Cannondale Six 105 vs Ribble or any other at the price

willharris10
willharris10 Posts: 166
edited April 2010 in Road buying advice
Cycling Plus have just awarded the Cannondale Carbon Six 105 their Bike of the Year award. It costs about £1800 and beat bikes costing up to £2500. They say it's outstanding, in spite of the 105 groupset.

The Ultegra version is about £2200.

So, my question is this: if the frame and wheels can have such a huge impact on the performance of the bike, well in excess of the groupset decision, which is the bike to go for, the Cannondale Carbon Six with 105 groupset at about £1800 or the Ribble Gran Fondo with a full Ultegra groupset and Pro-Lite Luciano wheels at £1600.

Can't see a review of the Ribble frame or bike anywhere, so no idea how it's meant to stack up, but the Cannondale is supposed to be amazing, so what would you all suggest?
Summer - Cannondale Six Ultegra
Winter - Condor Bivio - cyclocross bike for commuting, cycle paths & rainy days - brilliant

LBS - Sigma Sport in Hampton Wick - Simply the best LBS
Stolen - 2001 Specialized Allez Elite :-(

Comments

  • I wouldn't be suprised if Cannondale paid a fair few quid for that review
  • careful
    careful Posts: 720
    Apart from a few grammes I dont find any practical difference between 105 and Ultegra. Best solution is to have a look at both bilkes and if possible get a test ride. Not sure about money changing hands with C+ tests but I would never take the results too seriously, they are a useful generasl guide but we are all different.
  • I read it, and thought of all the CAAD9 reviews, TBH I would have the "dale" over my boardman or the ribble...
  • Thanks Guys. The hard part is not being able to test ride the Ribble. 105 vs Ultegra isn't too big a deal. The vital part for me is being able to order it in a triple and you can with them both. Though I'd want to change out the cassette on the Cannondale from a 12-25 to a 12-27 before taking it away.

    Also there are no details on the stem length on Cannondale's geometry data that I could spot. Knowing my sizes and ideal geometry I can choose the right size bike, but wonder whether I'll need to swap out the tube, may as well find out and do it from new.

    Magazine adverts is an old story and not one for this thread please. I want to know what you all think about the bikes, not what you think about the mag's motivations. Considering the amount of praise Cannondale get for the CAAD9 on here, I'd be surprised if there was anything fishy in awarding Bike of the Year to the Six. But that's just my opinion. Please would anyone with experience here, chip in and lend your knowledge on the Cannondale and Ribble. Cheers.
    Summer - Cannondale Six Ultegra
    Winter - Condor Bivio - cyclocross bike for commuting, cycle paths & rainy days - brilliant

    LBS - Sigma Sport in Hampton Wick - Simply the best LBS
    Stolen - 2001 Specialized Allez Elite :-(
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    Ribble buy in their frames from companies like Deda. You might find a review if you look for the frame in a non-Ribble guise...worth a look.

    Ribbles are great value. I rode a Nero Corsa and thought it was great.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • Ands
    Ands Posts: 1,437
    Just bought a Six Carbon 105 (2009 version). What version is 'bike of the year' - 2010 presumably? I paid less than £1300 for mine. I have a 52cm - it came with a 10cm stem.

    I can't really comment on ride quality as I've not ridden it properly yet - waiting for a dry day!
  • If I had the wonga, I'd have the Dale
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Defo the Cannondale...
  • The 2010 and 2009 are meant to be a little different in the carbon lay-up of the kit. That's all as far as I can tell from the review. Best to read this months Cycling Plus.

    Thanks for all your comments. Very interesting. Shame my LBS don't do Cannondale from the look of it. Grrrrr.

    Question is whether to buy the 105 or Ultegra. Is there much difference? Wheels are better in the Ultegra set-up but it's an extra £400.
    Summer - Cannondale Six Ultegra
    Winter - Condor Bivio - cyclocross bike for commuting, cycle paths & rainy days - brilliant

    LBS - Sigma Sport in Hampton Wick - Simply the best LBS
    Stolen - 2001 Specialized Allez Elite :-(
  • TommyEss
    TommyEss Posts: 1,855
    Why not get the 105 version, see how you get on, and then if you want to, upgrade the wheels when you find a good deal? I managed to pick up some 2009 Fulcrum R3s for under £300, when the rrp's £500.

