Ribble Gran Fondo...........some specific questions.

[Dave7]

Just some questions.
Some back-ground. I had a Ribble Sportive carbon which was stolen. This was 2 years plus ago. It was my first "proper" road bike and I was very pleased with it.
However some learned/experienced people told me...........Ribble are made down to a price and the carbon is just not as good as you can get from some of the bigger manufacturers.
The Gran Fondo looks to be an excellent relaxed style bike.
So................does anyone have the carbon version.
If so.....your opinion is ???
Have the frame materials improved in recent years.
Any other comments appreciated.

 

[vickster]

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/ribble-customer-service-gran-fondo-purchasing-experience.197673/

If you want a premium carbon frame, you'll need to buy from a premium brand I should think. I don't think the Ribble frames are any worse than most other open mould carbon frames out of the Far East

I have an ex colleague who had two (he broke the first one stacking the bike at high speed), he did lots and lots of commuting and leisure miles in all weathers and was more than happy

 

[Dave7]

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/ribble-customer-service-gran-fondo-purchasing-experience.197673/

If you want a premium carbon frame, you'll need to buy from a premium brand I should think. I don't think the Ribble frames are any worse than most other open mould carbon frames out of the Far East

I have an ex colleague who had two (he broke the first one stacking the bike at high speed), he did lots and lots of commuting and leisure miles in all weathers and was more than happy

Similar to what I have read but I cant find any really recent reviews.............hence my question. As I have previously stated........I really enjoyed my Ribble but even I noticed my Giant was far more responsive.

 

[vickster]

Similar to what I have read but I cant find any really recent reviews.............hence my question. As I have previously stated........I really enjoyed my Ribble but even I noticed my Giant was far more responsive.

That's presumably down to a more aggressive geometry, the weight, the wheels, the tyres, psychology of having a more expensive bike? Doubt it has anything to do with the carbon layout

 

[Dave7]

That's presumably down to a more aggressive geometry, the weight, the wheels, the tyres, psychology of having a more expensive bike? Doubt it has anything to do with the carbon layout

I am told.........and it sounds right to me...........that the better frames transfer more power straight through. A cheaper frame is (I quote) like riding a bag of scaffold tube. I am not edumacated enough to prove/disprove that

 

[vickster]

Scaffolding isn't made from carbon

Why not get a more relaxed giant frame and shift the parts across?

 

[Venod]

Planet X have a 40% discount on some frames before the end of the month just 1 example, take a look there ar some serious savings on some nice frames.

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FRPXRTD90/planet-x-rtd-90-carbon-road-frameset

http://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/deals/stock-liquidation

 

[vickster]

I don't think @Dave7 wants another race oriented frame which that one purports to be

 

[Venod]

I don't think @Dave7 wants another race oriented frame which that one purports to be

I thought that after I posted, so I added the link to the other reduced frames that may be of interest.

1 example with 40% off

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FRPXRT58FAFDP/planet-x-rt-58-carbon-road-frameset

 

[Dave7]

Scaffolding isn't made from carbon

Why not get a more relaxed giant frame and shift the parts across?

To my knowledge there isn't a more relaxed Giant frame than the Defy 1............I am happy to be wrong on that.

 

[vickster]

Ah I thought you had a TCR? If the defy is still too aggressive, I'm not sure where to go, other than one with a rather longer headtube and a riser stem

 

[User269]

Just some questions.
Some back-ground. I had a Ribble Sportive carbon which was stolen. This was 2 years plus ago. It was my first "proper" road bike and I was very pleased with it.
However some learned/experienced people told me...........Ribble are made down to a price and the carbon is just not as good as you can get from some of the bigger manufacturers.
The Gran Fondo looks to be an excellent relaxed style bike.
So................does anyone have the carbon version.
If so.....your opinion is ???
Have the frame materials improved in recent years.
Any other comments appreciated.

Most carbon frames, provided by many 'manufacturers' (eg; Colnago made in the Giant factory), are made by the same few companies in China and Taiwan. Giant & Merida are probably the main suppliers of all carbon frames.

So far, nobody has answered your question about the Gran Fondo. Does anyone actually have one??

You were very pleased with your previous Ribble. As @vickster suggested, the whole issue of transferring power is to do with the geometry and design, with 'quality' (of frames that came mostly from the same few places), not generally an issue.

Your Giant is more responsive than the Ribble? Why not ride it then? Not so comfortable? That's the compromise; comfort versus efficiency, racing geometry versus sportive/touring.

 

[gbb]

Does the 'average' cyclist actually, really feel the differwnce between a 'budget' and high end frame ?
I have the New Sportive Racing...prior to that I had two alloy Bianchis...the earlier one you really could get the frame to flex when giving it some beans. I didnt detect any with my later Bianchi. The Ribble sportive....when I brought it I was (in my own humble way) as fit as I ever had been, and loved to honk up inclines, frequently out of the saddle, giving it all I could. I NEVER detected any weakness, flex etc with the Ribble. It always struck me as rock solid. The forks..in some peoples opinion were less well regarded. There were times when I felt a tad unstable when sweeping round bends at speed...but that may have been me.
The point ?...when I was as fit as I ever was, a 'budget' Ribble was the best thing I'd ever ridden...and couldnt see why I needed anything better.

Just my observation.

 

[jay clock]

Not sure it helps but I have a Carbon Ribble and love it. CR3 model. Not the lightest around, but ideal for winter/commuting

 

[gmw492]

Does the 'average' cyclist actually, really feel the differwnce between a 'budget' and high end frame ?

I ask myself that question all the time,my personal opinion is no,think I can only go as long as my legs let me,but I am looking at the Ribble Aero or R872 so maybe contradicting myself there.Ribble get decent reviews from what I see,good value too 105 spec on he R872 under £1000 and Ultegra just a tad over £1000 ,so for the 'average' cyclist like me I guess it's a good deal,my Cervélo S5 can wait