Ribble , Scott, or Boardman ?

Bar Shaker

Obeytherules wrote:

Bar Shaker wrote:

These threads always amaze me... the same people always pile in slagging off the Boardmans but with nothing to add to the OP's question. That we have LBS owners joining in recently has become really funny.

Because they aren't that good a bike. Yes they will get fantastic reviews on BR, or any other future publishing owned magazine/website (if i pile in millions of £ into your website are you going to give me a bad review?)

Can you still press the downtube in on the boardmans? And the majority of the bikes i've seen of theirs the rear wheel wont ever be centered as the frame is off centre.

And you do realise you paid several £100 more for your pro fs than a Carrera Banshee (which is the same bike) Used to work at halfords for 3 years btw so am aware of all the details

My brother has a Banshee X, the highest spec Banshee. The frames are nothing like each other, the suspension, wheels and group set are much lower spec and the whole thing weighs nearly twice as much as my Pro FS.

As for centered rear wheels and being able to deform carbon down tube walls, it's clear you know absolutely nothing about bikes. If you did work in a Halfords for 3 years (unlikely, from your knowledge), you certainly never worked in the bike section.

Why do you feel the need to post such utter rubbish?

Down the Road

He is actually correct. The downtube on the Boardmans is soft enough to press in with your fingers ala a coke can.

This is the structural element of the bike that resists the torque of pedalling and turning.

PS there is no boradman factory on the planet it is just a rebadge from one og the catlaogue you can get at the Tapei bike show

Down the Road

PS the ribble is as Italian as Chow Mein

kingrollo

quite serious dosh - if you want something to stand out wot about Orbea Orca, Cube, or Bianchi ?

asprilla

kingrollo wrote:

quite serious dosh - if you want something to stand out wot about Orbea Orca, Cube, or Bianchi ?

Bianchis are 10 a penny and I tend to see more Cubes than a lot of other makes (including Scott and carbon Ribbles).

Bar Shaker

Down the Road wrote:

He is actually correct. The downtube on the Boardmans is soft enough to press in with your fingers ala a coke can.

This is the structural element of the bike that resists the torque of pedalling and turning.

PS there is no boradman factory on the planet it is just a rebadge from one og the catlaogue you can get at the Tapei bike show

You can deform the down tube on any decent carbon frame. The down tube is in tension so does not need thick side walls.

At its junction with the bottom bracket, the downtube becomes much stronger and, in conjunction with the seat tube (thicker walled and in compression), it does help to resist twist. The seat tube will resist most of the BB twist, as it is in the same line of the force applied (by your foot) The size of the down tube will be mated to the wall thickness so that twisting is resisted with the minimum weight penalty.

To not understand this, is to not understand how carbon works as a structural material. If you try to press in a curved section of the downtube, you will not be able to. The flat sections are there to hold the curved sections away from the axis of rotation, making the structure as strong as possible for the weight. Go and press in the sides of a Specialized S Works Tarmac downtube and see how they flex. It's one of the stiffest frames there is.

Everyone knows that all of these frames (Boardman, Ribble, Planet X etc) are made by composites subcontractors in the far east. None have their own factory. Even Specialised are made by Merida in the far east and it is rumoured that some high end Italian stuff starts life in the far east too. Far east composite manufacturing has become very good and very cost effective. It is certainly no downside to be riding a frame from one of these factories.

I don't think Ribble claim any of their bikes are made in Italy.

sampras38

No question...Scott CR1.

I had a CR1 Pro for 3 years and sold it last week, only because it was a little too big for me and I've moved to a Cube. My Scott had Ultegra instead of 105 and it was a lovely bike. Very light, fast and strong.

I know it's a personal view, but I've never been that keen on the Ribble's. Bit too common and they can take forever to build and ship the bike you want. Maybe it's due to them being too busy but they do have a bit of a rep of poor customer service. Spex wise you get a fair bit for your money though. Same goes for the Boardmans.

ride_whenever

I don't think the scott is far eastern. The rep I was chatting to was talking about a new facility for the carbon frames in Switzerland... Particularly for the new FO1L

obeytherules

Let's work you over in order.

You can't and it is not in tension in fact it resists tension and TORQUE. Seat tube is on modern bikes to fit UCI rules only (kestrel anyone?) S-works downtubes DO NOT press in (Just tried) Madone the same de rosa the same Look the same (seems I am on a theme here but seeing you bought 2 boardmans I doubt you know a decent frame maker)
PS unless the rules of Carbon Fibre have been re-written since completing a DEGREE involving carbon fibre then I am afraid you have no idea of its properties. Carbon fibre is only strong in the direction of the FIBRE and it the layup of these that give strength. The MATRIX will set the shape and set firm. Even a "flat part has fibres in various directions including tangential to the major stress to ensure all cases are catered for.

Please let me know what commercial carbon fibre sheets look like and see if you know as much as you think.


Oh and Ribble DO claim the bikes are made in Italy

Avezius

Obeytherules wrote:

Let's work you over in order.

Oh and Ribble DO claim the bikes are made in Italy

...don't they claim some of them have been designed in Italy?...

saintdracula

Well they're by Dedacciai (RIBBLE)

Rule74Please

Who may not only have factories in Italy. Ford is American VW is German but have plants all over the world

rolf_f

Avezius wrote:

Obeytherules wrote:

Let's work you over in order.

Oh and Ribble DO claim the bikes are made in Italy

...don't they claim some of them have been designed in Italy?...

Nope - my Gran Fondo says 'Crafted in Italy' on the back of the seat tube. I believe it is one of those slightly comical mistranslations from Italian to English and actually means 'Delivered to the UK from Taiwan in a ship that passed within sight of Italy'. Unless they paint the things in Italy, the seat tube is a flagrant lie

Doesn't stop it being a nice bike though. Paint is a bit brittle perhaps but still a very nice thing.

PS And they mis-spelled 'fibre' on the seat stays........

Bar Shaker

PMSL one minute you work in Halfords, the next you have a degree in carbon fibre related... Er you don't say what, exactly. The next you are walking around squeezing the frames in your bike shop. And despite your supposed degree, you can't see that a down tube is in tension.

Anyone who slags off other people's bikes is far too sad for me to talk to but you have set new standards.

Good luck with the bike shop.

freddiegrubb

:oops: Come on lads, a bike is a bike is a bike,let's have constructive points ( value for money etc.- frame angles- finishing kit). There is a "pride of possession" involved & I can seriously understand it but remember it's the legs that do the talking.On the original point, watch for the number of teeth of ch./rings & cassette & ask yourself can my legs talk to this gearing.