Read more: Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bike full review The handlebar grips were a little uncomfortable with bare hands, but they're easy to swap out and a pair of cycling mitts would solve this. The bike is supplied with some useful extras like a mini pump. Tenways sells its range of commuter bikes part-assembled, so there's a little work to get everything set up, with some tasks a little tricky. It's kitted out with grippy tires, mudguards and an integrated front light, although there are no water bottle cage mounting points. The CGO600 Pro has Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. The on-bike LCD display gives plenty of data and allows you to switch between the four assist modes and there's an app which lets you log trip distance and other data. The battery locks into place, but can be removed for easier charging.
Tenways says that the bike is weatherproof, but should not be stored outdoors regularly.Īssistance comes from a 350W (in the US) rear hub motor, which gives a 53 mile claimed range and includes a torque sensor that helps ensure that the power output matches your pedalling input. It's a low maintenance design with a lubricant-free Gates belt drive that Tenways says should go up to 19,000 miles without servicing. The Tenways CGO600 Pro has an alloy frame and fork with a slender battery enclosed in the downtube. Read more: Ribble Hybrid AL e full review
Ribble provides advice via video link to its showroom if you want a walkthrough of the bike's features or more buying info. If you want a non-assisted bike, the Ribble Hybrid AL is available in a range of pre-built specs, many of which come with mudguards and a rear rack. It has an engaging handling feel and a build quality that turn it into a bike you look forward to riding rather than a dead and dreary commuter.Īt this price point you get a fully loaded electric bike with a superb frame, quality motor system and really decent parts the Ribble Hybrid AL e certainly offers almost unbeatable value when compared to its rivals. The Ribble Hybrid AL e is really quite a joy to ride in most respects. Ribble has specced a full carbon fork on the Hybrid AL e to help keep weight down whilst still retaining a good level of steering stiffness and much needed vibration damping. There's a step-through frame option as well as a frame with a crossbar if you prefer a bike that's easier to mount and dismount. The aluminum frame features elegantly shaped tubing profiles including pencil-thin, dropped seatstays for added compliance and a distinctive dropped driveside chainstay design. But being both capable and rewarding, it's certainly not restricted to A to B rides and could take you on many adventures. Offering a smooth level of assistance from the Ebikemotion system, coupled with decent range and a fully loaded spec the Ribble Hybrid AL e can handle the daily commute as well as anything. We test rode the electric version of the Ribble Hybrid AL - the Ribble Hybrid AL e - and loved it so much we gave it a Cycling Weekly Editor's Choice Award as it's one of the best hybrid electric bike's we've seen. Read more: Vitus Substance V-2 Flat Bar full review A swap to tubeless tires on the tubeless-ready rims upped the Vitus's game no end. It's let down by its non-tubeless 40mm tires though, which have a recommended minimum 45psi/3.5 bar pressure, which is too much for comfort on tarmac, let alone off-road. The Vitus rolls on quality WTB ST i23 rims and Vitus hubs. Both have a very light touch, making them easy to use. The component choice gives a wide gear range from its 46/30t Prowheel crankset and 11-34t 9-speed Shimano Sora cassette, while the Tektro mechanical disc brakes offer effective stopping power. There are plenty of mounting points for racks and fenders and you can even fit a third water bottle or a tool case underneath the down tube. There's a quality alloy frame with a carbon fork and the cables routed neatly through the down tube, which helps to protect them. It's stable and easy to ride both on road and off, on fast off-road and picking through traffic. Technically a flat bar version of Vitus's Substance gravel bike, the rugged spec gives you great all-round capabilities for a hybrid. Relatively short and high position sacrifices all-out speed