Difference between Ribble Sportive Racing and Gran Fondo?

willharris10

I know what you mean. I'm buying (hopefully) a Specialized Tricross Comp of a mate second hand and will use it as a winter and commuting bike. The carbon bike is just for summer and long rides, though if I really get on with it, I may use the Tricross, we'll see.

I used my old Allez Elite to do Carlisle to John O'Groats last year, and I've got a seat-post mounted clamp-on rear pannier set from then and a front box that mounts on the handlebars. It's not as ideal as a touring bike, but I didn't want to buy a full touring bike (though I sort of am now so we'll see!). It's a toss up. Depends how they ride really.

Down/Up

A triple on a tourer is not a bad thing, nothing worse than pushing a loaded bike up a steep hill. If you are going to have two bikes, may as set them up differently. Light wheels, compact gearing, more aggressive position on the full carbon sunny days bike, and a more solid triple setup on the tri cross.

skyd0g

Down/Up wrote:

A triple on a tourer is not a bad thing, nothing worse than pushing a loaded bike up a steep hill. If you are going to have two bikes, may as set them up differently. Light wheels, compact gearing, more aggressive position on the full carbon sunny days bike, and a more solid triple setup on the tri cross.

+1
I'd use the Spec Tricomp for LeJog with panniers & keep whichever Ribble you choose for unladen riding (Sportives etc).

willharris10

By the way, thanks Fungus for that much more helpful post. Good man ;-)

Yeah, it's seriously tempting to get a compact equiped bike with a wide ranging cassette like my old bike. I could buy a Planet X if that was what I wanted. It's a tricky one. It depends how well the Tricross rides. If it's really good, then that may be the way to go. So will have to wait and see. Few weeks away from getting it, if that is, my mate sells it to me. Any shouts on what a 2 / 2.5 yr old Tricross Comp is worth? £1250 new ish. Has Ultegra Triple groupset.

Stevo_666

willharris10 wrote:

Yes I did ring them and they said they had no triples at all. And they said I'd baulk at the price if they tried to source one. That said, they were awesome to talk to.

I had the 50-34 and 11-28 combination before and it doesn't go low enough for me. I actually am a cripple and want a 30-39-52 combo to go with an 11-28 cassette. Sorry, but I know what I need for the hills. I'm not as fit as some of you true cyclists and I don't want to get off and walk. It isn't as pretty as a compact, but I know what real hills are like to climb and I know I need a triple to get up them on a bike ladden with front and rear panniers. LEJOG in June.

OK, not necessarily a case of you being less fit - sounds like you have some steep Scottish hills to climb. You could always source a triple for them but I guess this would make it a non-standard build and push the price up anyway?

willharris10

This is the problem. i tell you, getting a light compact double for the summer would be so nice, if the tricross handles the LEJOG, only way to find out is to live with it for a while, though it's a bit heavier than a Ribble or Planet X carbon bike, and I already have the panniers to not need to have pannier points on the frame. So I can do either. Still rather have a triple and have the option. Scotland is rather hilly and I've heard that Dartmoor / Cornwall are very hilly on day one and two.

thv3

You know I think people are missing something here.

Ribble are sold out until May, they are obviously selling these bikes faster than they can build them which explains why their website is not as polished as it could be.

Personally I bought a Sportive last year and have been extremely happy with it. Great value for money and would guess I would have been just as happy with the Gran Fondo. I again would suggest you give them a bell, I talked my order over with someone very helpful with my particular queries.

I don't think there is a loser here. The two frames are different, but not so different as to exclude one from activities the other could handle (on similar builds).

willharris10

Got this response from Ribble:

There are minimal differences between the two frames, the most obvious are the colour scheme, the rear triangle design and the slightly heavier weight of the Gran Fondo. However the main benefit of the Gran Fondo is the Italian design of the frame from Dedacciai.

So, as I like the colour scheme of the Gran Fondo, I will be ordering one of these! The extra weight, will hopefully have gone into a more sturdy and robust frame. I'd rather it were stronger and tougher, than lighter and more brittle.

ajb72

That is the most rediculous response from Ribble I have ever heard!!! I genuinely feel sorry for you Will as it sound like you are doing your level best to research you options, but you have been fed a load of drivel here.

Both frames are made by Dedacciai!! To suggest that the Gran Fond is stronger or that being lighter makes the Sportive 'brittle' is laughable and supported by absolutely zero technical information. It sounds like someone without the foggiest actual idea about either frame has fobbed you off with utter nonesence and I seriously hope you don't base your decision on this information alone.

