Skip to main content

Inside The World’s Lightest E-Bike

E-bikes can be a ton of fun, providing an extra assist or outright push when your legs are beat. But anyone who’s ever ridden one will tell you that they weigh nearly as much as a car, thanks in part to big, bulky batteries that provide little in the way of innovation, and antiquated materials that, while resilient, might as well be concrete. Well, U.K.-based Ribble Cycles may have cracked the code with its new Endurance SL e – Hero, the lightest e-bike in production. Total weight? Just over 23 pounds.

While not exactly reinventing the wheel, the secret of the Endurance is its carbon frame, wheels, and integrated handlebars, which drop pounds off when compared to metal components traditionally used on e-bikes. Rather than approach its bike from a commuter perspective, this bike is much more in line with some of the lightest, fastest road bikes in the traditional space. While your fellow racers might sniff out your extra advantage, this bike is more at home on the crit course than it is on the way to the grocery store.

Related Guides

Ribble further emphasizes this performance category with its bike’s components. The addition of a Shimano Dura Ace Di2 R9150 electric derailleur provides precise, one-touch shifting that many in the racing space have come to prefer. Granted, it’s a modern amenity that many may approach with a healthy amount of skepticism — after all, mechanical shifters have been used for decades, and no one seemed to mind — but the reliability of these electro-dependent shifters quickly converts doubters. The package also includes a Fizik premium saddle and Schwalbe PRO ONE TT Evo Super Race tires.

Of course, there’s the battery itself, which, on many e-bikes, seems sloppily glued to the frame almost as an afterthought. But you don’t incorporate this many carbon fiber pieces into a bike and not put serious thought into battery placement. Its Panasonic 250-watt power source slips discreetly inside the down tube and provides up to 60 miles of assistance over variable terrain. Stone dead, it recharges in less than four hours, opening up bike commutes to those who otherwise believed the suburbs were too far to a city office. Access it via a sleek button on the top tube which not only adjusts its assist but also displays the total charge remaining.

For those traveling even farther (or who don’t want to be worried about charging their bike while at work), the company also sells a range extender, which screws into the holes normally used for a water bottle cage. With this addition, it claims that the total range is extended by 70%.

But bottom line, what does the newest, lightest e-bike on the market cost? Well, it ain’t cheap. While in the U.K. there are many “cycle to work schemes” that might offset some or all of this bike’s price tag, in the U.S., unless you have a killer arrangement with your company, you’re going to be paying quite a bit. Packages start at $8,227.33 and only go up from there. There’s also the fact that at the time of this writing, Ribble doesn’t have a U.S. distributor, and therefore you’ll need to import the machine across the pond through the company itself. But where there’s a will, there’s a way, and if you’re the type who looks at a 60-mile one-way commute as just another day to the office, then you won’t mind navigating international shipping.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Jon Gugala
Features Writer
Jon Gugala is a freelance writer and photographer based in Nashville, Tenn. A former gear editor for Outside Magazine, his…
Ski tips for beginners: 13 essential things to know
Learning to ski involves more preparation, equipment, and a greater sense of adventure than many other sports
Pro Tips for Beginner Skiers

So you’ve decided to become a skier. Welcome to the party, pal! Prepping for your first day on the slopes can seem daunting. Unlike simpler outdoor pursuits like hiking or biking that require minimal gear, skiing is an entirely different animal. It’s more like scuba diving in that it involves more preparation, equipment, and, you could argue, a greater sense of adventure, especially if you're gunning to ultimately take on backcountry skiing. You’ll need to figure out what clothes to pack, which gear to buy, and how to transport it all to the mountain.

And all of that is before you even get to the mountain. Then there’s the matter of actually learning to ski. Should you book a proper lesson or go it alone and hope for the best? There's no right answer, really. Here, we tackle these questions and more with the best pro tips for beginner skiers (and a few for intermediate and expert skiers too).
Prepping for the slopes

Read more
Rad Power E-Bikes Are Probably in Your Town: Are They Worth the Hype?
Should You Invest in a Rad Power E-Bike?
The Rad Power showroom

If you’re seen a growing number of bicycles whizzing by at unusually high speeds, it’s not your imagination. The e-bike revolution is here, and among the most popular brands is Rad Power, which manufactures a wide variety of e-bike styles to suit a range of purposes. One of the most unique aspects of Rad Power involves its shops and service centers, which are more like high-end car dealerships than typical bike stores. These shops are popping up all over the country, from Seattle to New York.

So the question is: Are Rad Power e-bikes worth the hype? I’ve not only had the chance to try out several of the models and have visited a handful of the stores, but I have also tested them alongside dozens of e-bikes from other leading brands. Here’s what I think about Rad Power.

Read more
Inside the Darién Gap, One of the World’s Most Dangerous Jungles
The Darién Gap: What to Know Before You Go. Wait. Maybe Don't Go
The dense jungle of The Darién Gap

The Pan-American Highway is an epic 19,000-mile route that starts at Prudhoe Bay in Alaska and terminates at the southernmost end of South America in Ushuaia, Argentina. It's continuous except for a small section missing along the southern border of Panama, often referred to as one of the most inhospitable places on the planet -- this is The Darién Gap. It's 66 roadless miles of dense, mountainous jungle and swamp filled with armed guerillas, drug traffickers, and some of the world's most deadly creatures covering the border of Panama and Colombia.

The environmental impact on the area and the sheer cost of building roads through it have thwarted any previous attempts. Others are concerned that "The Gap" is a natural barrier against drugs and disease flowing freely into North America and the U.S.

Read more