Ridgeback Expedition review

Full review

The Ridgeback Expedition is built for riders who carry things: panniers for a week's tour, shopping for a family, or a commute along broken back roads. It uses a steel frame and chromoly fork, which give a comfortable, damped ride and are easy to repair, and 26 in wheels, which are stronger than 700c and use tyre sizes available almost anywhere.

The gearing is the widest in this comparison. A triple 48/36/26T chainset with an 11-36T cassette gives a very low bottom gear for climbing hills with luggage, and Shimano Alivio shifting is simple and dependable. Schwalbe Marathon tyres are famous for resisting punctures, and Ridgeback fits full mudguards; the frame has the mounts for a rack. There are also low-rider mounts on the fork for front panniers and bar ends for long days.

The compromises are weight and brakes. Ridgeback lists 14.59 kg, and the cable-operated disc brakes should have less power and feel than the hydraulic brakes on every other bike here. It will not feel quick on a smooth commute. For touring, rough tracks and heavy loads, though, it is exactly what you need.