Ribble New Sportive

richard36

I've been thinking about getting this bike for a while.

My plan is to upgrade the groupset to SRAM Rival and also the tyres as well as a few other things. The total cost will be about £1600.

The only thing I'm not keen on is the frame colour and I would consider having it resprayed.

Having spoken to Ribble I know it's not possible to ride their bikes before buying so I was wondering whether anyone who has bought the New Sportive has been disappointed with their purchase in anyway?

Or, has anyone who has had the New Sportive thought that in hindsight another bike represented better value for the money?

Thanks

blackpoolkev

Ribble bikes are commonly viewed as good value for money.However if the looks didn't appeal to me that would be a deal breaker.
The money you have earmarked for the respray could help finance a premium brand with a more agreeable finish.

okgo

I've got one.

Its been fine, the only issue with them are the headsets which are a bit crap and really need to be replaced as the cups do not fit properly on the ones they supply and you get a creak.

In hindsight I think it was a good purchase, I got mine through c2w so was a cheap one, it had full 105 on it, upgraded the wheels to Kysirium Elites, and it goes well, certainly well enough for it not to hold you back in road races at any amateur level I reckon.

Would I have spent my money elsewhere in hindsight? I might have bought the stealth for the added stiffness and more racey geo, or a cad10 because they are meant to be the balls. But I'm happy with it. And can't really knock it for the money, I mean look what level of kit you get from Specialized for that money!

sloppyschleckonds

Richard36 wrote:

I've been thinking about getting this bike for a while.

My plan is to upgrade the groupset to SRAM Rival and also the tyres as well as a few other things.

The only thing I'm not keen on is the frame colour and I would consider having it resprayed.

What is it that appeals to you about this bike :?

richard36

Thanks for your replies.

I want a bike that is comfortable on long rides so thought the Ribble would fit the bill. Also, whilst I'm not overly keen on the frame colours I do like the fact that I can customize the bike and, from what I understand, it represents excellent value for money. I may be mistaken on that and it may be that I can get a much better bike - better ride, similar groupset and wheels etc for a similar price ie. about £1500 - £1600.

I'm not in any rush to get the bike and will probably wait until next spring. If this means I can save up some more money and buy an even better bike for say £1800 then I would go for that.

(Some of the money I save will need to be spent on a good bike fitting)

whereisthurso

i had a ribble carbon sportive and have to say it was a great bike for the money. Unfortunately after 18 months it developed a crack at the driveside dropout. Having returned the frame to ribble to have it fixed or replaced under warranty i still don't have it back after nearly 5 months and no amount of chasing or complaining makes any difference. I've bought a different frame now because i honestly doubt im ever going to see the ribble again. So just be aware that their warranty service is awful if not non existent.

okgo

As is their initial customer service sadly.

They're cheap for a reason. The reason being they wont hire enough staff to run the business properly.

arlowood

If you're not too hung upon SRAM as your drivetrain then I would be looking to spend my £1600 elsewhere rather than on the Ribble.

One option is the Cube below:-

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=72871

Just under your budget and comes fitted with Shimano Ultegra (except for the crankset which is 105). Cubes are well regraded and at least there are several outlets where you can go and sit on a few to judge the best frame size for you

richard36

I did consider the Cube (and also Bike radar have just done a review of the Trek Madone 3.5) however I'm quite happy to have a 105 or Rival groupset and pay for better wheels and other good components provided the frame is a good frame. Part of my problem is that I wasn't sure whether the Ribble frame was a 'good' frame or just average.

I could buy the Cube Agree GTC at £1258 (105 groupset) and buy better wheels but I wouldn't need the ones that come with the Agree. I suppose I could sell them but at least by buying from Ribble I could get the bike with exactly the spec I wanted and not have to bother upgrading.

It boils down to whether the Ribble New Sportive frame is going to be good enough for longish rides as well as being quite a 'racy' type of bike. Hence my original question!

Thanks

whereisthurso

ok if you're not bothered about after sales service and just how good the frames performance is then i would say that it's definitely suited for long rides and very comfortable. Being described as a sportive bike it does live up to the name and gives quite an upright position so i would necessarily say it feels that 'racey' compared to some but the stiffness of the rear end does make for satisfyingly snappy power transfer. Overall an excellent frame for the price. You're right about the wheels too - i originally had khamsins on my sportive and changing them to zondas really brought it to life. . . . Until it died that is!

Good luck with whatever you decide on.

johnsonmoog

Just to add a further bike into the mix - have you considered the new Planet X RT - 57?

Currently £1599.00 with Sram Red.

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBP ... _road_bike

richard36

Thanks for the replies

I have looked at the Planet X but again it looks as though you are paying for the top end groupset whereas I'm more than happy to have a lower priced groupset and use the money elsewhere

Cheers

yaya

No horse in this race but if I was buying a new bike and was facing a warranty issue I would expect the retailer (and the manufacturer in this case) to handle it properly. Not saying the frame isn't good but but if one has to wait 5 months and still not to have it then it's just money gone down the drain...

rolf_f

okgo wrote:

As is their initial customer service sadly.

