ROAD E-BIKES AND GRAVEL TOO
Cannondale SuperSix Evo Neo
The SuperSix EVO Neo is targeted at enthusiasts who might be “seeking to enhance their riding experience with a discreet boost” and who are more performance-oriented. The EVO Neo gets a carbon frame much like that of its unpowered counterpart, and a weight that’s much closer to that of a conventional bike. It uses a Mahle ebikemotion hub motor and a hidden battery to achieve a total claimed weight of just 11.3kg in its top spec. Svelte, smooth and super fast. It’s a bike for people seeking a pure, high-performance road riding experience – with a boost. Starting at £3,599 for the Neo 3 and tops out at £7,999 for the lovely Neo 1 below.
Cube Agree Hybrid C-62
Cube were one of the first major bike brands to enter the e-road market and there’s a lot to be said for not messing with a successful formula. By enclosing the removable Fazua drive unit and battery entirely within the down tube, Cube’s engineering team succeeded in creating a stiff and strong backbone – but, just as importantly, one that looked and felt very much like a normal road bike. Equipped with Shimano’s powerful DuraAce hydraulic disc brakes and their electronic DuraAce Di2 transmission, combined with completely concealed cables you get a package that makes for a superb, sleek looking road machine.
Forme Flash E
When Forme launched this bike back in January, ebiketips posed the question whether it was the most handsome British e-road bike yet. In ten short years since Forme was created, they’ve certainly carved a reputation for designing robust bikes built to deal with tough British roads, but the Flash E is definitely very easy on the eye too. Equipped with a 4.6kh Fazua motor system, Shimano Ultegra, DT Swiss wheels, the Flash E is clearly Forme’s flagship model, but also priced very competitively at an anticipated £4,675 when it hits the shops.
Specialized Turbo Creo SL
The Creo is Specialized’s first drop bar e-bike and the end result of a two year plus development programme. The results from that effort are clear to see with the US brand merging cycling and technology to develop a unique system from the ground up which includes a proprietary battery and motor system that is lighter than anything else available on the market. This does come at a price though with the Creo SL on sale at just shy of £11,000. But if you’re in the market for a bike that retains the racy, lively feel of an S-Works Roubaix with 130km of range as standard, then look no further.
Trek Domane Plus LT
Trek’s Domane+ LT is a carbon drop-bar electric bike designed for roadies who want an authentic road bike experience with an extra bit of oomph when needed. The reliable and efficient Fazua drive system kicks things up a notch when called upon, like riding into a strong headwind or the last few hundred metres of a climb, but its sleek design means it doesn’t drag or hold you back when it’s not in use. The Domane+ gives the rider the high-performance benefits of an OCLV Carbon frame, road-smoothing IsoSpeed, and Shimano Ultegra components. We also like the colour combination, but there’s three other options if you don’t agree.
Ribble SLe Di2
British company Ribble entered the e-bike market with a bang in 2018 with the launch of Endurance SLe, instantly finding favour with roadies. Ribble hailed the new bike as the world’s lightest e-bike available and while other brands have since released their own lightweight models, the SLe comes in at an impressive circa 11kg complete. The internal battery which powers the rear wheel can give between 250w right up to 750w with extra battery packs when travelling under 25kph. A button on the top tube allows you to select three power settings of up 40NM. Ribble bikes can be customised to suit you and if they’re good enough for Sean Yates then they should be good enough for the rest of us mere mortals.
