Ribble Audax 64cm?

whitebait01

Hello chaps,

I was wondering if any of you have seen/ridden/have a picture of a 64cm Ribble Audax?

I've trawled the internet and can't find any but seen pics of 60cm ones that look absolutely massive. The weird geometry seems to make 700c wheels look like little kids ones. Just trying to get an idea of the size compared to my current bike and when I look at the geometry charts and then hold a tape measure up to my current 60cm (C-t) steed I can't imagine it looking that different, but the pictures of smaller sizes suggest it's going to look ridiculous...

Cheers!

porlyworly

Is it this one?

whitebait01

PorlyWorly wrote:

Is it this one?

Nah, that's the 62cm.

alwaystoohot

I have 66cms ROSE so check them out as well.

tomhammersley

I have one.

It really doesn't look strange at all. It looks well-proportioned as the head tube is fairly short and obviously the alu tubes are fairly stout.

I understand your concerns. Large framed bikes can look gate like, particularly with a horizontal top tube rather than compact geometry. But so far I've not had any sheep queueing one side of it waiting to be let out.

I'll dig a picture out at lunch...

whitebait01

TomHammersley wrote:

I have one.

It really doesn't look strange at all. It looks well-proportioned as the head tube is fairly short and obviously the alu tubes are fairly stout.

I understand your concerns. Large framed bikes can look gate like, particularly with a horizontal top tube rather than compact geometry. But so far I've not had any sheep queueing one side of it waiting to be let out.

I'll dig a picture out at lunch...

Cheers Tom, you're a star! Also, mind if I ask what height you are? How do you find the reach? And how's the ride? Any other tips/pointers regarding the audax?

tomhammersley

I'm 198cm.

I'm really pleased with it. I find the fit to be great, and I'm using a slightly shorter stem than my best bike (120 vs 140mm) so that gives me more fit options too.

The ride is nice. Mine runs ultegra. Compared to my other bike (bianchi 1885 with centaur) it has a slightly slower turn but feels more stable. Sometimes the rear wheel feels slightly less grippy than I'd expect but I have no data for that, it's just subjective. Overall the Ribble with ultegra feels like a Mercedes or Jag compared to the lively sports car that is the bianchi.

Even if it weren't so cheap I'd rate it, and the cheap price just enhances its value.

nochekmate

Here's a bike for you tall guys - bargain if you need a 65cm

viewtopic.php?f=40049&t=12834396

whitebait01

nochekmate wrote:

Here's a bike for you tall guys - bargain if you need a 65cm

viewtopic.php?f=40049&t=12834396

As nice as it is, I'm not sure I can call a frame that's almost three times the cost of the Ribble bike I'm looking at a bargain... Would be fun though, I'm sure

whitebait01

TomHammersley wrote:

I'm 198cm.

I'm really pleased with it. I find the fit to be great, and I'm using a slightly shorter stem than my best bike (120 vs 140mm) so that gives me more fit options too.

The ride is nice. Mine runs ultegra. Compared to my other bike (bianchi 1885 with centaur) it has a slightly slower turn but feels more stable. Sometimes the rear wheel feels slightly less grippy than I'd expect but I have no data for that, it's just subjective. Overall the Ribble with ultegra feels like a Mercedes or Jag compared to the lively sports car that is the bianchi.

Even if it weren't so cheap I'd rate it, and the cheap price just enhances its value.

Hmm, well that's my height too... I'm finding it harder and harder to resist buying one of these. I'm thinking 105 groupset on one of the special edition ones, as the saving seems to be pretty good. Did you go special edition or normal? Any idea what mudguards they put on the SE?

Cheers for the info and looking forward to pics!

nochekmate

whitebait01 wrote:

nochekmate wrote:

Here's a bike for you tall guys - bargain if you need a 65cm

viewtopic.php?f=40049&t=12834396

As nice as it is, I'm not sure I can call a frame that's almost three times the cost of the Ribble bike I'm looking at a bargain... Would be fun though, I'm sure

Aye a difference in price for sure, but one's a Ribble and one's a Colnago - 'nuff said.

tomhammersley

As promised, here is the picture.



It's an old picture, a few parts have changed, but obviously the frame is still the same shape! The only bits that I've changed are things like bar tape, chainrings, which obviously aren't really relevant to fit or would affect anyone's purchase decision.

The bike itself was purchased as frame+forks and built up from parts off another frame, and various ultegra 6600/6700 bargains I spotted on line. It's therefore not representative of the kit that Ribble use to build up their "special edition" bikes.

Someone will probably ask about mudguards / tyre clearances. 25mm go in easily without the guards, but I've not been able to get anything more than 23mm in since the guards went on. IIRC the guards were SKS. I can't remember for certain as they were a xmas pressie. Maybe I could get the 25mm in with the guards on with some jimmying, but I'm sure I'd only have 1mm of clearance or whatever, and if a wheel ever slightly got out of true, they'd be rubbing. I would like to run 25mm on this bike though so I'm considering swapping to cruds at the end of the year once I've got some decent use out of the existing guards.

If you'd like any specific shots, let me know.

whitebait01

Tom, that's fantastic! Loads of great info and a great picture! I'm relieved to see it doesn't look too massive at all. Info on the tyres is handy too, seems I can easily get hold of some Durano+ 23s, they'll do for the commute (with guards).

Right, I've got to count my pennies and work out when I can afford to get myself one of these...

Out of interest, how long have you had the frame? I read a couple of people online saying they'd had them and they'd cracked around the BB after a couple of years. Sort of worrying, but at that price I reckon it's a risk I'd be willing to take

tomhammersley

I've had the frame for about 14-15 months. It's done plenty of commuting miles, been used on the turbo and so far so good.

That said, I have broken an alu frame before, so I work on the assumption it'll probably last about 3 years. Having broken an alu frame before I know the sort of signs to look for and it's not exhibiting them yet.

As you say, for the price you could buy one per year and it'd be value for money.

Given these concerns over alu I'm debating whether to save up for a solid carbon brand like colnago, go for ti, or a steel rourkie for future frames.

Gazzetta67

I have a Tifosi 61cm CK7 Audax winter bike - It`s really a 65cm if it was a traditional frame.

It`s as identical as tom`s Ribble frame (prob made by same company) - I dont really care if it looks like a "Gate" as some folk say. There is no getting away with it if your 6`3" + you will need a 60cm + frame. The Fork is a Deda Black rain and it`s a light frame for the size and price.