Ridgeback is a great British brand that we should be a lot more proud of. It began life in 1983 when Errol Drew returned from the New York bike show inspired to create the UK’s first mountain bike. Since then the firm has developed a name for building virtually bombproof off-roaders and commuters. More recently it has turned its attention to designing long-range, steel-framed tourers that are equally difficult to break. Don’t be fooled by the old-school paint job and quaint name; this is no clunker. It has the same DNA as the awesome Genesis Croix de Fer, which set the record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle in 2010. You don’t have to go that far, but the wide tyres, disc brakes, stable geometry and easy riding efficiency of the Ridgeback Ramble will soon win you over (ridgeback.co.uk)
Price: £999
Frame: CroMo with carbon forks
Gears: Shimano Sora 2 x 9 speed
Brakes: Spyre disc
Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @MartinLove166
