Ribble Gran Fondo

[Onthedrops]

Just sold my Defy Advanced.
Was looking to replace with a new model but the price tag is preventing me from pulling the trigger at the moment.
Came across the Ribble Gran Fondo. The prices seem quite attractive even when building in decent components.
Question is, how good are the frames. Obviously the Giant frames are quality judging by the excellent warranty provided.
I do like the sporty look of the Ribble. Would I be disappointed with the ride coming from a Giant Defy Advanced?

 

[gbb]

While I haven't ridden a Deft Advanced...or have a Fondo , I do have a Ribble Sportive Racing and found it brilliant. Stiff, no flex in the frame detected at all, light and responsive.
If it's typical of Ribble carbon stable, it bodes well for a Fondo.
One of the reasons I chose mine was for the price I could get full groupset , better groupset, carbon bars etc....for the same price a mainstream manufacturers bike but theirs was a mixed groupset and lower spec bars etc.

Regarding frame warranty...I do believe Ribbles is quite limited, 2 or 3 years only.

 

[Nigel182]

I've the Grand Fondo with Shimano Di2 and well impressed with it had since November 2015 and have covered 1,400 miles on it am now starting to think of having a Ribble CGR to go with it.

 

[Globalti]

Never ridden a Ribble but I do know that they all ride the bikes and wouldn't be happy if the frame wasn't up to the job. What I do like about Ribble is the way they allow you to spec the build.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

my ribble r872 is a great frame. ribble have a long tradition of providing clubman's bikes and you'll get a decent bike at every price-point.

 

[Dave7]

I had a Ribble Sportif and was very happy with it (especially for the price).
When it was stolen I went with a Giant Defy carbon** and immediately noticed that the response (if that's the word) was better. Hills were slightly easier.
**I got the Giant in a January sale with 40% off.
I wont knock Ribble and cant say the Giant is worth it (at full retail) but IMO it is a better bike.

 

[Tin Pot]

It looks good, which is all that matters.

I've liked the look of the gran fondo for a few years.

Both are "endurance" geometry.

 

[vickster]

I had an ex colleague who destroyed one in a crash (his own fault, going too fast by all accounts)...he liked it some much,m he went straight out an got another which he did '000s of miles on while commuting.

Looks good as others have said. I think it's now quite an old frame (must be at least 5 years if not more), Giant might have updated more recently

But if you liked the Giant, Paul's Cycles probably have one on special (in the right size)

 

[Drago]

Grand Fondo completely redesigned for 2017, according to their web side.

 

[vickster]

Fair enough

There is however only one Gran Fondo bike for me...and it's not a Ribble

 

[Smokin Joe]

I've had one Ribble, the winter frame and I must say I was seriously impressed. It arrived with the mudguard, rack and bottle cage bolts pre-greased on the threads which is a nice attention to detail. The frame still looked like new when I sold it seven years later after a lot of foul weather use.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Ribble, great VFM.

 

[Tin Pot]

2016 looks good and is on discount
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-gran-fondo-5800-se/

The new ones ok too
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-gran-fondo/

 

[vickster]

2016 looks good and is on discount
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-gran-fondo-5800-se//

Only XS and S though (so riders up to 5'6 according to the Ribble site)

A 42cm width bar on the XS bike, so for someone who is 5'0-5'3...that's ridiculous (and really gets my goat with off the peg bikes as there's extra expenditure straight off the bat, happens with me too and I'm 5'10!!!)