They're cheap for a reason. The reason being they wont hire enough staff to run the business properly.

I've always had top quality service from Ribble. Latest was some replacement overshoes that arrived two weeks before they said that the manufacturer would take to get back to them.

fungus_the_muffin_man

Richard36 wrote:

Thanks for the replies

I have looked at the Planet X but again it looks as though you are paying for the top end groupset whereas I'm more than happy to have a lower priced groupset and use the money elsewhere

Cheers

You get a full groupset and their brand new just released frame. A frame which will be used by their GURU race team and you think it's a cheap frame?

You'll not get a better bike for that money anywhere FACT!

okgo

OP -

Its fine for races and long rides. I've done 80 mile fast rides on it, I've done chaingangs on it, and I've done a couple of races on it! Lets just say it hasn't hindered me yet! If you like it, get it bought, but bear in mind the customer service.

okgo

Rolf F wrote:

okgo wrote:

As is their initial customer service sadly.

They're cheap for a reason. The reason being they wont hire enough staff to run the business properly.

I've always had top quality service from Ribble. Latest was some replacement overshoes that arrived two weeks before they said that the manufacturer would take to get back to them.

I'm sure that side of the business is fine. Try buying a bike from them when it doesn't all go smoothly. Nobody expects miracles, but they did NOTHING to appease me when my bike was delayed a month. And the shit they came out with as to its delay was borderline laughable. If I recall it apparently was down to not having a bit of the groupset in stock...Shimano 105, hardly Super-record carbon is it their sodding place must be full of it. Still, I've got the bike now, but they really pissed me off at the time, I'll never buy a bike from them again.

richard36

Fungus - I'm not an expert and therefore assumed that if I was paying £1600 for a bike with a SRAM red groupset then the frame quality wouldn't be that great. I'm more than happy to be proved wrong! Thanks

ajb72

johnsonmoog wrote:

Just to add a further bike into the mix - have you considered the new Planet X RT - 57?

Currently £1599.00 with Sram Red.

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBP ... _road_bike

Agree that's a cracking deal, but the geometry and in particular that short head tube may not fit the requirement of a comfy long ride bike.

rolf_f

okgo wrote:

I'm sure that side of the business is fine. Try buying a bike from them when it doesn't all go smoothly. Nobody expects miracles, but they did NOTHING to appease me when my bike was delayed a month. And the shoot they came out with as to its delay was borderline laughable. If I recall it apparently was down to not having a bit of the groupset in stock...Shimano 105, hardly Super-record carbon is it their sodding place must be full of it. Still, I've got the bike now, but they really pissed me off at the time, I'll never buy a bike from them again.

I think it is all the same side of the business! Not sure why they would lie about not having the part in stock. Could it be that they really didn't have it in stock? Personally, a months delay wouldn't bother me in the slightest. I'd have just let them get on with it myself.

Whereisthurso's complaint is more of a concern.

SheldonBrownIsLegend

i had a ribble carbon sportive and have to say it was a great bike for the money. Unfortunately after 18 months it developed a crack at the driveside dropout. Having returned the frame to ribble to have it fixed or replaced under warranty i still don't have it back after nearly 5 months and no amount of chasing or complaining makes any difference. I've bought a different frame now because i honestly doubt im ever going to see the ribble again. So just be aware that their warranty service is awful if not non existent.

Really?? I mean Really??? Because when I rang to have the crack in my frame repaired they just told me it was aesthetic and I can ride the frame until the shipment goes away when the repair could be done. Cant expect a perfect paint job for such an affordable bike and the fact that there willing to make amendments for such minor problems is honourable I think.

okgo

Rolf -

I dare say you are most places dream customer. A months delay for not having something (utter bullshit, they sell probably 500 bikes a month, they have every single part, and its not 105, put ultegra on it, whatever, don't piss the customer off) as trivial as a 105 gear component, whatever it was, is utterly inexcuseable. And when I asked to let me know when they had it and it was going to be built I was told that they were too busy to let me know, and I would only know when I was getting my bike when it was built and the auto email came through. That kind of service has no place selling items of value, and I'll not give them my money again because of it.

The bike is fine, as I said, probably no better or worse than a planet x or whatever else, but be aware of their service, its renowned for the wrong reasons.

albothegreat

I rather doubt that any company let alone Ribble is going to tell you an item is not in stock if their " sodding place is full of it " and then delay the build for a month just to annoy you. :roll: I bought the New Sportive with Ksyrium Elites and 6700 Ultegra group and absolutely love it. This was based on some knowledge obtained by one of my cronies that the frame is from the same mould as a De Rosa R848. Is this a cheap frame ( me no think so ).

demorider87

There can't be much up with the New Sportive frame. If it's good enough for De Rosa (and an extra £1000) then it would be good enough for me!

okgo

There should never ever ever ever be anything along the lines of "we don't have shimano xxx" shimano make 3 groupsets which are cross compatible (maybe even 4 now), there's no way on earth they don't have it all under one roof in one guise or another. If it gets to the point where I can buy the offending article from another shop quicker than they can get it then I'm sorry they've failed as a bike shop.


