Why the Ribble CGR AL

James Ward is a proud Yorkshireman (nobody’s perfect) who treats bad weather as just another training tool. Covering more than 16,000 miles a year, he knows exactly what a bike needs to keep going when the roads turn wet, gritty and cold. After a winter on the Ribble CGR AL, he called it the perfect bike for winter riding - so we asked him why.

“For winter riding, the CGR AL is hard to beat. The wide tyre clearance gives you extra grip and comfort, and with mudguards fitted it’s a practical, confidence-boosting bike for UK roads - which, as we all know, get filthy and slippery in winter. It really doesn’t leave you with an excuse to stay indoors.”

“I set my bike up to give me options depending on the weather and the rides on offer. I did the regular café club runs, but I also got out across the Yorkshire Moors when I wanted something a bit different. Winter isn’t the time to worry about skinny tyres and top speeds. It’s about banking base miles and staying safe, and the CGR ticked that box nicely.”

• Tyre clearance - Room for tyres up to 50mm, or up to 45mm with mudguards fitted. Every build comes on 40mm tyres as standard, giving you grip and comfort on cold, greasy roads.
• Mudguard mounts - Mounts for full-length mudguards, with a removable mudguard bridge (sold separately) that makes fitting them straightforward. Rack mounts too, if winter means commuting.
• Disc brakes - Disc brakes give consistent, predictable stopping power in the wet, when rim brakes struggle.

The current CGR AL is built around a hydroformed 7005-series aluminium frame with a carbon fork, internal cable routing to keep cables protected from winter weather, and a threaded T47 bottom bracket. It’s available in three builds:

• CGR AL 105 - Shimano 105 12-speed mechanical with hydraulic disc brakes, a 46-30T chainset and 11-36T cassette, DT Swiss G 1800 wheels and 40mm Schwalbe G-One Allround tyres. Around 10.0kg (medium).
• CGR AL Tiagra - Shimano Tiagra 10-speed and DT Swiss wheels. Around 10.4kg (medium).
• CGR AL SPORTFIT - Flat bar version with SRAM Apex XPLR gearing, available with mechanical or AXS wireless shifting. Around 9.8kg (medium).

For a winter road set-up, the 105 build is the one we’d point most riders to. The 46-30T chainset paired with an 11-36T cassette gives you low gears for steep, slippery climbs, and the 40mm tyres roll well on tarmac while still coping with gritty lanes and the odd stretch of gravel. Add mudguards and you have a bike that’s ready for the worst of a British winter. If you want to spend more time off-road, there’s room to go up to 50mm tyres without mudguards.

James is a staunch Yorkshireman who rides outdoors whatever the weather or terrain throws at him. He covers more than 16,000 miles a year across adventures, sportives and plenty of trips to the coffee shop. Given the chance, he’d probably ride his bike 24/7.

Want something more road-focused? Explore Ribble’s full range of winter road bikes, all built with mudguard compatibility and disc brakes for year-round riding.

Planning to ride through the winter months? Discover Ribble’s tips for winter cycling to get the most out of your winter rides.

Looking forward to cycling in colder weather? Make sure you know how to get your bike winter-ready with Ribble’s expert advice.

Looking forward to cycling in colder weather? Make sure you know how to get your bike winter-ready with Ribble’s expert advice.