Ribble CX SL Pro review
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Ribble CX SL Pro review

High-spec, integrated cyclocross racer

Our rating

4

3462.00
3249.00
5800.00

Robert Smith

Published: March 14, 2020 at 12:00 pm

Our review
Ticks almost every box a serious ’crosser demands

Pros:

Clean lines, cyclocross-specific build, performance

Cons:

Double chainrings and Di2 won’t be to everyone’s taste

The CX SL is available in three builds: Sport, Enthusiast and Pro. This Pro build focuses on life between the course marker tapes.

Every model shares the £1,299 monocoque CX SL frameset, which 5800 is built from Toray T1000 and T800 carbon fibre, using an EPS inner core system for consistent wall thickness, plus increased torsional stiffness.

Those clean lines start at the integrated bar with its flat, wide top, flush steerer clamp bolts and matching spacers, and continue with completely internal control lines.

Intergrated carbon bar and stem on the Ribble CX SL cyclocross bike
The CX SL Pro’s clean lines start with the integrated bar. Robert Smith

Ribble’s dropped, kinked seatstay design is matched to a large angular down tube and massive, 50mm deep, boxy asymmetric chainstays with room for 40mm tyres.

The frame ports are well sealed against water and muck ingress and it includes mudguard mounts.

Ribble’s house brand Level provides the carbon fibre bar, seatpost and wheelset. The latter has 40mm tall, 26.5mm wide tubular rims, weighing a claimed 1,528g.

They’re fitted with Challenge Grifo tubular tyres, an all-rounder that excels in most conditions short of wet mud. Allowing tyre pressures below 20psi, tubulars seriously maximise grip and control.

Kinked seatstays on the Ribble CX SL cyclocross bike
Ribble’s dropped, kinked seatstay design. Robert Smith

I took the CX SL racing and was immediately struck by its speed; the stiff handlebar and frameset channelling power efficiently to the rear wheel.

Very squashy tyres are an acquired feel, but the quick, wide-rimmed wheelset does its job well, helping the Grifos seek out grip.

Comfort isn’t a huge ’cross consideration, but being able to remain seated and pedal harder for longer with better control is. With its long carbon seatpost and tubulars, the Ribble maintains decent composure and steering accuracy on rough ground.

Ultegra Di2 groupset on a Ribble cyclocross bike
Ultegra Di2 groupset is well geared for cyclocross. Robert Smith

Shimano’s Ultegra Di2 groupset with 36/46 rings and an 11-32 cassette is well geared for ’cross racing, or the road, with a wheel swap.

Rear shifting speed counts in a race, but as a long-time single ring convert, I didn’t find the extra front ring beneficial. More than once, I accidentally shifted the front derailleur when lifting the bike over an obstacle; and unjamming a chain isn’t easy with Di2.

The CX SL Pro is a ready-to-race ’cross package (although mud does sit on the small shelf behind the bottom bracket shell and the flat-topped chainstays) and a relatively inexpensive way to maximise your cyclocross potential.

Shimano Ultegra disc brakes with 160mm rotors
Mudguard mounts increase the Pro’s versatliity. Robert Smith

Ribble CX SL Pro geometry

  • Seat angle: 73.5 degrees
  • Head angle: 72 degrees
  • Chainstay: 42.5cm
  • Seat tube: 52cm
  • Top tube: 54.5cm
  • Head tube: 14cm
  • Fork offset: 5cm
  • Bottom bracket drop: 6.4cm
  • Wheelbase: 1,013.5mm
  • Stack: 55.8cm
  • Reach: 38cm

Product

Brand Ribble
Price A$5800.00, £3249.00, $3462.00
Weight 8.07kg

Features

Fork CX SL, Full Carbon Fibre Monocoque
Stem Level 5 Carbon Integrated
Chain Shimano HG701 11 Speed
Frame Toray T800/T1000 Full Carbon Fibre Monocoque
Tyres Challenge Grifo Team Edition 700 x 33c Tubular
Brakes Shimano Ultegra BR-R8070 Flat Mount Hydraulic / 160mm rotors
Cranks Ultegra R8000 2 x 11 Speed 34-50T
Saddle Fizik Arione R5, Black
Wheels Level 40DB Carbon Tubular
Shifter Ultegra Di2 R8070 Hydraulic
Cassette Ultegra R8000 11 Speed 11-30T
Seatpost Level 3 Carbon, Black
Grips/tape Level Embossed Cork, Black tape
Handlebar Level 5 Carbon Integrated
Bottom bracket Shimano BB-R60 BSA
Available sizes XS, S, M, L, XL
Rear derailleur Ultegra Di2 R8050 med Cage