Ribble bike experience

Sarunas

Hi,

Time finally came to replace my flat bared Giant that I have been using for club spins for the last couple of weeks/proved my self I'll use the bike half regular basis.

I have spent a lot of time researching and came down to two choices, Ribble 7005 Winter/Audax with Campagnolo and current Planet X SL Pro Carbon Sport special with 105.

With Ribble, I would most likely go for Veloce with Xenon rear derailleur and shifters rather than Tiagra option as there is only 10 euro difference in between. It appears Veloce is more like 105 and 10 speed option is a bonus. Delivered price comes out to bargain of 670 euro.

Planet X with full 105 is different league and I'm trying to understand if it is worth nearly extra 400 for a carbon frame and 105, as its 1050 delivered. When the Ribble would probably be more than fine for club spins and maybe trying to get into racing. Big plus is that it comes with full mudguards which means less time cleaning the bike after each mucky spin!

I have considered also Trek 1.5 and Specialised Allez Elite but they don't appear to be as good value compared to what can had when most of the middle men along the buying chain are dropped... Canyon Roadlite 6.0 is nice but its the same price as carbon Planet X 105.

I'm just basically in dilemma to buy cheaper bike and then face upgrade in a years time down the line or have a bike which is too good for me :P. There is plenty of good things said about Planet X, but not much said about Ribble. What do you guys think?

jwshooter

what hight are you ?. i know of a new 56cm trek 1.7 with 105s for a €1,000 .

I the planet x will get the votes hear ,but dont get the pink one :eek:

Lumen

I came close to buying exactly that Ribble, but when I called them to discuss it they tried to upsell me to one of their carbon bikes. So I bought something else.

I would take Veloce over Tiagra, in fact possibly over 105.

For the price the Ribble looks difficult to beat. How much for shipping?

Sarunas

I'm 6 feet 3" with 90cm inseam leg, so 58 Trek might by tiny bit on the small side.

According to their site when choosing Ireland, the delivery is 21.60.

Linky to special winter section

Lumen

Sarunas wrote: »

According to their site when choosing Ireland, the delivery is 21.60.

Good. It used to be more like 100 for a complete bike.

Sarunas

Lumen wrote: »

Good. It used to be more like 100 for a complete bike.

Actually, I was wrong - once you go through the checkout, shipping to Dublin is 136 something! Shipping to Newry is £20. With this huge shipping cost, Planet X seems much better or alternative option is shipping it to someone in Newry.

Sarunas

So anyone out there with a Ribble winter bike?

papac

So anyone out there with a Ribble winter bike?

I don't have one but was looking into them for a friend a while back. It seems that Ribble are fairly optimistic with their weights and this frame is very heavy. (Sorry can't find link for this info atm.Will look later when I have time)

Lumen

papac wrote: »

I don't have one but was looking into them for a friend a while back. It seems that Ribble are fairly optimistic with their weights and this frame is very heavy. (Sorry can't find link for this info atm.Will look later when I have time)

I don't think at that price weight really comes into it. AFAIK they have a good reputation in the UK for no-nonsense bikes, a bit like Planet-X but with less glamour (if that's possible).

D20903

I have one for the last 6 years - it does exactly what it says on the tin.

With all due respect, its a complete bike for 600 odd quid & is very good value for money at that.

I'm sure you could call them about the shipping - I recall that mine was nothing what is being quoted.

papac

I don't think at that price weight really comes into it.

its a complete bike for 600 odd quid & is very good value for money at that.

I agree totally. Just thought it worth mentioning that it may not be the (reasonably) lightweight frame Ribble would have you believe.

Sarunas

Slightly confused regarding the weight, looking at the frame on its own shows that average weight is 1.65kg, the bike builder for normal version is 1.8kg but the winter special weight 1.43... Will drop an email to them to get a clarification.

JacksonHeightsOwn

Sarunas wrote: »

Slightly confused regarding the weight, looking at the frame on its own shows that average weight is 1.65kg, the bike builder for normal version is 1.8kg but the winter special weight 1.43... Will drop an email to them to get a clarification.

just bumping this thread up as im interested to hear of ribbles servie

Sarunas

The frame weight is 1.6kg, I have sent 2 emails to sales and they have replied the same day for both.

Here is some links:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/7005-wintertraineraudax-11764
http://www.bicycles.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=16341
http://www.bicycles.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=12623
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15579351

Lumen

The Ribble does look like a bargain, except for the shipping.

What does the shipped price come out as, in sterling?

Sarunas

I tried a random address in Newry and an address in Magherafet, Londonderry and for both cases, the shipping is £20 - I went as far into the process on where it asked for payment details.
I'm very close to buying Veloce/Xenon version, just need to figure out which frame - 58cm c-c or 60cm c-c as I'm 6' 3" with ~91-92 inside leg, as per Le Mond's formula, 91 * 0.65 == 59.1 which is pretty much in between the sizes. Tried the Competitive Cyclist fit calculator, but that is confusing me because the Ribble has a long top tube... Now just to see if I can buy it through cycle to work scheme and have the bike shipped to the North.

Lumen

Sarunas wrote: »

I tried a random address in Newry and an address in Magherafet, Londonderry and for both cases, the shipping is £20 - I went as far into the process on where it asked for payment details.
I'm very close to buying Veloce/Xenon version, just need to figure out which frame - 58cm c-c or 60cm c-c as I'm 6' 3" with ~91-92 inside leg, as per Le Mond's formula, 91 * 0.65 == 59.1 which is pretty much in between the sizes. Tried the Competitive Cyclist fit calculator, but that is confusing me because the Ribble has a long top tube... Now just to see if I can buy it through cycle to work scheme and have the bike shipped to the North.

The geometry chart doesn't have a size 60 for the 7005 horizontal TT frame, assuming as indicated that they size the frame by the A measurement (horizontal TT version) or A2 measurement (sloping TT version).

The frameset page lists sizes 41-60.



I'd call them and ask.

Raam

I know of one chap out there who has a Ribble winter bike. Seems happy with it so far.

papac

just need to figure out which frame

For what it may be worth my friend who is considering one of these bikes (he keeps changing his mind between this and the Px) is almost exactly the same size as you and we are putting him on a 58 with a 120 stem.(Taking his position from his current bike).Ribble top tubes are relatively long as you say.He would take the largest size in most frames.

As you say-you are between sizes I reckon you could find fit on either but the stem may be very short on the 60 (If indeed the 60 exists).

Sarunas

Just ordered 58cm frame with 120mm stem, they confirmed 60 exists but they don't have any geometry for it. Shiping it to the North.

Lumen

FWIW I've had some recent e-mail discussions with Ribble about their shipping charges.

I'm not sure yet whether they will do anything, but they have all the information required (including details of the couriers used by the competition and how much they charge), so if you're seriously considering buying a Ribble but won't stomach the €140 delivery charge please e-mail them to let them know, it might be the straw that forces them to sort it out.

Sarunas

I emailed them today expressing my opinion about huge shipping charges, and I would much prefer to pay £50, as the comepetition charge, than pay £20 and spend 3 hours driving up the North to have the bike collected... Their reply was that they're going to be speaking to the company PX use for shipping.