stock makes it respond eagerly to pedalling inputs. I found the Allroad better suited to seated climbing, although that’s down mainly to the narrow bar.

I just didn’t feel as comfortable as I usually do standing up while holding these hoods that are significantly narrower than my shoulders.

The Allroad moniker suggests this Ribble can handle a little light off-road riding. Yes, it can, just as any road bike can, but it’s certainly not at its best there.

While poor rural road surfaces are taken in its stride, unmetalled roads and gravel expose the frameset's firmness. As good as the Allroad is on the road, it doesn’t live up to its name when the going gets rough.

Making the most of the 38mm tyre clearance might mitigate this, but there’s no getting away from the fact it’s a speed-focused road bike.

Ribble Allroad SL R Hero bottom line

The Allroad SL R is an interesting bike. It’s certainly an endurance road bike, but not as we know it. What it most certainly isn’t is an all-road bike.

It offers both pace and performance that puts it in line with a pure aero road bike, yet with a ride position that’s much easier to live with. The same goes for its larger-volume tyres, and useful details such as the down-tube storage and mudguard mounts.

Mentioning the value for money offered by a bike that costs £8,799 may seem odd, but it makes sense when you compare the Ribble to its competition. It's nigh-on £2,000 cheaper than its nearest endurance rival – Trek’s Domane SLR.

I’m not a fan of the narrowness of the handlebar, but that’s a personal preference, and Ribble offers other options. Otherwise, I can’t fault the specification.

If you’re a purist roadie who doesn’t feel any draw to get off the beaten track, the Allroad SL R is a great option. It wouldn’t be my first choice for mixed road and off-road use, though.

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