Ribble Gran Fondo: Self Build Update
tonybanham
Posts: 60
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New on this forum but the information I found on here was very useful when I decided to get a new bike after 12 years with my Dolan/Chorus/Rolf built by Chevin (will be for sale soon). Eventually decided to go with the Ribble Grand Fondo frame set, good value for money and mainly black & white. I have never built a bike before so I went for the self-build option (might not get another chance) with bits bought from various sources on the interweb. The frame is slightly different to the one shown on website has straight folks & different profiles at the back.
Build was a bit harder that I thought, (note to self: need better wire cutters) and I still struggle with bar tape!
Have to say the Ribble customer service was excellent had they the frame ready to collect when requested as I was in the Preston area that day, also no star nut was supplied but after a quick phone call one was put in the post.
Sorry the picture is not very good, the bush seemed a good support for the bike at the time. I will get my daughter to take a better picture.
Frame: Gran Fondo 51cm (M)
Forks: Gran Fondo
Groupset: Campag Chorus 2011
170mm cranks 53-39, 12-27 cassette, dual pivot brakes front & back.
Wheels: Mavic Cosmic Elite 2011
Tyres: Schwable Ultremo R.1 (Black-Silver)
Bars: Deda Zero White O/S 46cm
Tape: BBB Vintage White
Stem: Deda Zero 100 Servizio Corse White 100mm
Seat Post: ITM Alutec 7075 Carbon
Saddle: Selle Italia Thoork Team Edition
Cages: BBB Carbon Look
Computer: Sigma 1106DTS
Pedals: Veloce Profit (from old bike)
Completed today & not yet ridden in anger hopefully this weekend if the weather is OK!
Will report later along with a better picture.
[/list]New on this forum but the information I found on here was very useful when I decided to get a new bike after 12 years with my Dolan/Chorus/Rolf built by Chevin (will be for sale soon). Eventually decided to go with the Ribble Grand Fondo frame set, good value for money and mainly black & white. I have never built a bike before so I went for the self-build option (might not get another chance) with bits bought from various sources on the interweb. The frame is slightly different to the one shown on website has straight folks & different profiles at the back.
Build was a bit harder that I thought, (note to self: need better wire cutters) and I still struggle with bar tape!
Have to say the Ribble customer service was excellent had they the frame ready to collect when requested as I was in the Preston area that day, also no star nut was supplied but after a quick phone call one was put in the post.
Sorry the picture is not very good, the bush seemed a good support for the bike at the time. I will get my daughter to take a better picture.
Frame: Gran Fondo 51cm (M)
Forks: Gran Fondo
Groupset: Campag Chorus 2011
170mm cranks 53-39, 12-27 cassette, dual pivot brakes front & back.
Wheels: Mavic Cosmic Elite 2011
Tyres: Schwable Ultremo R.1 (Black-Silver)
Bars: Deda Zero White O/S 46cm
Tape: BBB Vintage White
Stem: Deda Zero 100 Servizio Corse White 100mm
Seat Post: ITM Alutec 7075 Carbon
Saddle: Selle Italia Thoork Team Edition
Cages: BBB Carbon Look
Computer: Sigma 1106DTS
Pedals: Veloce Profit (from old bike)
Completed today & not yet ridden in anger hopefully this weekend if the weather is OK!
Will report later along with a better picture.
0
Posts
BUT... recommend you move the computer sensor to the front of the fork leg, not behind. If it gets bumped into the spokes, it will get messy , but on the front you won't have a problem...
Nice bike. Its great building your first bike! but i bet you quaddrouple checked all the nuts n bolts!
yes have checked the nut & bolts a few times & when everything falls off under the first heavy braking it will be my fault!
Updated photo in the sun complete with garage door!
Much prefer yours over the Ribble Sportive
ITM post and Deda stem though ? Deda do some nice white posts.
Enjoy
Eh? I don't get that at all. If its on the back and it gets bumped round a bit the spoke will bump it back out again. On the front if it gets bumped a bit the spokes will drag it round the fork and churn it out the back. No?
Nice bike btw Tony!
I have gone for Gipiemme Tecno 716 Pro to replace the Cosmic Elites- will report back on how they perform. Sigma computer died so replaced with Cateye Micro.
Just waiting for you to send me the Cosmic Elites FOC as agreed :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
Best Weather Bike - Time ZXRS
Summer Road Bike - Pinarello FPX Dogma
Winter Road Bike- Colnago E1
Being Dismantled - Sintesi Blade
Mountain Bike - Sold them all....
Pinarello F8 with sram etap
Wheels changed to CSN Superleggera clinchers from Ribble bought when they had extra 10% off - I know they weigh as much as a battleship but it is pretty flat around where I live so not a major issue. As no weights are quoted on the Ribble site so for thoese who are interested front=920g & rear=1156g (without skewers & tape) rims appear to be made by Pro-Lite. Also just swapped seatpost to a Deda to match the rest of the bike, the ITM post now for sale.
Does make you wonder exactly what you get when you spend double or even triple.....(and I'm guilty of that myself!)
I was about to put pennies down on a gran fondo, would be interested myself. Common issue?
Hmmm, maybe you get dropouts that don't crack....?!!!
With regards to the warranty Ribble informed me the frame had a 2 year warranty so you should be OK. It would appear a number of Gran Fondo frames did suffer from this type of crack, which is in the paint work so it is cosmetic not structural (ran my for several months before taking in to Ribble). I emailed them first about the issue they said they could arrange collection of the bike but I stripped it down & I took back to the 'showroom' (had only bought frame & fork from them) from there they said it would require an inspection. It took them about 3 weeks to check & arrange an exchange, no issues with them very polite & efficient.
If you are considering the Gran Fondo may be better to go for the 2013 frame- paint scheme the same but the tube profiles are different but it also may be lighter due to the carbon steering tube. That said I have done over 7000 miles on mine & it has been excellent apart from the above issue.