Ribble Sportive

paulieb2006
paulieb2006 Posts: 318
edited May 2009 in Road buying advice
Has anybody bought one of the new Ribble Sportives. Was thinking of ordering one with 105 groupset and mavic equips. Works out at £1260. Has anybody had one shipped to Ireland by them????
Suppose most importantly is it a good buy.
Thanks
http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/ab26 ... C05883.jpg

Comments

  • zedders
    zedders Posts: 509
    I've had one on order since 17st April, and am still waiting! Mines coming with a Centaur grouppo and Zonda wheels.
    There's been a large number of people ordering these frames. Reveiws have been good. If you can wait, (I don't think you will be able to get one til the end of May) then IMO go for it.
    Before ordering I would call Ribble and see what the waiting time is!
    "I spend my petrol money on Bikes, Beer, Pizza, and Donuts "

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/38256268@N04/3517156549/
  • AntG
    AntG Posts: 72
    Mine's arrivng tomorrow :D

    It's been a LONG 3 weeks!...
  • giner1961
    giner1961 Posts: 135
    I would also check out Planet X they are doing some good deals on complete bikes with dura ace.
    I have just recived one of there Carbon SL frames very nice
  • majormantra
    majormantra Posts: 2,094
    paulieb2006 wrote:
    Has anybody bought one of the new Ribble Sportives. Was thinking of ordering one with 105 groupset and mavic equips. Works out at £1260. Has anybody had one shipped to Ireland by them????
    Suppose most importantly is it a good buy.
    Thanks

    I've got one on order, suppose to be coming in a couple of weeks or so. You know if you buy it as a special edition bike you can get Campag Centaur for £999 or Shimano Ultegra for £1099?

    By the way, has anyone had any luck phoning Ribble lately? I've tried repeatedly over the last couple of days and got either engaged or no reply.

    Matthew
  • SlowingDown
    SlowingDown Posts: 129
    I've not called since ordering in mid-April. I have sent them 3 emails in that time though and all have gone unanswered. Was going to call them today so I'll let you know if I have any joy.
    ===============================
    Ribble Sportive Racing: FCN 2
    Tricross Sport: FCN 4
    Cannondale R600: FCN 3
    Scrapheap Rescued SS, in bits: FCN 9

    Helmet wearer
    ===============================
  • sturmey
    sturmey Posts: 964
    <<< I would also check out Planet X they are doing some good deals on complete bikes with dura ace >>>



    Planet X would NOT get my business based on information I have noticed on their website- namely,their restrictive policy on what size bars, stem,cassette and chainset you can specify for your (production)bike. I personally would be in the market for a 'large' frame but it would be totally useless to me with the 42cm bars and 110mm stem they force you to accept with it.
    It's a shame because the bike rivals the Ribble Sportive on price and spec but given the lack of choice over the above components I would take the Ribble every time as Ribble allow you to choose any size bars,stem etc you fancy.
    I suspect Planet X are losing quite a few sales because of this. They lost mine at any rate.
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    Planet-X also do cuctom builds where you can specify everything - they cost more though. The "no changes in spec" bikes are the bargain deals. Seems fair enough for them to offer these bikes cheaper, and also fair enough for you to reject them.

    As for Ribble they lost my business because they never answered emails, and when I did finally get through on the phone they were disinterested and rude - no way would I have any confidence in them dealing with any problems with my £1k spend, I couldn't believe it - I have a thousand pounds to give them and they don't want it!!!! So I took my money to Planet-X, a breath of fresh air after the Ribble buying experience. That said, the Ribble bike was, on paper, my first choice. I now have a P-X SL Pro Carbon DA build, and it's fabulous!

    By the way, a lot of P-X components (bars, stems, seats) come up cheap on eBay because people are buying the kits and swapping out these items - you could do the same. I got some bars and a seat for £10 a piece (fitted them on another bike though, because I was happy with the ones fitted on my P-X).
  • sturmey
    sturmey Posts: 964
    I understand the frustration of unanswered emails and a disinterested attitude when you are intending to spend a fair bit of money. I have also found the service from Ribble via the phone/website a little unreliable but having been into their shop several times I can say the staff are very helpful.

    It sounds from comments elsewhere that Planet X are good to deal with.It is just a shame that they don't allow a little more freedom of choice with components on their 'bargain' bikes. Because I think this is the main reason why Ribble are taking so much business.All their bikes,right down to the winter training bikes allow you this choice. And it is after all,a fairly important consideration when buying a new bike.
  • avoidingmyphd
    avoidingmyphd Posts: 1,154
    er, Ribble don't let you change their bargain bikes ("special editions") either!
  • sturmey
    sturmey Posts: 964
    <<< er, Ribble don't let you change their bargain bikes ("special editions") either! >>>

    I am afraid you are mistaken.

    Have a look at their website. You can specify all of the following within one of their special edition bike builds:

    Chainset (choice of double,triple or compact)
    Choice of cassette
    Choice of bar width
    Choice of stem length.

    You can't do any of these things with the comparable Planet X bikes.
    That was my whole point.
  • sturmey
    sturmey Posts: 964
    I should know. I bought one!
  • avoidingmyphd
    avoidingmyphd Posts: 1,154
    thanks sturmey, I was indeed basically wrong.

    you can't always choose a triple, but everything else (your list, plus some other stuff like tyre size) is customisable on the ribble specials.

    pleased to be put right.

    sorry ribble!
  • sturmey
    sturmey Posts: 964
    No problem.
    I'm not trying to promote Ribble by the way. I would quite like to have bought a Planet X but it would have meant a custom build which was quite a bit more money.

    To be honest the only other online bikebuilder I am aware of who will give you what size bars,stem etc you want without spending over the odds for a full custom bike is Dave Hinde.
    Yet surely there are others? It would be interesting to hear who they are.
  • majormantra
    majormantra Posts: 2,094
    sturmey wrote:
    No problem.
    I'm not trying to promote Ribble by the way. I would quite like to have bought a Planet X but it would have meant a custom build which was quite a bit more money.

    To be honest the only other online bikebuilder I am aware of who will give you what size bars,stem etc you want without spending over the odds for a full custom bike is Dave Hinde.
    Yet surely there are others? It would be interesting to hear who they are.

    ...who has the most 'interesting' reputation of any outfit mentioned in this thread. Based on some cursory Googling I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

    Matthew

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