    As for stem length - if you buy it from a shop, rather than online, they should be able to switch it out for a longer one no probs if you ask them.
    Cannondale Synapse 105, Giant Defy 3, Giant Omnium, Giant Trance X2, EMC R1.0, Ridgeback Platinum, On One Il Pompino...
  • May as well just buy the right one first time. No point buying wheels I'll later upgrade. I know myself pretty well. I'll stick with whatever I buy for the next ten years, so I may as well get it right first time. Only question is, Ribble, or Six 105 or Six Ultegra. £1600 or 1800 or 2200. Big jumps. So question is, does the performance jump too?
    Summer - Cannondale Six Ultegra
    Winter - Condor Bivio - cyclocross bike for commuting, cycle paths & rainy days - brilliant

    LBS - Sigma Sport in Hampton Wick - Simply the best LBS
    Stolen - 2001 Specialized Allez Elite :-(
  • Evil Laugh
    Evil Laugh Posts: 1,412
    Assuming you're decided on the frame I think tyres, wheels and brake pads are where you'll feel the most difference or benefit.

    Other people one here may disagree and I'm not the most experienced cyclist but having recently upgraded tyres, pads, wheels and groupset I'd put the groupset upgrade at the bottom of the list in terms of improvement felt, regardless of cost.

    My bike looks nicer now with the new groupset but when riding it's wheels/tyres and breaks where I really see the difference in feel and performance.

    It's easy to get caught up in the whole groupset hierarchy dick waving contest but presuming they work as intended I don't really think there's much to tell apart except when comparing looks or comparing parts online or down the pub with your mates. It's an easy way to say this bike is better etc as there's a definite hierarchy to refer to.

    If you think Rival for example costs about £400 and Red costs £1000 you'd (or say the average amateur rider) probably not get much difference in performance, if any, but spend that extra £600 on wheels, tyres and pads, even a better fitting saddle and your bike would feel like a totally different machine, you'd be grinning from ear to ear.

    IMO
  • Good advice, thanks. Easier to do with a Ribble, where you can specify the areas to upgrade from the start than a made-up bike like a 'Dale. But suggests that the 105 is where to start and the wheels, tyres and pads would be your suggestions thereafter. Will bear it in mind when ordering.

    Have a short wait until May/June until the next C2W scheme begins at work and so can't order till then. Have cancelled my Ribble order as I was asking them to hold it up anyway until then and will re-visit whether to go Ribble or 'Dale nearer the time. Pointless actually placing the order now, even if it feels good. May as well wait till I can press the button!

    W
    Summer - Cannondale Six Ultegra
    Winter - Condor Bivio - cyclocross bike for commuting, cycle paths & rainy days - brilliant

    LBS - Sigma Sport in Hampton Wick - Simply the best LBS
    Stolen - 2001 Specialized Allez Elite :-(
  • Evil Laugh
    Evil Laugh Posts: 1,412
    It's just my opinion.

    A decent shop would negotiate replacing parts even on a stock bike like the cannondale.

    You've got plenty of time to figure it out, go and try some different bikes of different specs and see what you think. Discounts on 2010 models will probably start June, I got 25% off my Cannondale at that sort of time last year. Whether you'll get that with a C2W would depend on the shop I guess and your negotiatin skills.

    You won't really be able to test different brakes and tyres but I think if you speak to other more experienced people on here you'll get a good idea of what improvements will be seen.

    They're comparatively cheap upgrades that can be done at any time though and are parts that have to be replaced at some point anyway.
  • if you can afford it go for Ultegra version as the wheels are better albeit not great. Don't discount the Scott cr1 2010, I recently rode the Scott and was impressed, the equipment is good too. Would take canondale over the ribble.
  • Thanks mate. Think I'm going to do just that. The Ultegra is what I've always been after. I'd rather spend a bit more and never look back, than have to think about upgrades. Pedals are bought and ready (Look Keo 2 Max White) and I just need our C2W scheme to start and I'm down to the LBS, though not my favourite one sadly as they don't sell Cannondale. I'll have to go to Evans and just accept it. At least they're a big company and I should have the benefit of the big firm on servicing the guarantee etc etc. But none of the brilliance of Sigma Sport who are in another league altogether. Oh well, they'll be getting it for servicing after it's first tighten-up at Evans.
    Summer - Cannondale Six Ultegra
    Winter - Condor Bivio - cyclocross bike for commuting, cycle paths & rainy days - brilliant

