Which Ribble Carbon Bike, Bianco, Sportive, Gran Fondo?

David-Witts

Hi, looking for a carbon framed bike as an all day mount, to be used for the odd sportive/audax ride. Usually ride a Ribble Audax but just fancy something a bit lighter. Ribble seem to have a good overwhelming choice of frames and specs. Review of the Bianco and New sportive seem good and there seems to be nothing to choose between them. Any particular model better than the other? Then there's the choice of groupset. I've normally used Campag veloce but then I've never used shimano or Sram. Maybe I'm thinking this time to try Shimano/sram as changing up whilst on the drops would be easier. :?

StevieDexter

I've got a Gran Fondo and it's awesome. Not much more I can say, as I've not tried any of the others.

navrig

http://static.bikeradar.com/forums/view ... sc&start=0

martylaa

I am getting my Gran Fondo on Thursday. Only because I can get a newish one ( rode 3 times on 10 miles distance ) saving £400 on exactly same spec bike on ribble otherwise I would of went for the Banco

mowflow

I'm in the same position as you David. Usually ride an Audax as well. I was leaning towards the new sportive but the sizing is confusing purely because the size that looks right for me is classed as a medium and at 6ft I don't see my self as medium. The Large Gran Fondo looks about the same as the medium new sportive but all I know is that my Audax is a 56 and it feels a tad too long.

I ruled the Bianco out purely because I don't like the silver on it. I do like the look of the stealth but looking at the geometry it seems to be a back to front recumbant bike. In terms of group set I'm going to stick with Campagnolo because it's been good on the Audax and it means I can swap wheels between the two.

dodgerdog

Have a Gran Fondo running on SRAM Rival with ITM finishing gear, Pro-lite Lucciano wheels and Kysrium Elites for special ocassions/sportives. :P 8)

Great bike, really positive gear change, pro-lites carry speed so well and are great routine wheels.

skyblue337

I have a New Sportive in size large, I'm 6ft and a little bit, 35in cycling inseam and I think it's just about the right size. I run a 110 stem with compact, short reach bars although I'd probably be slightly more comfortable with a 100mm stem. It's not the prettiest bike in the world, especially the huge area of the headtube and fit and finish (e.g. paintwork, gap between fork and frame) are not up to the standard of the big boys but it's good enough. It feels pretty stiff but still relatively comfortable on longer rides (not been beyond 110km on it). The only thing I'm struggling with is it lacks that feeling of specialness (to be fair you'd need to spend a lot more to get that) - so as long as that's not important to you and you can live with the slightly below par finish it's a good bike.

dbjockey

I've had the Gran Fondo for almost a year now, done 1870 miles on it.
I love climbing on it and I've done several sportives on it and an Ironman.
Cant fault it really, not had one single niggle injury or ache wise from cycling on it.
Mine is a compact 50/34 with 12/25 and shimano 105, deda finishing and ITM 2.4 wheels.
I may upgrade to more expensive wheels next year but these have served me well.
I'm about 6ft and mine is a 56cm, I paid £1151 for it.

Oh there was one thing ... I punctured for the first time the other day and the tyres were a bitch to get off, so suggest decent brand tyres.

rolf_f

Gran Fondo has a shorter geometry than the Sportive. My Gran Fondo has done about 3000 miles and I'm pretty pleased with it.