Ribble Evo Pro Carbon Frame and Fork just £334.42

petemadoc

With the extra 7% off they're offering on top of the current discount this seems like a daft price for a carbon frame and fork inc delivery charges £334.42

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/showPart. ... R930&bike=

Any opinions on this frame or from Ribble bike owners?

Black

is this a Race frame or sportive type?

bartolli

Had mine delivered last week.

On the kitchen scales the frame (Small) weighs in at about 1080g. Not bad for under £350 delivered.

It's not the most interesting frame ever, and the fork has an alloy steerer but I don't think you can get better for the cash.

Currently building up with SRAM Red at home. Should be nice once I'm done.

petemadoc

Is it the Pro Evo fork that has the Alloy steerer? I think you have to buy the frame on offer with this fork.

What do you mean by not an interesting frame?

bartolli

It's just 6 tubes. No nice tapering or aero bits.

It is the Ribble black fork with the alloy steerer.

andyrr

I've been sooo tempted by this : pretty amazing price - if I was picky I'd sell the fork and get a full-carbon one but that then starts to negate the serious cheapness.

Now slightly O.T. :
I'd been looking at a Chinese/Taiwanese frame from Ebay or one of the sellers listed on the Alibaba website but buying from a UK supplied obviously makes things easier if any problems arise.
Sizing is a little confusing (as has been discussed in another thread) but that could be cleared up with a phone call I'm sure.
Chinese direct suppliers such as Hongfu and Greatkeen seem to get pretty decent reps (on roadbikereview for example) and I've been quoted around £320 to the door for frame/fork/h'set which is cheaper but potentially I'll have customs etc to add on of unknown value - I got stung for around £90 when I bought my Taiwanese TT frame a couple of years ago but back then I also got charged something like £75 bank charges and £75 shipping.

Menat to say :
Not seen too many comemnts from owners of this frame - I'm guessing it is standard headset, 1 1/8 top and bottom (not supplied ?), I quite fancy going to the 1 1/2 or 1 1/4 plus BB30 but that's just lust for the newer frame types.

petemadoc

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is the cheapest carbon bike on the market at the moment

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/specialed ... ERC&bike=1

£890 with Shimano 105

Struggling to find reviews but it did get a good one from bikeradar

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... n-10-37562

Tempted to spend the extra and just have two bikes.

Regarding the frame being a bit dull, I can see your point but under £1500 can anyone show me a frame that does look a bit sexier?

petemadoc

andyrr wrote:

I've been sooo tempted by this : pretty amazing price - if I was picky I'd sell the fork and get a full-carbon one but that then starts to negate the serious cheapness.

Now slightly O.T. :
I'd been looking at a Chinese/Taiwanese frame from Ebay or one of the sellers listed on the Alibaba website but buying from a UK supplied obviously makes things easier if any problems arise.
Sizing is a little confusing (as has been discussed in another thread) but that could be cleared up with a phone call I'm sure.
Chinese direct suppliers such as Hongfu and Greatkeen seem to get pretty decent reps (on roadbikereview for example) and I've been quoted around £320 to the door for frame/fork/h'set which is cheaper but potentially I'll have customs etc to add on of unknown value - I got stung for around £90 when I bought my Taiwanese TT frame a couple of years ago but back then I also got charged something like £75 bank charges and £75 shipping.

Menat to say :
Not seen too many comemnts from owners of this frame - I'm guessing it is standard headset, 1 1/8 top and bottom (not supplied ?), I quite fancy going to the 1 1/2 or 1 1/4 plus BB30 but that's just lust for the newer frame types.

Have you got a link to the frame your looking at. For that saving it doesn't really sound like it's worth it.

sub55

people never learn
you get wot you pay for
:evil:

petemadoc

sub55 wrote:

people never learn
you get wot you pay for
:evil:

Are you saying the ribble frame is rubbish or the dodgy foreign one.

andyrr

'Dodgy' Asian ones discussed (with many positive comments) on weightweenies
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum ... =3&t=63895
and roadbikereview
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showth ... 331&page=1
(that one extends to 51 pages at present)

It seems widely believed that these generic frames are likely the exact same as some of the big brand names, my attitude to such as frame would be that, for example if it appeared to be exactly the same as a big brand's frame that retailed at £1500 then at ££400 I am not getting the same frame for £1100 less but am getting a good frame at a very low price. It may be that the brand name frame has some subtle differences, different layups, resin etc but having paid around £500 2 or 3 years ago for a frame that was marketed as various brand names for a few hundred £ more then I am happy to do the same sort of thing again.
I quite fancy the idea of getting more current CF frame technology inc. BB30, differential headtube diameters etc, the Ribble Evo seems a really nice frame but it is not 'current' - not bad or sub-standard in anyway IMHO.

petemadoc

andyrr wrote:

'Dodgy' Asian ones discussed (with many positive comments) on weightweenies
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum ... =3&t=63895
and roadbikereview
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showth ... 331&page=1
(that one extends to 51 pages at present)

It seems widely believed that these generic frames are likely the exact same as some of the big brand names, my attitude to such as frame would be that, for example if it appeared to be exactly the same as a big brand's frame that retailed at £1500 then at ££400 I am not getting the same frame for £1100 less but am getting a good frame at a very low price. It may be that the brand name frame has some subtle differences, different layups, resin etc but having paid around £500 2 or 3 years ago for a frame that was marketed as various brand names for a few hundred £ more then I am happy to do the same sort of thing again.
I quite fancy the idea of getting more current CF frame technology inc. BB30, differential headtube diameters etc, the Ribble Evo seems a really nice frame but it is not 'current' - not bad or sub-standard in anyway IMHO.

