Giant Carbon vs Ribble Carbon - which one?

dunc69

Advice / thoughts please guys & girls......

I've been offered 20% off a Giant Composite 2 2011 by my LBS which will mean £1320.

This is a stunning looking bike with 105 groupset.


Or, do I consider a Ribble Sportive Bianco (£1098 with 105) or a Ribble Gran Fondo (£1118 with 105)?

Is the Giant frame likely to be better?

Assuming the view is that the bikes are of similar quality, is the extra £200 for the Giant worth it for the support of my LBS (the guy there is a good buddy and will look after me very well). I've also read that Ribble's customer support is poor?

Cheers,
Dunc

dunc69

Yes, plan to test ride the Giant shortly.

As for which one I really want, I have only seen the Giant in the flesh (gorgeous), but the Ribble bikes look great on their website - wish I could compare them all in the flesh / ride them all, but I guess that's the rub with Ribble - cheap cheap price, but no chance to see / test beforehand, unless you live in or near Preston!

Any other views welcomed!

MattJPaul

There are tons of user photos of Ribble bikes in the Your Road Bike section of the forums. Not quite seeing them in the flesh but better than stock photos from the website.

petemadoc

There's probably not difference between the two bikes

£200 for some service from your LBS? If it's a good shop and they'll get it set up right and throw in a free 6 month service then yes I'd say it's worth it. If you can do all that stuff yourself then go for the Ribble

styxd

I'd get the Giant. No waiting time as there no doubt will be from ribble, great warranty, backup from LBS. Plus its looks nicer and probably has better finishing kit on it.

dunc69

Thanks for the advice guys!

The photos in the Your Road Bike section really helped. The Ribble Gran Fondo does look very good!

Tough choice! Gran Fondo vs Giant...... Still undecided!

dunc69

Anyone in the St Albans area with a recent Gran Fondo who wouldn't find me having a quick look at it?

TMR

styxd wrote:

Plus its looks nicer and probably has better finishing kit on it.

That's subjective obviously.

MaxwellBygraves

In this situation, you have to consider -

a) If you got the Ribble, went out on a ride on the Ribble and then stopped and someone rollled up on the exact Giant bike you were thinking of buying

or

b) If you got the Giant, went out on a ride and as you stopped halfway, someone rolls up on the exact same Ribble you were thinking of buying

In situation a) or b) which one would you feel more 'downhearted' about?

prawny

I'd have the Giant, the bottle cage bosses are lower so it's easier to get a 750ml bottle in and out easier

If my local LBS offered me 20% of a really nice bike I'd be very likely to support them too.

Ribbles are nice, but for that much cash I would be willing to pay a bit more to test ride/get fitted properly and have the support if anything goes wrong.

JD_76

Heres my Fondo of the Gran, not a fan of Giant in im honest.

The fondo has a tall headtube but some Giant bikes seem to have really tall headtubes.

In the North wales area if your ever this way your welcome to have a look / ride.

Shameless pic time:

bazbadger

JD_76 wrote:

Heres my Fondo of the Gran, not a fan of Giant in im honest.

The fondo has a tall headtube but some Giant bikes seem to have really tall headtubes.

In the North wales area if your ever this way your welcome to have a look / ride.

Shameless pic time:

Love the wrought iron bike stand