Ribble has revealed the Ultra Race, a new all-rounder race bike constructed using a “revolutionary" MT65 carbon layup.
The British brand claims its use of this new, high-modulus carbon fibre has enabled it to build a stronger, stiffer and lighter bike, without compromising on aerodynamic efficiency.
The Ultra Race replaces the Endurance SL R in Ribble’s range and doubles down on its racing focus, dropping features such as mudguard mounts and paying increased attention to low weight and aerodynamics.
Ribble claims a flagship build, which costs £10,499, weighs only 6.58kg – less than the UCI’s minimum bike weight limit – with 30mm Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RS tyres and Scope Artech 4 carbon wheels.
A world first in the bicycle industry
According to Ribble, its use of MT65 carbon fibre is a “world first” within the cycling industry.
Jamie Burrow, Ribble’s head of design and product development, says this high-modulus carbon fibre was selected because the brand wanted to look beyond the types of carbon typically used by the bike industry (such as T800 and T1000).
The MT65 carbon is deployed strategically across the Ultra Race frame, alongside lower-modulus fibres.
The brand’s press materials say the use of this carbon fibre is “revolutionary”, although it’s fair to say the results – while impressive on paper – are predictable.
It likely won’t surprise anyone to discover this new carbon layup has enabled Ribble to make the Ultra Race lighter, stiffer and more compliant – all without sacrificing aerodynamic efficiency or durability.
In terms of figures, though, Ribble claims a size-medium frame (which is roughly equivalent to a 55cm) weighs 775g and is 75g lighter than its predecessor.
As a point of comparison, Specialized claims its S-Works Tarmac SL8 frame weighs 685g in a size 56cm, while its second-tier Tarmac SL8 Pro frame clocks in at 780g.
If aerodynamics weren't such a concern, Burrow says Ribble “could have gone easily under 650g” with the Ultra Race. However, given the importance of aerodynamics to modern-day racing, this was deemed not worthwhile.
Likewise, Burrow says Ribble was keen not to compromise on the strength and durability of the frame by going too light, and emphasised it has been tested thoroughly in the real world throughout its three-year development cycle.
Refined aerodynamics
While the overall silhouette of the Ultra Race is similar to its predecessor, the Endurance SL R, Ribble has refined the frame by taking inspiration from its Ultra SL R platform (which is now being rebranded as the Ultra Aero).
Like that aero road bike, the Ultra Race uses a wide-stance fork, with a profiled head tube and down tube shaped to shield water bottles from the wind.
The Ultra Race also uses the aero bottle cages debuted on Ribble’s Allroad SL R.
Up-front, Ribble has developed a new one-piece integrated cockpit for the Ultra Race, which is available in five sizes from 80x380mm to 120x420mm.
If that’s not to your taste, a two-piece cockpit, such as the Allroad SL R’s wake-generating UB-2 handlebar – plus a separate aero stem – can also be specced on the Ultra Race if desired.
Overall, Ribble says its testing at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub wind tunnel showed the Ultra Race is 0.72 per cent more aerodynamic than its predecessor, across a yaw sweep of -10 to 10 degrees.
Notably, Ribble's wind tunnel data says the Ultra Race is marginally less aerodynamic into a straight headwind (0 degrees of yaw).
On average, though, the Ultra Race is claimed to save a rider 2.6 watts at 46.8kph (Ribble said its wind tunnel data was gathered at a wind speed of 13 metres per second) or around six seconds over 40km.
Ribble Ultra range, specifications and pricing
The Ribble Ultra is available in six sizes, from XXS to XL, which Ribble says covers riders from 150 to 196cm in height.
There are four builds in the range, all featuring Shimano Di2 or SRAM AXS electronic groupsets, the new Aero Road Carbon integrated handlebar and Pirelli tyres.
Ribble says the Ultra Race has clearance for 32mm-wide tyres, and that all builds will shop with 30mm tyres.
The cheapest build features a Shimano 105 Di2 R7100 groupset, alongside Mavic Ksyrium 30 wheels, and costs £3,699.
Prices for stock builds rise to £7,999 with either Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 or SRAM Red AXS and Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels.
Optional upgrades include Zipp’s 353 NSW and Scope’s Artech 4 wheelsets, both of which can be specced via Ribble’s Bike Builder customisation programme.
