Anyone got a Ribble Sportive Carbon (L) on order ?

roym
roym Posts: 9
edited May 2009 in Road buying advice
Hi All

Yesterday I ordered a very sexy looking Ribble Sportive due for delivery at the end of May. This is primarily to be used in the Great Yorkshire Bike Ride on 13th June. I have just gone on to Ribbles website and its now stating that all bikes ordered on or after the 29/4 will have a delivery date of end June !!! disaster !

Is there anyone out there that has ordered a Sportive with a L frame and a delivery date before the end May that is happy to wait a few extra weeks and swap places with me in the "queue" in exchange for £50 ?

Many thanks

Roy

SPECEDSPORTCENT10_1_Zoom.jpg

Comments

  • deltaone
    deltaone Posts: 7
    Have you tried to contact them by phone. I've had my eye on one of these for a little while but live 260 miles away from their shop and would like to see it first hand before parting with so much money, I have put off ordering one for the London to Brighton for exactly the same reason, I have seen in the forums that locals normally get their kit earlier than stated. I still think your best bet is to contact them directly today when they open.

    What one did you order, have you specced up at all, if you do get it can you post us some good quality close ups of the frame.

    I'd like to know if the drop outs are also carbon or infact some other replacable option, the website doesn't seem to state, good luck any how.
  • roym
    roym Posts: 9
    Hi

    I did contact them this morning (they don't seem to reply to emails) and they are hoping that 150 frames will be arriving next week - 90 of these are pre-sold but they think I should be ok for end May .. they have suggested I call next week to check on progress.

    I visited the shop and was very impressed with the knowledge and attention to detail of the guys there .. We spent probably 30 minutes on the "jig" changing frame sizes, stem lengths, etc until everything felt just right.

    I went for a ....

    Carbon Sportive Large Campag Centaur
    12-25 with Compact 34/50 and 175 cranks and slightly wider bars
    I also went for the red tyres although the shop guy did try and put me off ... at least they will look good once !!!

    I'll post some hi res pics as soon a I get it !!

    Regards

    Roy
  • galaxyboy
    galaxyboy Posts: 168
    I'm waiting for my works cyclescheme voucher to order one (small) but it will be ages yet, I might put it on a card and hope they will refund it with the voucher just to get it quicker. :P
  • Agent57
    Agent57 Posts: 2,300
    End of June? I went into the shop last Saturday to get sized up, but like galaxyboy I'm waiting for a Cyclescheme voucher before I order. On Saturday the guy told me there was a 4-week lead time, so finding that doubled is disappointing. I wish I'd been able to order there and then. Dunno if I can wait that long... Oh, maybe I can - I've waited 20 years for a new bike already.
    MTB commuter / 531c commuter / CR1 Team 2009 / RockHopper Pro Disc / 10 mile PB: 25:52 (Jun 2014)
  • Gav888
    Gav888 Posts: 946
    Nice bike, i was on there earlier today pricing up one, nearly £2000 with upgrades like 105 groupset and those aero wheels... LOL nice though :wink:
    Cycling never gets any easier, you just go faster - Greg LeMond
  • deltaone
    deltaone Posts: 7
    Nice, using bike builder I was going for Mavic Aksium wheels and the Ultegra SL grey group set came in at £1200, maybe also decent tyres and a gel saddle would add a few more pounds but the best upgrades for the best price IMO, sadly I think I'll be waiting till the end of the year now.
  • cazzooo
    cazzooo Posts: 5
    Anyone hear of any updates on when these are shipping? I ordered in mid April but haven't heard anything yet. May 6.
  • roym
    roym Posts: 9
    I've been calling the Ribble "Mail Order" line all week but never managed to get through (probably 20+ calls !!!) ... I sent 2 emails asking for an update (I presume they were ignored) and a fax (also ignored) .... on Friday I managed to get through to a very helpful guy in the shop who said that the frame order (150 frames) had arrived and they are in the process of building the pre-orders (100+) .... I said I needed mine for the end of May (4 weeks from order) and he didn't sound too hopeful ! I'll keep you updated on progress.

