please help me build my Ribble!!

[rockrat]

hi all,

i have spent ages sifting through the billions of bike options for my next choice of bike and i think i have settled on a Ribble Sportive Bianco Sram
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/speci...art=SE12RIBSPORTBIANSRAM&sub=conf_SERC&bike=1

but


i am struggling with the build setup as i am a little unsure as to the ideal requirements for my needs, so could do with your help please.
first, i am 5'11 and 13st if thats of any use
i want a bike for general road riding with the club all year round that i can do 100k on and still feel ok, but also to have a bike that is responsive and fun. this is why i have settled for the carbon frame ribble. The price of roughly £1k give or take an extra hundred is all i have, the ribble comes about about £1200 if built as described below

I have settled on sram groupset and am happy to spend the little extra for the Rival set, so i think that choice is ok.
I also think i will go for the compact chainset so thats another decison made.

but now its the wheels, tyres and surprisingly the bar tape thats got me in a muddle!
i want the best all round tyres that will survive the typical UK crap roads without me having to ride on eggshells, so was thinking the ITM Aero's .. but is that right because they look fragile to me?

i have no idea which is the best tyre for road riding out of the choices, and i cant visualise the bar tape that would fit best, i am thinking getting the white bars with a silver tape

anyone help?


FYI - the other bike choices i considered but ruled out were
Verenti Rhigos.04

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-rhigos04/

 

[Kestevan]

Get the cheapest tyres they have, and replace them with a set of either Michelin pro-3(summer) or Krylium Carbon (winter).

None of the wheel options they give on the builder strike me as particularly fantastic. I'd be tempted to take the build with the cheapest, and then look to upgrade to a decent set at a later time. Failing that the ITM aeros look to be an OK set.

Personally I'd steer well clear of white tape. It looks goosd when new, but the majority of bikes I see have a dirty grey colour which looks crap. Black goes with everything, and doesnt show the muck Suppose that depends on whether you're planning on riding through the winter though.

 

[YahudaMoon]

For some unknown reason ? Maybe its a fad fashion thing I don't know ? Though over the last few years dropped handle bars on most bikes have the mahoosive oversized handle bars. What purpose they serve other than giving you more drag I don't know ?

Also oversized handle also are no good when it comes to fitting lights / computer ect as they rake.

Maybe a getting the proper sized 26.6mm bars would be an idea ?

 

[Zoiders]

Nothing wrong with the current over sized bars.

Sorry to break this to people but we have on average got bigger since the misty eyed golden age of british cycling, 36/38/40 cm bars are not really that good for you in the long run unless you really are small or narrow chested.

I ride on 44cm bars, I would not chose smaller ones as I would be far too cramped, the claim that 44's or 46's somehow cause more drag isn't really true IMHO as it's not like you are out doing your weekend ride on the latest TT or Tri bike. I also find I can flex most quil or 1 1/8 threadless stem bar combos by a noticable amount when giving it welly out of the saddle.

Riders of yester year for want of a better word were hunch backed freaks, if the OP is 5'11 and 13 stone he isn't the smallest of chaps so I would say go for 44 or 46 cm bars as he will certainly be more comfortable, which will make longer rides easier.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Nothing wrong with the current over sized bars.

Sorry to break this to people but we have on average got bigger since the misty eyed golden age of british cycling, 36/38/40 cm bars are not really that good for you in the long run unless you really are small or narrow chested.

I ride on 44cm bars, I would not chose smaller ones as I would be far too cramped, the claim that 44's or 46's somehow cause more drag isn't really true IMHO as it's not like you are out doing your weekend ride on the latest TT or Tri bike. I also find I can flex most quil or 1 1/8 threadless stem bar combos by a noticable amount when giving it welly out of the saddle.

Riders of yester year for want of a better word were hunch backed freaks, if the OP is 5'11 and 13 stone he isn't the smallest of chaps so I would say go for 44 or 46 cm bars as he will certainly be more comfortable, which will make longer rides easier.

Eh ? Oversized 31.8mm. Not width

 

[Smokin Joe]

YahudaMoon was referring to the clamp section diameter, not the width.

...a point he made just before my post hit the screen.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Riders of yester year for want of a better word were hunch backed freaks .....

?????? oh no we weren't/aren't. Exception taken!