Ribble Alloy v Carbon

[Monsieur Remings]

I'm very very tempted to buy a Ribble and am wondering if anyone has any experience of them? I am thinking of spending somewhere in the region between £600-£1000 and am particularly interested in the main differences between their carbon and alloy bikes. Okay, I appreciate that the carbon is lighter but this one only by 0.425 kg and I'm not a light rider. So what would you buy if you were going to go with a Ribble in this price range and why?

Here are the two I thought were good as a starting point, the alloy...

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/speci...&part=SERIBBLE7005SLCAMP&sub=conf_SERA&bike=1

or the carbon...

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/speci...art=SERIBBLESPORTIVECAMP&sub=conf_SERC&bike=1

 

[accountantpete]

With carbon you can align the fibres with the direction of the forces you want and damp other areas - which given correct design helps build a stiff bike with a greater degree of comfort over a comparable aluminium bike.

 

[AlanW]

I would opt for the carbon for the reasons mentioned above, nice compact and stiff frame. But without wishing to cast doubt or even to bad mouth Ribble, we don't know who constructs the frame do we? Ok it may be carbon fibre but how well made is it? (which I'm sure that it is well made!)

But due to its very construction there is a lot too potentially fail on carbon fibre made stuff, most delaminating issues. And usually the first you know is when you are sat on your arse looking up at the sky!!

Aluminium frames are a bit more forgiving in terms of absorbing road vibration, but IMHO tend to be a bit more wooden and flat to ride But again this depends on the grade of aluminium and how well it has been made? That said, I did have a aluminium DeRosa frame a few years ago, beautiful bike to ride.

Amongst other bikes, I now have a aluminium Ribble winter bike, as much as its a great bike and excellent value for money, its simply a "dead" frame. You get little feedback from it and it seems to soak up your energy and not transfer it to the rear wheel?

Ideally, you need a decent ride on both bikes don't you? Also check out the frame geometry's, I know the Ribble winter frames are quite long on the top tube.

 

[Wocce Racer]

If you are spending a grand on a frame get a custom built frame to your exact specifiations. A frame is only a small percentage of the weight that you peddal around which is I stick with custom built steel, it goes down hill faster, tells you when it is going to fail long before it fails, you can get it repaired, you can get it sprayed any colour you like and it will still be going strong in 50 years time; carbon and alloy will not.

I now use Roberts in South London (I have two) who will weigh you and measure your legs and arms and shoulders to ensure that the bike fits you to a "T."

 

[youngoldbloke]

- I understood the OP was looking to spend £600-1000 on the complete bike. Nice they might be but according to their website that is going to cost around £2000+ from Roberts.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Yep, sorry for the confusion - a grand on a frame - I wish. All good information people - thanks but...confused and unsure. I'll list my edited list:

Focus Cayo, but I am 5' 11 so medium maybe too small?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Cayo_105_2009/5360037591/

Focus Culebro - same frame size problemo.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Culebro_2009/5360037595/

Still a possibility but wonder why so reduced (and with Tiagra?)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Raleigh_Avanti_U6_Comp_2009/5360045524/

Still a possibility:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Kiron_MTL-Blade/5360043854/

I like the look of this but as posters have said, the frame makers?
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/speci...art=SERIBBLESPORTIVECAMP&sub=conf_SERC&bike=1

..or a cheaper Ribble option
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/speci...&part=SERIBBLE7005SLCAMP&sub=conf_SERA&bike=1

Good from what I read and hear for £799
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_team.html

Or this un...
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_team_carbon.html

or any comparable Planet X.

Confused? Yes I am.

As usual any ideas gratefully digested.

 

[accountantpete]

These are all reasonable good "entry level" road bikes. I would have a think about where you expect to be in say a years time cycling wise- the Boardman Carbon offers the greatest scope for upgrading IMHO (along with the Planet X) but if you get really serious you are going to want to go top -end make for your frame etc.

So if you plan a gradual upgrade then it's the more expensive Carbon for me otherwise I'd go second hand with a make do bike and save up for a really decent bit of kit.

 

[Wocce Racer]

- I understood the OP was looking to spend £600-1000 on the complete bike. Nice they might be but according to their website that is going to cost around £2000+ from Roberts.

Indeed this is the case, but in the next 10, 15, 20 + years, how many carbon or alloy frames might one get through? At the end of the day a made to measure steel has fantastic long term cost advantages. Well worth saving up a bit for.

 

[Noodley]

But without wishing to cast doubt or even to bad mouth Ribble, we don't know who constructs the frame do we?

Much the same can be said for most other bike 'name'.

 

[AlanW]

Much the same can be said for most other bike 'name'.

Fair point

 

[Noodley]

Fair point

Yeh, I know

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Many thanks one and all and keep the comments coming if you can. Particularly to Accountant Pete, thanks for the effort made in this and other questions asked mate, much appreciated.