Ribble has launched two new alloy hardtail mountain bikes, designed in-house in the UK, which the brand says are specifically for tough trail riding.
The HT Trail AL 29 is a versatile trail bike, while the 27.5in-wheeled HT AL “deserves to be ridden flat out and adrenaline-fuelled when the terrain pushes you to your limits”, according to Ribble.
They join the existing HT Ti and HT 725 to double the size of Ribble's mountain bike range.
Both new bikes have heat-treated alloy frames with smooth welds and strengthening gussets, to increase frame resilience and torsional stiffness.
Frame geometry is slack and low, with a 64-degree head tube angle across all sizes on the 650b bike and 65-degree head tube angle on the 29in bike. Curiously, reach figures are not quoted.
Both bikes come kitted out with wheelsets from Ribble’s in-house Level brand. There’s also full internal cable routing and the option to add an internally routed dropper post.
The HT Trail AL 29 features 130mm travel forks and the frame has clearance for 2.5in tyres. Meanwhile, the HT AL has 150mm of travel and tyre clearance in the frame is 2.6in. Stock fork options for both bikes include RockShox Recon Silver RL, Gold RL, or Rockshox Revelation RC.
There’s a similar choice of SRAM groupset spec levels on the stock builds, ranging from SX Eagle, via NX Eagle to GX Eagle.
Like all Ribble bikes, you can pick and choose components using the Bikebuilder or from recommended specs, which start at £1,399 for the Sport build, £1,699 for the Enthusiast build and £1,999 for the Pro build on both bikes.
You can also buy both bikes as a frameset only for £599 and choose one of Ribble’s custom colour options, too.
2021 Ribble HT Trail AL 29 Enthusiast build specs
- Frame: HT Trail AL 6061-T6 Aluminium
- Fork: RockShox 35 Gold RL 29, 130mm travel
- Drivetrain: SRAM NX Eagle 1x12, 32t, 11-50t
- Wheels: LEVEL 35 29er Boost Alloy TR
- Tyres: Maxxis Assegai 29inx2.5in (front), DHR II 29inx2.4in (rear)
- Brakes: SRAM Level T Direct Mount Hydraulic, 180mm rotors
- Stem: LEVEL XI 6061 Alloy, 35mm
- Handlebar: LEVEL XI Riser Alloy
- Grips: LEVEL Lock-On Rubberised
- Seatpost: LEVEL MT1 AL6061 Alloy
- Saddle: WTB Koda Cromoly
- Stock colour: Anthracite Grey
- Weight: 13.6kg (size M, claimed)
- Sizes: Medium, Large, X-Large
- Price: £1,699
Ribble HT AL Enthusiast build specs
- Frame: HT Trail AL 6061-T6 Aluminium
- Fork: RockShox 35 Gold RL, 150mm travel
- Drivetrain: SRAM NX Eagle 1x12, 32t, 11-50t
- Wheels: LEVEL 35 27.5in Boost Alloy TR
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF / DHR 3C MaxxTerra EXO, 27.5inx2.6in
- Brakes: SRAM Level T Direct Mount Hydraulic, 180mm rotors
- Stem: LEVEL XI 6061 Alloy, 35mm
- Handlebar: LEVEL XI Alloy
- Grips: LEVEL Lock-On Rubberised
- Seatpost: LEVEL MT1 AL6061 Alloy
- Saddle: WTB Koda Cromoly
- Stock colour: Matt Olive
- Weight: 13.5kg (size M, claimed)
- Sizes: Medium, Large, X-Large
- Price: £1,699
