Ribble Gran Fondo
- Thread starter zulu23
- Start date
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neilb1906
Über Member
- Location
- Chelmsford, County Town of Ethics!
smokeysmoo
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bolton, not very far from Nob End
I've never had a Ribble carbon, but I've had a couple of their winter frames and have always been more than pleased.
If you're close enough to visit then it's worth going to their unit at Walton Summit near Preston IMO.
Some folk still moan about their customer service, but I've never had an issue with anything I've ordered TBH.
If you're close enough to visit then it's worth going to their unit at Walton Summit near Preston IMO.
Some folk still moan about their customer service, but I've never had an issue with anything I've ordered TBH.
Iain M Norman
Well-Known Member
accountantpete
OAP
I have a GF and am very pleased with it - well built, comfortable and reasonably relaxed geometry.
Not an out and out racer - but you can't have everything at that price..
Not an out and out racer - but you can't have everything at that price..
Judderz
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Astley, Nr Manchester
Or try Merlin Cycles in Chorley (not far from Ribble), very competitive, their Sensa range of carbon bikes are great value, (Mate bought one with full 105 groupset for £1099 just before christmas).
For me, I'll never shop at Ribble again, god awful service, cheap parts fitted. (But others have had good service)
For me, I'll never shop at Ribble again, god awful service, cheap parts fitted. (But others have had good service)
I've got a Ribble Stealth, my only issues are with the shop not the bike. I ended up with two frame upgrades as they sold out of the first frame, then the second frame... I supposedly paid cost for the first upgrade, but refused for the second.
For the first upgrade they claimed that the second frame was definitely in stock. And then it wasn't... I can see a few ways that can happen. None of of them good or acceptable.
When the bike finally arrived it had the wrong saddle ( a more expensive one than ordered, again with no communication - presumably they sold out of the ordered one too, despite having however many months... ), and no assembly paste (which they grudgingly agreed to to continue with the second delay - only a few quids worth at wholesale prices, and I had to fight for it...).
They basically made me feel like they thought it was my fault that they sold things they didn't have, or sold things after they had accepted orders... my fault that they competed for and accepted cycle-to-work vouchers, and my fault that their mistakes were eating in to their profit margins... All of which of course just made me dig my heels in... especially given I paid cost price to rectify their first mistake. There was zero consideration for the impact of their very significant delays, zero consideration that their mistakes should cost them, not their customers ( they even argued this with me! ).
A one month built estimate turned in to about three months+ IIRC. All totally avoidable with common-or-garden stock control, the delays meant the bike missed much of that summer - and they started grumbling and acting as if I should be grateful... and only very grudgingly gave me the assembly paste ( a couple of quids worth at wholesale prices? ).
Some decent customer service might have polished over the delays, but instead they chose to make it all worse. So they only have themselves to blame for driving myself ( and plenty of others ) away. I'm not going to spite myself... I still check them for parts prices, though haven't yet had to succumb. But given most of their bikes have competition from PlanetX and others, I'd have be in a really tight corner to order another bike from them unless I'd heard some glowing reports of how they've improved their control of the ordering/building process and customer service.
For the first upgrade they claimed that the second frame was definitely in stock. And then it wasn't... I can see a few ways that can happen. None of of them good or acceptable.
When the bike finally arrived it had the wrong saddle ( a more expensive one than ordered, again with no communication - presumably they sold out of the ordered one too, despite having however many months... ), and no assembly paste (which they grudgingly agreed to to continue with the second delay - only a few quids worth at wholesale prices, and I had to fight for it...).
They basically made me feel like they thought it was my fault that they sold things they didn't have, or sold things after they had accepted orders... my fault that they competed for and accepted cycle-to-work vouchers, and my fault that their mistakes were eating in to their profit margins... All of which of course just made me dig my heels in... especially given I paid cost price to rectify their first mistake. There was zero consideration for the impact of their very significant delays, zero consideration that their mistakes should cost them, not their customers ( they even argued this with me! ).
A one month built estimate turned in to about three months+ IIRC. All totally avoidable with common-or-garden stock control, the delays meant the bike missed much of that summer - and they started grumbling and acting as if I should be grateful... and only very grudgingly gave me the assembly paste ( a couple of quids worth at wholesale prices? ).
Some decent customer service might have polished over the delays, but instead they chose to make it all worse. So they only have themselves to blame for driving myself ( and plenty of others ) away. I'm not going to spite myself... I still check them for parts prices, though haven't yet had to succumb. But given most of their bikes have competition from PlanetX and others, I'd have be in a really tight corner to order another bike from them unless I'd heard some glowing reports of how they've improved their control of the ordering/building process and customer service.
neilb1906
Über Member
- Location
- Chelmsford, County Town of Ethics!
Tell me GF is not "girlfriend"?
rockyraccoon
Veteran
why?
I thought the spec was similar, and I thought the PX one looked a bit nicer. It was close.
Kestevan
Last of the Summer Winos
- Location
- Holmfirth.
I was also put off any further dealings with Ribble after experiencing their "Customer Service" on another issue.
I took my cash to Planet X and have no regrets as I think I got a better bike in the end (RT-57).
I took my cash to Planet X and have no regrets as I think I got a better bike in the end (RT-57).
tigger
Über Member
Another PlanetX vote over Ribble for me. Pro Carbon or RT57 are amazing bikes for the money. As per Barrie P's experience with Ribble, you have to watch stock availability and bike build times with this direct to customer built to order business model, but if there is an issue Planet X will always resolve this quickly and favourably.
gbb
Squire
- Location
- Peterborough
Ribble Sportive carbon here, extremely happy with it and their service.
Very comfortable, yet never detected an ounce of flex in it.
At the time i was after a Bianchi Impulso and would have loved that bike, but £1200, same as the Sportive....
Alloy frame vs carbon..Sportive won outright.
Part Veloce/part FSA groupset and Bianchi calipers vs FULL Veloce groupset, including Veloce calipers...Sportive won outright.
Visually...ok, the Bianchi was to die for
.
Alloy bars, stem and seatpost vs carbon bars, stem and seatpost...Sportive won outright.
Compared with the big brands, Ribble give excellent VFM.
You spec the bike as well....you choose exactly what you want.
Very comfortable, yet never detected an ounce of flex in it.
At the time i was after a Bianchi Impulso and would have loved that bike, but £1200, same as the Sportive....
Alloy frame vs carbon..Sportive won outright.
Part Veloce/part FSA groupset and Bianchi calipers vs FULL Veloce groupset, including Veloce calipers...Sportive won outright.
Visually...ok, the Bianchi was to die for
.Alloy bars, stem and seatpost vs carbon bars, stem and seatpost...Sportive won outright.
Compared with the big brands, Ribble give excellent VFM.
You spec the bike as well....you choose exactly what you want.