I'm not going to argue with you. Their service was dogshit. End of.

SheldonBrownIsLegend

okgo wrote:

Rolf -

I dare say you are most places dream customer. A months delay for not having something (utter bullshit, they sell probably 500 bikes a month, they have every single part, and its not 105, put ultegra on it, whatever, don't wee-wee the customer off) as trivial as a 105 gear component, whatever it was, is utterly inexcuseable. And when I asked to let me know when they had it and it was going to be built I was told that they were too busy to let me know, and I would only know when I was getting my bike when it was built and the auto email came through. That kind of service has no place selling items of value, and I'll not give them my money again because of it.

The bike is fine, as I said, probably no better or worse than a planet x or whatever else, but be aware of their service, its renowned for the wrong reasons.

Do you own a bikeshop were free upgrades can be gained??? Ill have a bordman upgraded to a pinarello dogma and a sora group up to Di2. Please!!
I expect this would be no problem if your service is any good.

b16 b3n

Hmmm this seems very strange. I've had many of Ribbles products including 5 bikes from various years past and all of their components supplied have been trouble free. Obviously I didnt mind replacing wear and tear items such as bearings etc as for the amount of miles I covered these will wear eventually. It's like driving a car, you need to service these quite regular to keep them running smoothly.
I did however come across a fault with one my bikes with a creak at the bottom bracket but Ribble very quickly turned this around for me within 3 days. This was down to my own stupidity as I was feeling a little lazy and I decided to jet wash my bike. Never have done since, but to be fair to Ribble they could of charged me for labour but they chose not to.
I now have 2 Ribble carbons and touchwood they have been brilliant and with one of them i competed in the L'Etape du Tour and the gran fondo's ride was superb!

With my experirnce over the years, I would highly recommend them to people and will continue doing so.

albothegreat

There's a song by the Christians that Oygo probably knows so well " in an ideal world " .

okgo

SheldonBrownIsLegend wrote:

okgo wrote:

Rolf -

I dare say you are most places dream customer. A months delay for not having something (utter bullshit, they sell probably 500 bikes a month, they have every single part, and its not 105, put ultegra on it, whatever, don't wee-wee the customer off) as trivial as a 105 gear component, whatever it was, is utterly inexcuseable. And when I asked to let me know when they had it and it was going to be built I was told that they were too busy to let me know, and I would only know when I was getting my bike when it was built and the auto email came through. That kind of service has no place selling items of value, and I'll not give them my money again because of it.

The bike is fine, as I said, probably no better or worse than a planet x or whatever else, but be aware of their service, its renowned for the wrong reasons.

Do you own a bikeshop were free upgrades can be gained??? Ill have a bordman upgraded to a pinarello dogma and a sora group up to Di2. Please!!
I expect this would be no problem if your service is any good.

Of course not, but lets assume the article they didn't have was a cassette, the email chain I have is huge, they reply to my emails maybe on a 1 reply to my 3 chasing email ratio (email as they never answer the phone, and when they do its always not the right guy, yeh right) its clear I'm getting annoyed with their constant delays, and they are clearly fobbing me off. For the sake of £20 they could chuck a Ultegra one on there, and be done with it, I probably would have even paid for it at one point. Customer service is such an easy thing to get right, but sadly is going down the drain in this country. I remember when a bad meal in a resteraunt would automatically get taken off the bill without question, and you'd get the utmost apology, now not only will you pay for it, but you'd get some surley response with it.

SheldonBrownIsLegend

okgo:

BeHave: You should perhaps give them a chance to do something before sending so many e-mails. I am for instance sat at home with little else to do as its dangerously bad whether outside I cant ride my bike, yet I find you to be a somewhat over persistent pest!!

By the way if they ""Never answer the phone"" how is it you get so many of the wrong people??

They answer the phone constantly between 10-5, have a group of 6guys doing it I believe!! And funny enough that's exactly what they say on the website.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/publish.a ... act&page=1

okgo

SheldonBrownIsLegend wrote:

okgo:

BeHave: You should perhaps give them a chance to do something before sending so many e-mails. I am for instance sat at home with little else to do as its dangerously bad whether outside I cant ride my bike, yet I find you to be a somewhat over persistent pest!!

By the way if they ""Never answer the phone"" how is it you get so many of the wrong people??

They answer the phone constantly between 10-5, have a group of 6guys doing it I believe!! And funny enough that's exactly what they say on the website.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/publish.a ... act&page=1

Guess who works for Ribble then?

Do one.