Ribble - Anyone have one?

[Yazzoo]

After yesterdays drama with the OHs Trek I *think* the decision has been made to fix the BB and nurse this along as a winter bike whilst its still 'commercially viable', which means OH now gets to update his bike quicker than we were expecting - which he's very excited about!

I don't know anyone near us with a Ribble but what I've read looks good - but I'd rather here it from 'real' people! Unfortunately their store is 6hrs from me and buying off the internet without him having sat on it scares me a little - although I am a sucker for a good deal!

This is the potential candidate at the moment - http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbd/r...?part=BB15RIBSPAZZURRO&sub=conf_BB_ALL&bike=1 - The Ribble Sportive Azzurro with an upgrade to 105 brings it in at £899.90. Budget is approx. £1,000

Any thoughts on this one or similar available for the budget? I tried to convince him of a Planet X Pro Carbon but he likes the look of the Ribble's more. He wants full carbon, I've also tried to explain that some good alu can be better than cheap carbon - but all the other boys ride carbon. . .

Any advice/input gratefully received - I know in an ideal world 'go and sit on it' is nice but we live miles from every shop seemingly so if we've got to travel a long way I'd like to know if they're any good or not before I set out on a mammoth journey!

 

[vickster]

@gbb posted having the ribble sportive in the relaxed geometry bike thread a few below these

 

[Yazzoo]

ooh thanks, was just searching through old threads!

 

[vickster]

I know a couple of people with the gran fondo, relaxed carbon option usually around a grand

Also look at Dolan for similar offering

 

[Milkfloat]

The Ribble Sporting with Ultegra was just £999 last week. It has the on paper better frame and a better group set. I would wait until that or a similar deal comes along. You may even find the Azzurro becomes one of the special offers that often come up. The beauty is that you are in no rush. I think that a trip up to Ribble won't do you much good as a they do not offer test rides, even on a Turbo Trainer. Can someone confirm that? However, distance selling regulations allow you to return the bike for a full refund anyway.

 

[IanG1]

I managed to order a Sportive Racing with ultegra just over a week ago before it went from the offers list, had an email yesterday to say it has been despatched so watch this space if you want to know more when it hopefully arrives later this week?

 

[Dave7]

Looks a lot of bike for the money.
See my reply below to a similar question.
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/planet-x-pro-carbon-vs-ribble-gran-fondo.184290/
Personally I wouldn't pay such money without sitting on it...............a lot to pay if it's not exactly right when you get it.
Could you possibly get a cheap hotel and make a nice week-end out of visiting them.........a nice part of the world with some lovely scenery on the door step.

 

[gbb]

Its a problem not being able to even sit on one, ...but I brought mine that way. Is that any different with the Planet X though ?...who do they sell through ?...ive never seen one in any LBS.
I brought my Ribble by measuring everything I could, everything, then seeing how the ribble geometry compared. The only thing that was significantly out was bars to saddle distance so I opted for a very short stem to bring the bars back to me, its all worked perfectly...never saw a Ribble, never set foot in their shop, just did acres of homework.

 

[outlash]

Any thoughts on this one or similar available for the budget? I tried to convince him of a Planet X Pro Carbon but he likes the look of the Ribble's more. He wants full carbon, I've also tried to explain that some good alu can be better than cheap carbon - but all the other boys ride carbon. . .

If that's the case then let him buy the one he likes the look of best. I'd wager a Cannondale CAAD10 would be a lighter, batter handling frame than a lot of CF frames for similar money, and the Giant Defy/CAAD8 wouldn't be too far behind either. In fact, my CAAD8 is noticeably lighter than my brother in law's Willier Izoard XP. If you're not far from Dereham you could go up to Paul's cycles and possibly get a supersix evo for a smidgen over a grand.

Tony.

 

[Wafer]

Chap at work built up a ribble frame last year and loves it. Cycles in most days around 25 mile round trip and does more miles outside of that. Pretty serious rider but it's been his only bike for a while now says it's very comfy and he's one of those that likes climbing and is insistent on it being light.
Can't say I know which one he's got though....

 

[IanG1]

Well it arrived today and all I can say is wow. The pictures on the Ribble site don't do it justice it is beautiful. I went for a M53 after matching the geometry to my 56 Specialized Secteur and early indications from the short ride around the block are its spot on size for me. The ultegra is in another league from the sora on the specialized. I went for mavic one wheels over the standard rodi and pleased as they look nice and are of nice quality. Just need a bit of nice weather over the weekend to get out and try it out properly. For the money its a steal.

 

[fossyant]

Yeh got a Ribble with Ultegra. It is over 20 years old though.