Buy the GF because you like the colour and style and are not worries by 200 or so grams of weight, but please don't buy it simply because some plonker has told you it's 'more robust because it is heavier'!! As mentioned several posts earlier, much of the weight difference comes down to the forks and has no baring at all on the strength of the frame itself.

willharris10

Errrr, actually that was me. Only the first paragraph was from Ribble. I'm just guessing that as the two frames come from different suppliers (at least that's what it sounds like from Ribble) there are likely to be differences in the construction even if they are of a similar geometry. I think that's what Ribble were getting at. In the end, I'd rather go for a more robust frame and indeed forks, as I plan to ride this bike for over a decade. I don't need it to weigh next to nothing, just to ride nicely and last. I do prefer the Gran Fondo paint job, that's for sure and if Ribble think the Dedacciai frame is a corker, then why should I ask anything more? Sounds like enough reasons to choose a Gran Fondo for me. No?

ajb72

Same manufacturer, same supplier!! Sounds like you've made your decision anyway and the GF is a great frame, your reasons for getting there are a bit strange and if I were looking for something 'robust' as my priority over weight, then I'm not sure a carbon frame is the answer anyway.

Still, it will look great so hope you enjoy it.

willharris10

Thanks very much. In the end, I'll learn to live with it, whatever it's like. I just want it to fit like a glove and ride wonderfully. Not too much to ask ;-) hehe. Oh well. Deed is done now. Just have to go and buy some peddles now. Decided it wasn't worth specifying with the bike. Will have a hunt around and see what's out there from Look.

Here's the spec I went for:

Ribble Gran Fondo Carbon Road Frame M (51cm C to Top)
Ribble Gran Fondo Carbon Road Forks 1 1/8" ITS
Ribble Headset Unbranded 1 1/8" Hidden (ITS) 45 x 45
Shimano Ultegra 6700 10 Spd Triple Groupset
Shimano 6700 BB Cups (Ultegra 10 double/triple) Eng
Shimano Ultegra 10 Spd 6700 Brakes
Shimano 10 Spd Ultegra 6700 Cassette 11-28
Shimano 10 Spd 6700 Ultegra Chain
Shimano Ultegra Triple 6703 10 Spd Chainset 170 30/39/52
Shimano Ultegra 6703 10 Triple Front Gr Braze-on
Shimano Ultegra 6700 Rear Gear MD
Shimano STI Levers Ultegra 6700 10 with Cables Triple
Pro-Lite Pair Wheels Luciano Clincher Black 8/9/10 Shim
Pro Vibe 7S (31.8) Anatomic Handlebars Black 42cm
Pro Vibe 7S (31.8) Handlebar Stem Black 120mm
Fizik Arione (Kium Rails) Saddle White
CSN Carbon S.E. Seatpillar 31.6 400mm
Continental GP 4 Season Folding Tyre 700x23mm Black/Black
Continental Race 28 Inner Tube 700x18/25 SV42mm
Cinelli Cork Ribbon Handlebar Tape Red
No Pedals currently selected

rokkala

ajb72 wrote:

Same manufacturer, same supplier!! Sounds like you've made your decision anyway and the GF is a great frame, your reasons for getting there are a bit strange and if I were looking for something 'robust' as my priority over weight, then I'm not sure a carbon frame is the answer anyway.

Still, it will look great so hope you enjoy it.

They aren't the same manufacturer though, are they?

As far as i was aware the Sportive frame is from Pedalforce:

http://pedalforce.com/online/product_in ... eecc224934

Reviews of that frame on that link too will, if you want to have a read.

Both will be good bikes though, so just go for what you want more or you'll just end up forever thinking 'what if'.

BigSpecs

The Sportive is made in the Far East (Taiwan?) you can find it un-badged if you google well enough direct from the manufacturer. It is not a Deda frame.
The Gran Fondo is a Deda frame and is identical to the Ribelle. The GF has an alloy steerer to the fork, whereas the Sportive fork is all carbon. This is part of the reason that the GF builds up to a heavier bike.
BTW Will....red bar tape on a white bike??????????
Cheers,
Col.

willharris10

Well..... there is some red detailing on the bike :-s

Actually, truth be told, I usually lay a second layer of cork over the original tape as I like an extra layer of cushioning, so the tape colour was mostly academic. I may well go for white, as in the photos on Ribble's site. Looks muchos sexy if you ask me. But we'll see. Red is kind of bling. In the words of Borat; I liiiiike.

ajb72

No, the Sportive is also a Deda frame, like most of Ribble's carbon bikes. - http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/assets/im ... heyear.gif

It used to be mentioned on the Ribble website and was confirmed to me by Ribble back in August. I would suggest they are both made in the Far East - but doesn't that apply to 90% of carbon frames these days?!

