Ribble Handbuilt Wheels - any experience?

[buddha]

I need some new wheels (after a bump with a bus). Something strong and cheap. So Open Pro's on 105 hubs should fit the bill.

I see Ribble do these relatively cheaply at £144 Clicky, but are they (Ribble) any good? Does a monkey build them or someone with experience?

 

[mr-marty-martin]

i'd build the same wheels, ( there realy good ) but get a local wheel builder to do them, as i find hand built wheels after a few weeks need re-checking, tensioning etc, and the bikeshop usualy does this free of charge...so for the after charge service i wouldnt go down the ribble route

 

[Jonathan M]

OK, had two sets of Ribble wheels, first set was Veloce on MA3 and they were fine, second set were Centaur on Open Pro, the rear had not been de-stressed properly as they "tinkled" on the first ride, and the rear was slightly out of true by the end of it. LBS trued it up, no problems since, but shouldn't have happened in the first place. Price still good, but felt that the hassle of getting the wheel re-trued was a nuisance.

 

[buddha]

Thanks for the replies. I'm capable of truing a wheel (well I've done it once). It looks as though the cost of their hand-built wheels is almost the same as the parts. So I'd just have to take them for a ride and then true, if necessary.

Looking around it seems that it's 50/50 as to how people rate their wheels. So I'll probably end up taking them to the lbs in a couple of weeks then

How long did they take to deliver?

 

[Tharg2007]

open pros are nice, however, I if you are planning on using them for commuting and tailing buses I would go for the cxp33's as I've taken hits off large potholes that have suddenly appeared while drafting the buses and they just munch them up, tough rims they are.

I got these made by ribble and they are bomb proof, no issues whatsoever.

 

[buddha]

I thought about the CXP's. However, doesn't their (getting on for aero) profile make them a bit stiff. That's what I don't like about my current rims - apart from the fact that it's now a pringle!

What was their delivery time like?

 

[Tharg2007]

mine took about 2 weeks to arrive.
Yes they are quite stiff, however they are on a steel frame so I get a smoother ride.

 

[buddha]

Thanks.
But 2 WEEKS! - I may have to have a go a building one myself in the meantime. That, or I dust off the Pompino.

 

[monnet]

IIRC Terry Dolan does the wheel building for Ribble. They certainly don't get done in house, that's for sure.

 

[fossyant]

Nothing wrong with CXP33's - my fixed has them and I've had some old 7400 Dura Ace hubs re-built into CXP33's - very good rims, certainly not uncomfortable, and the aero profile is just literally a few mm more than an open pro...they are not deep. Very easy to clean though. CXP's are a bit heavier than Open Pro's, but I like the look and they are bullet proof.

The fixed rims have been bashed and are 100% fine - same with the others, although mine were built by my local LBS.

Both very good rims...just personal choice on the looks.