My new bike will be a Ribble Sportive

UPGRAYEDD
UPGRAYEDD Posts: 117
edited September 2010 in Road buying advice
Just ordered it, after umming and ahhing about whether or not to get the Gran Fondo (and impressively teding this forum muchly in the process).

Having followed the Competitive Cyclist fit calculator with the help of my ever-patient fiancee, it is apparent that the Sportive is a much better fit all round, even if it isn't quite so pretty.

However, it would appear to be a tad lighter, although TBH, it probably won't make any perceptible difference to me, a hobby cyclist, and by all accounts both are nice rides.

And if I wanted pretty, I'd buy a Palomino instead.

So, will stop boring you all with comparitive study questionnaires, and instead keep you updated with my experiences of buying from Ribble (which might actually be a lot more useful).

Large hurrahs for new purchasements, whether or not we can really justify/afford them!
"A gentleman who goes by the name Upgrayedd. Which he spells thusly, with two D's, as he says, "for a double dose of this pimping."

Comments

  • UPGRAYEDD
    UPGRAYEDD Posts: 117
    Effective use of italics coding above, I see...
    "A gentleman who goes by the name Upgrayedd. Which he spells thusly, with two D's, as he says, "for a double dose of this pimping."
  • t44iskn
    t44iskn Posts: 34
    Good luck with the new bike. I've had mine for a year and am generally very happy with it. The frame's comfortable, stiff enough for me and reasonably light.

    Don't know what size you've gone for (mine's a 58cm), but if it's one of the larger models I'd look to replace the fork. Ribble have specced a 45mm rake fork across the board and this makes the handling very twitchy on the larger sizes with their steeper head angles. Making hand signals going down hill is a scarey experience!

    I've just bought a replacement fork with a 40mm rake, which will increase trail and stabilise things considerably. Of course, if you've gone for a smaller size, this shouldn't be a problem with the shallower head angles.
  • UPGRAYEDD
    UPGRAYEDD Posts: 117
    Thank you - pleased to hear it's doing you proud! What groupset/wheels etc did you opt for? Have you weighed it?

    Cheers for the fork tip. I have gone for the Large (55CM), as the virtual top-tube length suits my required reach, so hopefully no forkage issues ahoy (head tube is 175MM). The 58 XL looks massive on paper! Are you one of 'em tall type folk with gerk long legs?

    Pity about the wait - 3 to 4 weeks - but am sure it'll be worth it.
    "A gentleman who goes by the name Upgrayedd. Which he spells thusly, with two D's, as he says, "for a double dose of this pimping."
  • t44iskn
    t44iskn Posts: 34
    I bought the frame and forks only - transferred the parts across from my previous "best" bike which has now been relegated to a lowly winter bike.

    No idea what it weighs - nothing's light in my size.
  • t44iskn
    t44iskn Posts: 34
    That's easy to answer. The Fondo hadn't been released at the time! Ps: Google the PedalForce RS2. Apparently it's the same as the Sportive, maybe with a different quality carbon.
  • davesvord
    davesvord Posts: 80
    Just got my Gran Fondo today BUT I think is a Sportive painted in Gran Fondo colours!!!! It has straight chain stays and a straight fork??? Can anyone shed any light on this. Are all Gran Fondos now supplied with this frame/fork? I even emailed Ribble to ask I mine would come with a straight fork and they said no it would be a curved one.
  • UPGRAYEDD
    UPGRAYEDD Posts: 117
    Hey Stanley

    The reasons I eventually chose the Sportive over the GF were twofold. Firstly, after having my various limbs etc measured, the Sportive was a better fit for my body dimensions. Comparitively, a Large GF framesize was a bit too small, whilst an XL was too big.

    Secondly, it's a tad lighter (although I probably won't notice the difference).

    Re: Sportive ostensibly painted up as a GF - it seems that various different GF versions keep coming out (someone on here mentioned three this year already). If it is the Sportive painted in GF colours, note point 2 above. If it isn't, and it has straight forks which you aren't bothered about having from an aesthetic POV, it'll more than likely still do you proud. Pretty cheeky if it is the former though - follow it up if any doubts.
    "A gentleman who goes by the name Upgrayedd. Which he spells thusly, with two D's, as he says, "for a double dose of this pimping."
  • UPGRAYEDD
    UPGRAYEDD Posts: 117
    Stanley222 wrote:
    Thanks :wink:

    Did you get measured by Ribble or did you do it yourself?!

    Stanley, I used the recommended fit calculator below, enlisting the help of a competent measurer, a spirit level and a tape measure:

    http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO

    Hope this helps.
    "A gentleman who goes by the name Upgrayedd. Which he spells thusly, with two D's, as he says, "for a double dose of this pimping."
  • UPGRAYEDD
    UPGRAYEDD Posts: 117
    Oh - and no, I didn't get measured up by Ribble, although I have been advised that there is a measuring jig at their warehouse.
    "A gentleman who goes by the name Upgrayedd. Which he spells thusly, with two D's, as he says, "for a double dose of this pimping."
  • cheers drive
    cheers drive Posts: 63
    Stanley222
    I'm in Bristol and have a XL Sportive if you want to try it. No problems with stability at speed.
  • UPGRAYEDD
    UPGRAYEDD Posts: 117
    cheers drive wrote:
    Stanley222
    I'm in Bristol and have a XL Sportive if you want to try it. No problems with stability at speed.

    Heh

    With a name like "cheers drive", you had to be from Brizzle!
    "A gentleman who goes by the name Upgrayedd. Which he spells thusly, with two D's, as he says, "for a double dose of this pimping."
  • UPGRAYEDD
    UPGRAYEDD Posts: 117
    So Stanley, are you coming round to the Sportive now?
    "A gentleman who goes by the name Upgrayedd. Which he spells thusly, with two D's, as he says, "for a double dose of this pimping."
  • cheers drive
    cheers drive Posts: 63
    Stanley222 I've sent you an email.

Categories