Trade Shows

Cycle Show 2016: highlights from Ribble, Cube, Kinesis, Condor, Canyon, Exposure & Altura

Ribble's new 840g frame, Cube's disc-equipped race bike, Kinesis' updated training bike and more from the Cycle Show

The 2016 Cycle Show is underway and we’ve been scouting the halls of the NEC at the trade day to see what’s new from Ribble Cycles, Cube, Kinesis, Condor, Canyon, Exposure Lights and Altura.

Check out all that below – and if you’re planning a trip to the Cycle Show this weekend, use the discount code RCUK at www.cycleshow.co.uk to get discounted tickets.

Ribble

Ribble launched no less than 13 new bikes at the Cycle Show. We’ll show you each of them next week but first, here’s something to whet your appetite: the super-light Ultimate SL.

It’s Ribble’s lightest frame yet, at a claimed 840g, and is based around a race-ready geometry. Frame features include an oversized bottom bracket and tapered headtube for stiffness, and a 27.2mm seatpost and skinny seatstays to boost comfort.

You’ll be able to spec this through Ribble’s online bike builder, with prices starting from £1,699.99, or Ribble have assembled a recommended spec with Shimano Ultegra Di2 and their own-brand carbon clincher wheels for £2,799.99.

Other big changes in the Ribble range include the completely revamped R872, Aero 883 Disc and Sportive Racing Disc. Stay tuned for more.

Website: Ribble

Cube

German brand Cube has a huge range of bikes on their stand at the Cycle Show, but two caught our eye at the top and the bottom of the range. Both bikes have disc brakes: the super-light Litening C:68 SLT Disc race bike and the aluminium Attain Pro Disc.

Let’s start with the Litening. Last year Cube overhauled their whole range, with the entry-level Peloton becoming the Attain, and the Agree revamped as an aero endurance bike. The flagship Litening, used by the Wanty-Groupe Gobert ProContinental team, including British rider Mark McNally, was untouched – but now it’s been updated with disc brakes.

It’s also one of the first bikes on the market to be specced with Shimano’s new Dura-Ace Di2 9170 groupset, so as that won’t be arriving until spring next year you’ll have to wait to get your hands on one.

The frame is made from Cube’s top-end blend of C:68 carbon fibre and covers all the features you’d expect from a flagship machine: a race geometry, internal cable routing, tapered headtube, PressFit bottom bracket, thru axles and flat mount disc brakes. The complete weight? A feathery 6.6kg.

This one will set you back £5,999 but Cube’s 2017 range also includes the C:62 Litening Disc, made from a more affordable carbon fibre, and specced with mechanical Shimano Ultegra and hydraulic disc brakes for £2,499.

The Cube Attain Pro Disc is based around an alloy frame with mudguard mounts, making it a good bet for year-round riding

Meanwhile, at the other end of the range, we like the look of Cube’s most affordable disc-equipped bike: the Attain Pro Disc. The £799 machine looks a good bet for new cyclists in search of an affordable, dependable, versatile bike. It may be affordable, but it’s a thoroughly up-to-date machine: you get an aluminium frame, mudguard mounts, tapered headtube, PressFit bottom bracket, internal cable routing, flat mount mechanical disc brakes, thru-axles and a Shimano Sora groupset.

Check out the gallery below for more photos of both the Litening and Attain.

Website: Cube

Kinesis

We told you about the new Kinesis T3 ahead of the Cycle Show but now we’ve had the chance to check it out in the flesh. Very nice it is, too.

It’s an update of the T2 (no surprises there) and gets a new 6061 aluminium frameset with a tapered headtube, 27.2mm seatpost and Kinesis’ full carbon Tracer fork. Those changes mean Kinesis have shed more than 200g from the frame weight, while also ensuring more responsive handling.

If you’re thinking about putting together a winter bike build then this looks a serious contender at £269.99 for the frame and fork, as long as rim brakes are still your thing.

The CX Race Evo is Kinesis’ new all-out ‘cross racer

Also new from Kinesis is the CX Race Evo, designed by Kinesis brand manager and cyclo-cross racer Bruce Dalton. This is an all-out cyclo-cross race frame, so there are no bottle cage mounts, while the seatstay bridge has been raised by approximately 4.5mm to improve mud clearance when slinging it on in a CX race. This one’s for disc brakes and Kinesis have used thru-axles to keep things nice and stiff at the front and rear.

Website: Kinesis

Condor

A few years ago the Condor Potenza was a steel fixie but, after the name disappeared from the range a few years back, it’s returned as the London-based firm’s latest carbon frame.

The Potenza is now Condor’s fourth carbon frame, sitting below the lightweight Leggero SL, aerodynamic Leggero and Baracchi endurance bike. The Potenza is still based around a race geometry and Condor say their “state-of-the-art monocoque construction techniques and internal moulding process yields a frame of unrivaled stiffness and weight at this price point.”

The frameset costs £1,299.99 and complete builds start from £1,849.99 with Shimano Sora. Condor’s online bike builder lets you put together just about any build you want, though the Potenza isn’t available to buy there just yet.

Website: Condor

Canyon

There’s plenty to look at on the Canyon stand, including the disc-equipped Endurace CF SLX endurance bike, Aeroad CF SLX aero race bike, super-light Ultimate CF SLX and Inflite cyclo-cross bike.

But here’s one you can’t buy – a red Ultimate CF SLX produced to celebrate Nairo Quintana’s victory in the Vuelta a Espana last month. The 2016 Vuelta was Quintana’s second Grand Tour title, with the Colombian finishing one minute and 23 seconds ahead of Team Sky’s Chris Froome.

Of course, Quintana’s Ultimate is dripping in team kit, with a Campagnolo Super Record EPS groupset, Power2Max power meter, Campagnolo Bora Ultra wheels, Continental tyres, Fizik saddle and Lizard Skins handlebar tape (the handlebar and stem are from Canyon).

Website: Canyon

Exposure

The Strada is one of our favourite lights in the Exposure range. It’s perfect for night riding – super-bright, with a road-specific beam pattern which spreads plenty of light across the road without dazzling oncoming drivers.

Now the Strada’s available in two versions: one with a maximum output of 1,200 lumens (up from 1,000 lumens from the last model) for £274.95 and one with a maximum output of 800 lumens for £224.95. We reckon 800 lumens is plenty for the vast majority of road riders and while the Strada certainly isn’t cheap, it’s also a serious piece of kit if you train regularly on unlit roads.

Website: Exposure Lights

Altura

One of the big trends developing right now is bike packing – fast, lightweight touring, on and off-road – and a number of brands are developing bags for bike packing adventures. You can now include Altura in that number, having launched a complete range of bike packing bags.

The idea behind bike packing is that you don’t need a touring bike with pannier mounts and so the bags are designed to be mounted elsewhere on the bike. Having originally offered only a seat pack (£49.99), Altura now have also new frame pack (£49.99), toptube bag (£29.99) and handlebar pack (£49.99).

They all look well designed – made from rugged materials, with welded seams, roll top closures, a hook & loop mounting system and reflective details – and are 100 per cent waterproof. Plus they’re good value, too. Now we just need to plan our next adventure…

Website: Altura