Our round up of the best road bikes always raises questions on which bike to buy. The Ribble R872 has been a Trivelo best buy since 2020 so here we help with options and the 3 Best Alternatives to the Ribble R872 road bike for 2022. Helping you finalise the purchase decision for your new bike in 2022.
>>> 19 of the Best Road Bikes under £1000 for 2020
Ribble R872 Road Bike
Best Price – £1,099 / $1,234
Weight – 9.0kg
Ribble has managed to spec a quality carbon frame and fork, full Shimano Tiagra and a recent agreement with Raleigh for wheels added. The package delivers value through its direct distribution model. You won’t find their bikes for sale anywhere else other than direct with them. This means they maintain real control over pricing and stock. One of the Trivelo team has been racing on a Ribble Gran Fondo for over 5 years now and it is still one of his favourites. A bike for any conditions with some real capability worked into these bikes for flat speed and uphill climbing.
The bike builder system on their website can seem a bit daunting. Coupled with then having to do some construction when your bike is delivered. If that all seems like too much effort we can help you connect with a local bike mechanic who would be happy to help.
Specification of the Ribble R872
- Frame – Toray T700 Full Carbon Fibre
- Forks – Toray T700 Full Carbon Monocoque
- Crankset – Tiagra 4700 34-50T
- Cassette – Shimano HG500 11-32T
- Brakes – Tiagra 4700 Caliper
- Wheels – Raleigh Mach 1 CFX
- Weight – 9.0kg
Best Price for the Ribble R872
Buy the Ribble R872 from Ribble direct ($1,234 if buying from US or £1,099 if buying from UK – global shipping available)
List of the Top 3 Alternatives to the Ribble R872
- Boardman SLR 8.9 105 Mens Road Bike
- Fuji Sportif 1.3 Disc Road Bike
- Specialized Allez E5 Elite
With bike stocks in such short supply we have tried to source bikes that at time of writing are available. Ribble are managing stock levels well and the alternatives to the Ribble R872 are also ready to ride.
Boardman SLR 8.9 105 Mens Road Bike
Best Price – £1100
Weight – 9.05 kg
While we have a couple of Boardman bikes in the Trivelo offices none of us have taken the leap with their road bikes. With both of the bikes in the bike racks Boardman mountain bikes. Boardman have an increasingly strong reputation and you shouldn’t be put off by the brand being a relative newcomer. That said this latest incarnation of their £1000 carbon fibre road bike may offer some value. In recent years the Brownlee brothers have made a switch to Pinarello but years on Boardmans and winning trophy’s is proof of the brand quality.
>>> 15 of the Best Hardtail mountain bikes for £1000
Budget carbon isn’t always the best choice with some low quality Chinese imports flooding the UK market. But the Boardman SLR 8.9 is no cheap knock off. Boardman have coupled both a quality carbon frame and full carbon fork that is worth a look while checking out some of these machines. Boardman have made a few compromises on the specification with some low rent brakes that aren’t great and the cranks may not last the distance. It is still packing the Shimano’s 11-speed 105 that is a real gem coupled with a carbon frame. The latest paint job has moved to a 2 tone design. Personally the 2020 matt finish was more my style but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Specification of the Boardman SLR 8.9
- Frame – Full carbon, C7 grade, endurance geometry
- Forks – Full carbon blades and steerer
- Crankset – FSA Gossamer, 50/34
- Cassette – Shimano HG500, 10 speed, 12-28t
- Brakes – Tektro R315
- Wheels – Boardman Alloy
- Weight – 9.05kg
Best Price for the Boardman SLR 8.9 Mens Road Bike
Buy the Boardman SLR 8.9 for £1100 from Tredz (stock of M & L sized bikes)
Fuji Sportif 1.3 Disc Road Bike
Best Price – £1349.99 discounted to £800 where you can find one
Weight – 10.53kg
Fuji are a well established bike manufacturer with a full range of bikes. For 2021 they have refreshed their line up with a clean matt paint finish. The Fuji Sportif 1.3 is like the little brother of the top end Fuji endurance bike, the Gran Fondo. The Sportif alloy frame is built for long rides using a longer wheelbase and taller headtube position. The result is the rider can achieve a comfortable position reducing arm fatigue and back strain while on the road. Effectively meaning the rider has a more upright position. The Fuji Sportif 1.3 is a fantastic all rounder bike for anyone looking to have a single bike for training and racing. We can’t all afford “racing – best” bikes racked in the garage.
In terms of equipment the Fuji comes with a 2×10-speed Shimano Tiagra groupset and TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes. Frame and forks are alloy and carbon as you would expect as a minimum. Comparing the Fuji Sportif 1.3 to the Ribble R872 the key difference is around the frame. The Ribble is full carbon with a weight to reflect this. Aside from this the bikes are very comparable.
Specification of the Fuji Sportif 1.3 Disc Road Bike
- Frame – A2-SL Alloy, endurance geometry
- Forks – C10 Full carbon
- Crankset – Shimano Tiagra, 50/34
- Cassette – Shimano HG500, 10 speed, 11-34t
- Brakes – TRP Spyre C mechanical costs
- Wheels – Alex Alloy rims, Joy tech hubs
- Weight – 10.53kg
Best Price for the Fuji 1.3 Disc Road Bike
Buy the Fuji 1.3 Disc Road Bike from Wiggle UK for £1349.99 (£800 where you can find one – noted January 2022)
Buy the Fuji 1.3 Disc Road Bike from Wiggle US for $1499.99
>>> 9 of the Best Triathlon Bikes 2020
Specialized Allez E5 Elite
Best price – £1249.00
Weight – 8.83kg
It wouldn’t be a complete line without something from the Specialized stable. You can’t move far in any sportive line up without stumbling upon a Specialized Allez. For many it is the pathway into serious bike expenditure and the perfect place to start with a bike many know and trust so future resale is never an issue to contend with. The Allez E5 Elite offers solid performance in an attractive package, if not exceptional value for money. The spec is a bit low rent using some own brand and third-party components mixed in with the Shimano 105 Groupset components.
The Allez E5 Elite retains the likeable qualities for which it is renowned. It’s a good basis for upgrades down the line if you were to stick with this for the years to come. The Allez has a new frame design with a colour scheme for 2021 that is likely to have a broader appeal than the 2019 and 2020 incarnations.
Specification of the Specialized Allez E5 Elite
- Frame – Specialized E5 Premium Aluminum
- Forks – Specialized FACT carbon
- Crankset – Praxis Alba, 50/34T
- Cassette – SunRace, 9-speed, 11-32t
- Brakes – Axis 1.0 caliper
- Wheels – Axis Sport
- Weight – 9.62kg
Best Price for the Specialized Allez E5 Elite
Buy the Specialized Allez E5 Elite 2021 from Tredz for £1249.00 (editor note – limited sizes available. January 2022)
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