OK I'm getting a bit confused by all this now. Where do you buy one of these generic or OEM frames that is 'current'? Is it just ebay? I'm guessing the reason the ribble frame is so cheap is because it's old technology. The newer frames look smoother and less like tubes stuck together.

andyrr

For dengfu for example :
http://dengfubikes.com
eg
http://dengfubikes.com/product.asp?id=1&classid=21

ISP seat post, claimed 1050g 1 1/2 / 1 1/8 headtube, BSA or BB30

hongfu :
http://www.hongfu-bikes.com/Products.asp?Id=399
Claimed 1000g

A case of contacting them direct to discuss requirements, eg paint, availability of a particular size, etc

I've seen a few reports about dodgy some sellers on the alibaba site which seems to be a big marketplace so it seems that you'd be wise to research the suppliers that people have reported good dealings with then contact them before placing an order.

andyrr

Bartolli wrote:

Had mine delivered last week.

On the kitchen scales the frame (Small) weighs in at about 1080g. Not bad for under £350 delivered.

It's not the most interesting frame ever, and the fork has an alloy steerer but I don't think you can get better for the cash.

Currently building up with SRAM Red at home. Should be nice once I'm done.

Ride report yet ?

JohnnyAllez

PeteMadoc wrote:

Regarding the frame being a bit dull, I can see your point but under £1500 can anyone show me a frame that does look a bit sexier?

The Ribble Gran Fondo or Carbon Sportive frames are a lot "sexier" looking for not a lot more, if that`s what you want, look very nice in the flesh They both build up into bikes under £1500, obviously depending on spec.

rolf_f

PeteMadoc wrote:

Regarding the frame being a bit dull, I can see your point but under £1500 can anyone show me a frame that does look a bit sexier?

Yep - Ribbles Gran Fondo and Sportive Racing for example. Both look interesting if you like curvy frames

Frames are about £450 inc fork at teh moment. I have a Gran Fondo with full Centaur on order for £1100. Mind you, I prefer lugged frames!

Phate

Been looking at the evo pro through cyclescheme so have a grand limit, looks like I can get the Evo Pro with SRAM Rival and upgrade a few bits like saddle, seatpost etc or would I be better going for the Sportive with Campag Veloce 10 ??

pianoman

You could always go with a reputable aluminium framed bike from a reputable company, there's loads of choice out there. And entry-level carbon was pretty boring in my experience when I took one for a test ride.

Do yourself a favour and choose something like this (check out the Xperience or Dinamo models):
http://www.chickencycles.co.uk/index.ph ... ub=2&ord=2

or this:
http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/produc ... rtno=39099

Both look interesting if you like curvy frames

But not only frames, LOL

rolf_f

PianoMan wrote:

You could always go with a reputable aluminium framed bike from a reputable company, there's loads of choice out there. And entry-level carbon was pretty boring in my experience when I took one for a test ride.

But aluminium is just a bit, well........... :?

Besides for that money you could go for handbuilt steel as an alternative to carbon - a Bob Jackson frame is slightly cheaper than the Ribble Sportive and Gran Fondo (which, to be fair are reputable carbon framed bikes from a reputablish company!). I'd probably have preferred that option to the Gran Fondo but Bobs frame geometry let me down!

bartolli

Hey guys,

Not test ridden the frame yet, still waiting for pedals to arrive so I can make sure I am happy with the length of the steerer before I pop down to the LBS and get it cut. Then just the cabling and bar wrapping to do.

For anyone interested as to what it looks like in the flesh:

petemadoc

Looking good!

Your pic gives a better idea of what the frame really looks like and I know what you mean now about not very interesting. Very light for the money though! How much to you reckon all this has cost you?

bartolli

It's actually growing on me more, it's kinda stealthy. It will look sweet with the white bar tape on. I'm very impressed with the build quality of the frame though, everything just fits nicely so far (saying that, haven't done cabling yet!). I'd say it's much lighter so far than my Giant Defy Advanced (but that had heavier wheels and g/set).

I got some good bargains so the whole build has probably cost me about £850-900, and it's been fun!

petemadoc

Bartolli wrote:

It's actually growing on me more, it's kinda stealthy. It will look sweet with the white bar tape on. I'm very impressed with the build quality of the frame though, everything just fits nicely so far (saying that, haven't done cabling yet!). I'd say it's much lighter so far than my Giant Defy Advanced (but that had heavier wheels and g/set).

I got some good bargains so the whole build has probably cost me about £850-900, and it's been fun!

Spram red! 850-900, well done. Where did you get these bargains from? I'm thinking of building up my own next bike, as you say more fun and you have some real input on it.

bartolli

Hmm, actually adding it up it may be more like 1000 It does add up quicky! I just kept my eye out really. Only the wheels and groupset were used.

I also got very lucky that I was looking for a Force groupset and someone offered me the Red group at a great price. I also way about to buy a pair of Ksyrium elites and some came up on here for less than half the price of new!

petemadoc

Bartolli wrote:

Hmm, actually adding it up it may be more like 1000 It does add up quicky! I just kept my eye out really. Only the wheels and groupset were used.

I also got very lucky that I was looking for a Force groupset and someone offered me the Red group at a great price. I also way about to buy a pair of Ksyrium elites and some came up on here for less than half the price of new!

Still not bad. I'll have to start looking out for bargains. Want to get something built in carbon by next summer. Not sure the Mrs will like all the bits arriving over the next few months. :shock:

It's a shame that it works out more expensive to buy all the parts separate compared to buying a complete bike. Have to keep an eye out for bargains like you say. Post a pic when you've finished

JohnnyAllez

Keep your eye on Merlin for bargain wheels late in the year or January sales.