    LBS - Sigma Sport in Hampton Wick - Simply the best LBS
    Stolen - 2001 Specialized Allez Elite :-(
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    May as well just buy the right one first time. No point buying wheels I'll later upgrade. I know myself pretty well. I'll stick with whatever I buy for the next ten years, so I may as well get it right first time. Only question is, Ribble, or Six 105 or Six Ultegra. £1600 or 1800 or 2200. Big jumps. So question is, does the performance jump too?

    You know that wheels wear out don't you? So if you're going to be using this bike a lot you're going to need to replace them at some point anyway.
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  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    Or you could get the 105 spec and spend £400 on wheels, I guess this would give you a better jump in preformance over a slightly lighter groupset.
  • It has arrived. And it's gorgeous. Couldn't be happier. Triple is interesting. Runs very smoothly and will be looked after and cosseted. Hopefully to last me the next 10-15 years baring thieves like my last bike!
    Summer - Cannondale Six Ultegra
    Winter - Condor Bivio - cyclocross bike for commuting, cycle paths & rainy days - brilliant

    LBS - Sigma Sport in Hampton Wick - Simply the best LBS
    Stolen - 2001 Specialized Allez Elite :-(
  • Westerberg
    Westerberg Posts: 652
    It has arrived. And it's gorgeous. Couldn't be happier. Triple is interesting. Runs very smoothly and will be looked after and cosseted. Hopefully to last me the next 10-15 years baring thieves like my last bike!
    Will - get some pictures up! I'm getting the Six 105 too and will look to upgrade wheels when I have the cash. PS - you are Matthew Broderick aicm £5!
  • Don't know how to insert photos, though I have taken some. V.V.V.V. Nice!
    Summer - Cannondale Six Ultegra
    Winter - Condor Bivio - cyclocross bike for commuting, cycle paths & rainy days - brilliant

    LBS - Sigma Sport in Hampton Wick - Simply the best LBS
    Stolen - 2001 Specialized Allez Elite :-(
  • And yes, I do look like Ferris Beuller. What does "aicm" stand for?
    Summer - Cannondale Six Ultegra
    Winter - Condor Bivio - cyclocross bike for commuting, cycle paths & rainy days - brilliant

    LBS - Sigma Sport in Hampton Wick - Simply the best LBS
    Stolen - 2001 Specialized Allez Elite :-(
  • Westerberg
    Westerberg Posts: 652
    And yes, I do look like Ferris Beuller. What does "aicm" stand for?
    And I Claim My

    or else Australian Institute of Credit Management ;)

    You'd have to upload the pics to somewhere like ImageShack then link to them in a thread. Interested as I'm still thinking about going for the Ultegra vs the 105 but I do like the black colour of the 105!
  • Ands
    Ands Posts: 1,437
    Westerberg wrote:
    And yes, I do look like Ferris Beuller. What does "aicm" stand for?
    And I Claim My

    or else Australian Institute of Credit Management ;)

    You'd have to upload the pics to somewhere like ImageShack then link to them in a thread. Interested as I'm still thinking about going for the Ultegra vs the 105 but I do like the black colour of the 105!
    Saw that in the lbs at the weekend and it's luvvverly. The new 2010 Aksiums look nice too.

    Will - get your pics up!!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    The black (105) is possibly my favourite looking frame at the moment...
  • micken
    micken Posts: 275
    Cycling Plus have just awarded the Cannondale Carbon Six 105 their Bike of the Year award. It costs about £1800 and beat bikes costing up to £2500. They say it's outstanding, in spite of the 105 groupset.

    Has this review been published? If so could you provide a link or volume/edition for the magazine?

    I have a warranty claim on a Six13 frame and have been offered a Six Carbon as replacement. I was not so keen on the 2009 frame but I am hoping to test ride the 2010 bike this week. It's a tough call since it's a cosmetic issue on the team frame and I love the way it handles. If the 2010 frame handles as well then I might just be tempted.

    I have the 105 groupset on a compact and it's OK if set up well and looked after

    Mick