Feedback on Ribble winter audax bike

billyhead

I was considering getting one of these last winter as a winter trainer/commuter but decided against it and was thinking now of getting one again but was wondering if anyone else has or got one and if they could offer feedback on the bike or should I look at alternatives. I don't qualify for the BTW at the moment but in saying that I woudn't think you would be able to use it to get a bike form Ribble online. I will qualify for the scheme again in January ( 5 year anniversary) so shoul I just hold off till then?
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/pu/road-track-bike/ribble-winter-training-audax-bikes/specialedition/1rw

velomelo

Can you avail BTW scheme more than once ?

Razleavy

velomelo wrote: »

Can you avail BTW scheme more than once ?

Yes as Billy stated it's 5 years after the first use.

DirkVoodoo

I think all the reviews are spot on. Does exactly what it claims, nothing more and nothing less.

Fantastic value. Geometry is very similar to "classic" road frames, which makes sizing quite easy and lets you get quite an aggressive position if that's what you want.

It's not going to win any prizes in the style stakes, or compete with lightweight aluminium frames like Canyon, but that's what you want in a winter bike, right? A mule.

Weight aside it actually handles quite well, I haven't taken it around any twisty roads at speed, but it feels nimble enough. The longest spin I had it on was about 100km (maybe more, can't remember) and it was reasonably comfortable. It certainly transmits a fair amount of road chatter, but no more so than any other aluminium bike I've been on.

The main points are that it's cheap, it has mounts for full mudguards (essential for winter commuting) and a rack, you don't mind if it gets a few scrapes and bruises and they are pretty well kitted out for the price (I only bought frame and fork though).

billyhead

Thanks for the info Dirk. So the overall impression is positive. I know its a hypothetical question but what sort of average speed would you do on the bike. Is it fairly responsive and did you get the factory wheels with it and if so how do they fare in the wet and with regards to the number of punctures.?

Seaneh

Pay the little bit extra and get the super sexy steel version. €905 with Sora groupset and Aksium S's.

mazza

On the Bike to Work end of things, you can indeed order online from Ribble (or any other online supplier, in ROI or outside) and avail of it, provided your employer allows it and doesn't restrict your order to a particular provider.

I did it in this way myself a few months ago from Ribble, though it is a bit easier as I am also a director of the company in which I am an employee, so could do it whatever way I wanted.

Here's roughly how it was handled:

1) I emailed Ribble asking how best to place this order and whether they would sell at a price excluding UK VAT (which their website says they won't do), quoting http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056382170 which says:

"If the employer is registered for VAT in Ireland and the bike is bought from a UK (or other non-Irish) retailer that is not registered for VAT in Ireland (which is often the case, the main exceptions being Wiggle and ChainReactionCycles), the employer should provide the retailer with its Irish VAT number. The retailer should then not charge any VAT. However the employer should then self-account for Irish VAT at 23%, and is unable to recover it."

2) They confirmed they would sell exc UK VAT, as I believe they are required to do for a sale to a VAT registered company outside their jurisdication.

3) I placed the order online using 'Cheque' payment method. Order is held until payment is recieved.

4) The company employing me posted a cheque with a print out of Ribble's confirmation for the amount exc VAT and provided its ROI VAT number (this is required). Order was then dispatched etc, as usual.

5) The company employing me will now have to account for VAT on the purchase (at 23%, rather than I think 20% UK VAT) in it's next return and will not be able to offset it against VAT on its sales. So, the VAT is paid in ROI and Ribble somehow reclaim it via UK VAT system.

It sounds complicated when written down, but was actually reasonably straightforward once you know the process and I found Ribble good to deal with.

The bike I ordered is pretty much same as you're thinking of. I'll bow to the better feedback on it already given, but it suits me very well for my daily 30km commute. One small gripe was that there were a few niggly things wrong with the build like nuts holding on front derraileur were not properly tightened at all and it slipped, given hassle. Also, there was no locking ring on the left hand crank etc. But overall, very happy with it.

Hope this is of help to you or someone else thinking of ordering.

Mazza

billyhead

mazza wrote: »

On the Bike to Work end of things, you can indeed order online from Ribble (or any other online supplier, in ROI or outside) and avail of it, provided your employer allows it and doesn't restrict your order to a particular provider.

I did it in this way myself a few months ago from Ribble, though it is a bit easier as I am also a director of the company in which I am an employee, so could do it whatever way I wanted.

Here's roughly how it was handled:

1) I emailed Ribble asking how best to place this order and whether they would sell at a price excluding UK VAT (which their website says they won't do), quoting http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056382170 which says:

"If the employer is registered for VAT in Ireland and the bike is bought from a UK (or other non-Irish) retailer that is not registered for VAT in Ireland (which is often the case, the main exceptions being Wiggle and ChainReactionCycles), the employer should provide the retailer with its Irish VAT number. The retailer should then not charge any VAT. However the employer should then self-account for Irish VAT at 23%, and is unable to recover it."

2) They confirmed they would sell exc UK VAT, as I believe they are required to do for a sale to a VAT registered company outside their jurisdication.

3) I placed the order online using 'Cheque' payment method. Order is held until payment is recieved.

4) The company employing me posted a cheque with a print out of Ribble's confirmation for the amount exc VAT and provided its ROI VAT number (this is required). Order was then dispatched etc, as usual.

5) The company employing me will now have to account for VAT on the purchase (at 23%, rather than I think 20% UK VAT) in it's next return and will not be able to offset it against VAT on its sales. So, the VAT is paid in ROI and Ribble somehow reclaim it via UK VAT system.

It sounds complicated when written down, but was actually reasonably straightforward once you know the process and I found Ribble good to deal with.

The bike I ordered is pretty much same as you're thinking of. I'll bow to the better feedback on it already given, but it suits me very well for my daily 30km commute. One small gripe was that there were a few niggly things wrong with the build like nuts holding on front derraileur were not properly tightened at all and it slipped, given hassle. Also, there was no locking ring on the left hand crank etc. But overall, very happy with it.

Hope this is of help to you or someone else thinking of ordering.

Mazza

Thanks Mazza for the advice. It was much appreciated. Going o leave it until the turn of the new year and order it then. I will survive with what bikes I have for the moment.