    Incidently Ribble seem to have the worst mail order line I have ever come across (although I haven't actually manged to speak to them yet !!) ....this is in complete contrast to the guys in the shop who are very helpful .... I hear a rumour that they are closing the shop to concentrate on internet sales though ... if they do not get their telesales team up to speed this is one company that is not going to be here in 12 months time !!! ..... I hope my bike arrives before then !

    Regards

    R
  • roym
    roym Posts: 9
    cazzooo ....

    Has your bike arrived yet ???
  • cazzooo
    cazzooo Posts: 5
    No it hasn't. In fact last week I tried calling on the phone (endless ringing--no response) and sent two emails without response. I hope to hear from them this week.
  • cazzooo
    cazzooo Posts: 5
    Bye the way, mine is just a frame and fork. So while they do their building of 150 bikes I hope they can ship it out to me in the USA.
  • Lunar Tick
    Lunar Tick Posts: 62
    roym wrote:
    I hear a rumour that they are closing the shop to concentrate on internet sales though ... if they do not get their telesales team up to speed this is one company that is not going to be here in 12 months time !!! ..... I hope my bike arrives before then !

    Regards

    R

    This is true - I was in Ribble weekend before last and the shop is closing in the next week or two as they're switching to online only sales. They also quoted my girlfriend at least a 5-week wait for a sportive build; we live locally, but the prospect of not being able to talk to anyone directly put us off, despite the value for money
  • cazzooo
    cazzooo Posts: 5
    I heard from Ribble today and it has been sent i.e. dispatched.
  • jon208
    jon208 Posts: 335
    I've had quite a bit of stuff from Ribble since Wiggle stopped being competative on price (clothing, components etc) without problem. The delivery is slower than Wiggle but the stuff has always turned up.

    I've realised I can build myself one of their carbon Aero TTs for less than £1K (in the absence of a lottery win and the funds to buy a Bianchi D2 TT bike....) but stories like those above put me off.
  • roym
    roym Posts: 9
    Got a call from Ribble today to say that my bike is being built on Thursday so will be ready for collection from Friday onwards .. RESULT !

    I'll let you know how I get on ... if anyone needs any photos or more info about these bikes, let me know

    Regards

    Roy
  • zedders
    zedders Posts: 509
    You say you ordered yours on the 30th April and you have had the call. I ordered on 15th April and I've heard nothing? No offence but I was told first come first served? :(
    "I spend my petrol money on Bikes, Beer, Pizza, and Donuts "

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/38256268@N04/3517156549/
  • AntG
    AntG Posts: 72
    Mine arrived yesterday - all seems OK, but need to have a decent look see tomorrow.

    Only disappointment is the saddle - basically it's the cheapest Selle Italia they sell (£14) - black with dark blue trip and just doesn't fit with the overall look - you'd think for the money they give you have decent seat to park your behind on! (but then as Ribble said when I asked to swap it over - 'you knew what you were getting when you ordered!' - though I didn't as I assume it would be a red one!).

    Must say that the process was relatively smooth - email confirming dispatch last Weds and received y'day - they say up to 3 working days I think. I have emailed them three times during the process and always had a reply within 24 hours.

    I
  • AntG
    AntG Posts: 72
    Zedders - placed my order on the 22nd April.
  • roym
    roym Posts: 9
    Zedders - give them a call as they are blasting through the bikes they have on order ... if you are struggling via phone/email send a fax FAO Alan or Anthony ... it worked for me !!

    Roy
  • paulieb2006
    paulieb2006 Posts: 318
    AntG wrote:
    Mine arrived yesterday - all seems OK, but need to have a decent look see tomorrow.

    Only disappointment is the saddle - basically it's the cheapest Selle Italia they sell (£14) - black with dark blue trip and just doesn't fit with the overall look - you'd think for the money they give you have decent seat to park your behind on! (but then as Ribble said when I asked to swap it over - 'you knew what you were getting when you ordered!' - though I didn't as I assume it would be a red one!).

    Must say that the process was relatively smooth - email confirming dispatch last Weds and received y'day - they say up to 3 working days I think. I have emailed them three times during the process and always had a reply within 24 hours.

