Ribble Audax Sizing

Dalton
Dalton Posts: 265
edited September 2010 in Commuting general
Seriously considering purchasing a Ribble Audax for my year round commute (still trying to decide whether I would prefer a Langster!).

Anyway, I am seriously confused with the sizing.

Specifically, I am 5ft 6ins tall, with an inseam of 78cm. So according to Ribble's Bikebuilder - will need to order a 50cm frame. Does this sound about right?

Ribble recommend a 100mm Stem on a 50cm framed bike, however I have shorter than average reach - so would I need a longer stem 110mm - or a shorter stem 90mm??

Having a blonde day I think!

Any help would be appreciated, also if any of you have Ribbles - how do they compare to road bikes size wise. I ask as I have a Trek 1.2T, which fits me about right, that is a 52cm frame.

Thanks.

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I would ring Ribble up and go through it with them if you can't try the bike first. A smaller frame size may be what you need.

    Or compare the geometry directly, paying partticular attention to effective top tube length.
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  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    I went with with Ribbles inseam indicator of frame size when I bought my 7005 Horizontal a couple of months back and it fits fine. I'm about 6'3" and I bought a 58cm frame. Kinda wish I'd gone with a slightly longer stem, but it's not that bad. The bike has been very good.

    To get a decent enough frame with carbon forks and full Tiagra group for £570 in today's market is the best value you'll get. Other brands like Specialized, Trek etc can't come close in terms of value. My bottom bracket seemed to be creaking a bit when I 1st bought it and I was on the verge of fiddling with it to try to sort it out, however last weekend I gave the bike a good old clean and the creaking has gone.
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  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    supersonic wrote:
    I would ring Ribble up and go through it with them if you can't try the bike first. A smaller frame size may be what you need.

    Or compare the geometry directly, paying partticular attention to effective top tube length.

    Ribble are hard to reach on the phone IME, they barely ever answer their sales line. Sometimes you get more luck by email, but even then they're pretty slow to respond. If you can get up to their premises up north, they will do a full bike fit for you...

    Full geometries are listed on the website
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  • Dalton
    Dalton Posts: 265
    Thanks for replies!

    I did email Ribble, they got back to me the same day. Confirming 50cm frame would suit me along with a shorter stem.

    Still trying to decide whether to purchase a Ribble or a fixed gear bike like the Langster. I basically want to cycle throughout the winter with as little fuss as possible.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    I'm 5;7" and run a 11cm stem on a 50cm Ribble audax

    4852130895_a41ec58b74.jpg

    I have a Langster too
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  • Dalton
    Dalton Posts: 265
    redddraggon wrote:
    I'm 5;7" and run a 11cm stem on a 50cm Ribble audax

    4852130895_a41ec58b74.jpg

    I have a Langster too

    Thanks! But you are not helping. :lol:

    Do you use the Ribble to commute? What groupset do you have - Campagnolo? Would you recommend the bike in general?

    Judging by the photo size wise a 50cm would be spot on as you are roughly the same height.

    And finally, what about the langster? Should I get that instead? :lol:
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    The langster is my commuting bike really. Whether or not you go fixed for commuting would depend on the terrain. My commute will be around 3 miles from Fallowfield to Manchester City Centre, so it's pretty flat.

    My ribble is supposed to be my "winter bike", but it hasn't really worked out like that, I've used it all year round, and I've been pretty happy with it. It's got a mix of Veloce and Centaur on it. The only issue with the ribble is the lack of clearance, 23mm with mudguards will just fit, but much than that will be tight.
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  • Dalton
    Dalton Posts: 265
    My commute is pretty much flat - 7 miles each way.

    I find it strange you mention lack of clearance with the Ribble, as the Audax comes with mudguards fitted?

    My latest thinking is that I am leaning towards a single speed, as if I was to purchase a Ribble I may not ride my Trek anymore!
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    You wanna go fixed not single speed.

    The Ribble will fit guards and 25mm tyres just, it's very tight, but 23mm is fine.
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  • Canny Jock
    Canny Jock Posts: 1,051
    Agree with most of the above, I'm 5'8 with a 52cm Ribble, stem length will depend on you but I think you sould be OK with 50cm - certainly no bigger.

    Clearance is tight on the front with 25c tyres - I can just get Crud's on but literally 1mm clearance because of the front brake position. Rear is fine.
  • Dalton
    Dalton Posts: 265
    So, was almost ready to press the button on purchasing a Ribble, when I spotted the Focus Mare Comp on Wiggle's site...

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus ... 360045313/

    So now have a new dilemma - would this be a suitable competitor for the Ribble?

    Anybody got one?

    If I still go for the Ribble, would it be better to go with the Shimano Tiagra, or Campag Xenon/ Veloce?
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    The Mares is a cross bike I think so it'll be slightly chunkier, heavier and stronger than the Ribble I assume. The forks are alloy rather than carbon. The frame is 6061 aluminium rather than 7005, which the Ribble is I think. I think 6061 is better quality aluminium, however the Ribble audax fram is double or triple butted.

    The gearing on the Mares is likely to be wider, designed for hard, offroad uphils, rather than close ratio for road use, it's also a compact rather than a proper chainring set, again better for offroad. The groupset on the Mares is mostly Tiagra it seems, but not all. The Ribble is all Tiagra at around that price and has a Holllowtech bottom bracket. Not sure what BB the Mares has.

    Personally unless you're considering going offroad I would stick with the Ribble Audax if the prices haven't gone up, however you do know that there is about a 4-5 week waiting time on delivery, don't you?
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  • PeterBL
    PeterBL Posts: 209
    Canny Jock wrote:
    Clearance is tight on the front with 25c tyres - I can just get Crud's on but literally 1mm clearance because of the front brake position. Rear is fine.
    Does the mudguard touch the frame or the brake? If it is the brake, there are diffenrences between brakes as to how much clearance they give. If you want more clearance, maybe try Apex brakes. They have a higher pivotpoint and give space for 28mm tyres with a standard reach brake.
  • Dalton
    Dalton Posts: 265
    Just a little update!

    I decided against the Ribble in the end, I figured that I could just stick with my Trek 1.2T, so have purchased some mudguards (SKS White of course) and some better tyres. Just about to order a pannier rack and will be sorted.

    However, I did splash out on a 2010 - Specialized Langster today, couldn't resist it as was 20% off at my LBS, so got it for £359. Result! Just been out for a test ride and I love it, not tried fixed gear yet, but that is the intention.

    So I now have TWO options for my commute - Spesh on fair weather days and Trek when it is nasty.

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