Ribble winter specials- worth it?

xixang

I'm looking at getting a bike for bad weather commuting/winter riding and I'm looking at the ribble specials. Gonna spec with centaur and swap this with mirage I've already got on a better frame so that I effectively upgrade an existing bike but still have a usable bad weather bike with a reasonable (and cheap to replace) groupset. Looking at the price of around £800 with pedals and with bike to work scheme savings I think its a good buy. Groupset alone to upgrade existing bike would be about £450 but with the bike to work savings the full bike is £540ish and interest free over the year.

but before I pull the trigger does anyone have any alternatives? I'll not get a centaur bike for that money elsewhere but I'd go with veloce at a push. Must be able to take full mudguards and campag 10 is a must so I can swap around as other bikes are all 10s

centimani

If we're talking the same winter bikes, i think its generally accepted you won't beat them for VFM...very well regarded.
AFAIK, they come complete with mudguards anyway (feel free to confirm or deny that anyone..i'm 90% sure, not 100%)

derbygrimpeur

I've got a Ribble Winter (yes, it comes with mudguards) and am very happy with it.

leejdavies

Bought a 7005 recently to build into a commuter with spare parts I had lying around. Have to say it's so much fun, it's handles well too. I coupled it with some featherlight ITM forks (it was a self build) and the thing handles beautifully.

It's a bit wrong but I wish it were wet a little more when I go and ride just so I can ride it. Not as smooth as my carbon bike but still nice for a less than £100 frame.

Only downside to mine is it hasn't got guard eyelets but I like Crud roadracers so no biggie. I only realised after I striped the paint off it so couldn't send it back to get what I actually ordered. :oops:

And to answer your question. Yes. Worth it. Builds start at around £600 I think, and you can customise the componentry to suit you. Win. Win.

I'd select some proper tyres though, don't want endless punctures or ungrippy cheap rubber.