Maybe Pedal Force are importing the same frame and re-branding it, just like Ribble. If you read the blurb on their website it says 'Made by the same factory whose clients include some of the world's leading European brands', it certainly doesn't suggest they make them themselves.

It is remarkably similar to the sportive, got to both be Deda I reckon, which is no bad thing

rokkala

Happy days then.

will, if your going to be doing long rides and things like LEJOG in June on this bike, wouldn't you be better off with some 25mm tyres for added comfort?

acidstrato

*cough *cough

"Crafted in Italy" :twisted:

true or not i don't care, my alu Giant was made in taiwan or somewhere alike and its as strong as the day i bought it.

however, i gotta be honest i didnt think thesportive was a deda frame either. its not badged as one or listed on deda's site. i have no other reasons to believe its not though

nice spec will, you wont be dissappointed! i have the same groupset and i really like it. but when i ordered mine it was available with deda trim and rs20 wheels. I've swapped the wheels now and the saddle. still saving for a new deda stem and seatpost

fungus_the_muffin_man

Congrats on making your choice will. I'm pretty jealous of you to be honest. As much as I love my italian princess Bianchi. Had the ribelle had that colour scheme I'd have got it straight away.

I'll just have to find out what sportives your doing this year now so I can beat you and justify to myself that my Bianchi is better

willharris10

Hahaha, Lands End to John O'Groats in June. You're welcome to race me ;-)

16mm

Have you thought of emailing ribble to check that the frame warranty is valid if you attach fully laden panniers with p clips?

willharris10

Good question. My panniers are a seat-post mounted cantelever set, so they don't put strain on anything except the seat post and the down tube and bolt. Having said that, I'm looking to buy a 2008 Specialized Tricross Comp second hand off a mate, who just happens to have one in my size barely used. If he'll accept a fair price, I'll probably use that for LEJOG and save my carbon bike for unlaiden rides in fair weather. As I commute by bike, the Tricross would be my all weather and commuting bike / touring bike and the Ribble my baby that stays indoors in the dry! ;-) I have no doubt you all would do the same. It's a big investment for me this year in two wheels, but hopefully one I only have to make once, all being well.

As for LEJOG, I did Carlisle to JOG last year on my old Allez Elite and used the same 700x23 tyres, though they were Grand Prix 4000s and this time I've gone for the slightly tougher and stronger 4000 Four Season model. I'd rather have them for LEJOG and will equip the Tricross with a heavier road tyre to be able to tackle river paths and potholes, but will maybe get some 700x25s for LEJOG. Like to run at around 120psi on 23s, so will aim for 110psi on 25s I guess.

rolf_f

acidstrato wrote:

*cough *cough

"Crafted in Italy" :twisted:

I believe Deda frames are all Taiwanese though they may be built as sub assemblies which are then put together in Italy. As AJB72 says 90% (probably more like 99%) of frames are made in the Far East. My attempts to get a fully Italian frame bike proved far more complicated than the manufacturers own literature implied so I have gone French - a bike I can guarantee hasn't been further East than I have

I think there are a lot of deliberately vague terms used by the manufacturers to fool us into thinking we are buying something we aren't - 'Crafted in Italy' seems like a good example!

willharris10

Hahaha, nice one Rolf. It is sad that we've not made more of our F1 heritage and skills in high tech materials to keep production local for Carbon Fibre. It's sad that only the far east can make stuff so cheaply that we can get carbon frames at such low prices. Planet X, Ribble etc wouldn't be able to do it otherwise I guess. Depends on the level of automation. We have high labour costs and high real estate costs, the rest should be similar across continents in terms of inputs. Real Estate cost blends away if you really make the most of your space and the more technology the people control, the less the people cost is a factor, so high tech, high value add stuff should be feasable locally. We just don't do enough to encourage it through incentives, tax breaks and genuine help to keep production in the UK. That's my view on all this.

Still, maybe we can do the audit for these growing Chinese businesses ;-) Grrrrrr.

fungus_the_muffin_man

willharris10 wrote:

Hahaha, Lands End to John O'Groats in June. You're welcome to race me ;-)

Unfortunately I will be doing the L2P in June. We'll have to save the race for another day

willharris10

L2P is something I'd love to do in the future. Easier to arrange to do it supported, than a long ride like LEJOG. Hope you have a wonderful time!

rake

you dont want a bike named after a fondo-set.

willharris10

Haha. Least they didn't call it the Raclette. Ribble Raclette. Nice ring to it, but a bit cheesy.

fungus_the_muffin_man

That joke stinks