    I

    Antg
    Could you post a few pictures of the frame for me as I am hoping to order one over the weekend but am a bit nervous as I havent ever seen one to see what it is like. Just the BB and the butts and dropouts.... Cheers
  • roym
    roym Posts: 9
    Hi All

    I took a trip over to Riible today to collect my Carbon Road bike.. unfortunately when I arrived they had not strated building my bike (it was scheduled for build yesterday !) so I disappaeared off for lunch and returned 2 hours later ... The bike had then been completed and what a bike it is !!!

    I was talked out of the red handlebar tape but (despite strong recommendations) still opted for the red/black road types ... I wasn't sure at first but now think they look fantastic - certainly for the first few rides while they are clean anyway !!

    The setup is perfect for me and the ergonomics/sizing feels spot on (I visited the shop and went for a standard large frame but with a slightly smaller 90mm stem) ... I'm more than happy with the Centaur groupset although the only kit I have to compare it to is the Shimano XT on my Kona mountain bike ... it doesn't seem quite as slick as this as the gear changes on the Ribble Centaur feel (or sound) slightly "clunky" but they are very positive and do feel very accurate. I was a little worried that the build of my bike might have been rushed but the setup seems perfect .. thanks to the guy at Ribble that worked through his lunch to get this built for me !!

    I'll try and attach a couple of photos .. this is a standard Ribble Centaur bike - the only extras being the Shimano SPD's ... I've since added a Cateye Strata wireless (also from Ribble) which seems great too

    If I can help with any more info, please email me

    Regards

    Roy

    Photos here ->
    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=7 ... 67ae732967 [/img]
  • AntG
    AntG Posts: 72
    Looks good :)

    I went with the red bar tape - looks OK, though it just cries out for a red saddle now!

    Did the Ritchey seatpost come with the bike? - it wasn't specced on either the Centaur or Ultegra models - I got an Outlander Carbon post with mine when it arrived.

    I've fitted mine with some old Crank Brothers Eggbeaters for now (off my old MTB) - look ok actually :D

    Will try and get some pics up tomorrow, but work is manic right now (sorry to the earlier request)
  • AntG
    AntG Posts: 72
    anyone noticed the Centaur bike has gone up to £1059.99 now - minimal difference between the two now - I went with Ultegra myself..
  • roym
    roym Posts: 9
    Hi AntG ... yep the Ritchey seatpost did come as standard - I don't know enough about road bike specs to know if this is good or bad though ?!

    Roy
  • Carlos13
    Carlos13 Posts: 152
    I found out about this bike when reading the C+ Bike of the Year recently. They liked it, but marked it down because it was supplied with deep pro-lite rims.

    If you compare the price of the Ribble when specced with comparable parts to the other bikes in the test, e.g. Shimano 105/RS10 wheels, or Campag Veloce/Khamsin wheels, it comes in at £1000-1100, against about £1500 for the tested bikes (this varies wildly of course). Specced with Ultegra/Aksium like some of the more expensive bikes in the test, it comes in at £1200 versus typically £1800. It's almost £400 cheaper than the "budget" Focus Cayo Ultegra.

    I wonder how the test would have gone if Ribble had provided a bike with similar kit to the competitors, given it is miles cheaper?
    08 Commencal Meta 5.5.2
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  • This bike looks really, really nice. It first caught my eye as the frame colours are the same as my pride and joy, the Spesh Roubaix you can see in my sig. In fact, it's more or less the same design except the colours are reversed - i.e the red bits are black, and the black bits are red!
    I wonder if this is a coincidence?
    Seriously, I would love to hear how they ride when you get one as I won't be able to replace my Spesh with a like-for-like if it ever gets badly broken or goes missing.
  • AntG
    AntG Posts: 72
    http://antg74.pinkbike.com/album/Ribble/

    attempt three to post some pics..hope it works!! :D
  • zedders
    zedders Posts: 509
    AntG,
    Seen your photos, your link works! Looks cool. Hows it ride? Mine ''I'm told'' is coming tomorrow!
    "I spend my petrol money on Bikes, Beer, Pizza, and Donuts "

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/38256268@N04/3517156549/
  • Aggieboy
    Aggieboy Posts: 3,996
    pbpic3474418.jpg
    pbpic3474417.jpg

    AntG - nice bike but have your handlebars slipped? They don't appear to be positioned correctly.
    "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, t'would be a pity to damage yours."