Ribble Gran Fondo advice please

1964johnr
1964johnr Posts: 179
edited January 2013 in Road buying advice
I am thinking of buying the xxl Gran fondo with tiagra gearing for just under a grand. Bike reviews seem to suggest it's good value for the money. XXl is the 58cm frame. I am 6' 3" and weigh 100kg, not fat but heavy. I know Ribbles come up a little larger than some other makes but anyone know if it will be a big enough frame size ? My other issue is gearing. I currently ride a Giant SCR 2 Triple with 30 teeth on the front tiny ring and 24 teeth on the biggest cog on the cassette. My riding style means I currently use the small ring and the tiny ring, but never use the big ring and I need to make sure that I can get the very easy gears on the Tiagra double. Can someone tell me what gearing ratio I should be looking for ?

Comments

  • BigLights
    BigLights Posts: 464
    Hello
    I bought a Gran Fondo in summer 2011 and it's magnificent, I totally love it. Supremely comfortable, after the bike fit I can literally sit on it for hours without discomfort. Wonderful.

    I'm exactly 6 foot, with an inside leg measurement that was in between the 54 and 56...I was going to round up but the chap at Ribble was very helpful on the phone and advised go for the 54. During the bike fit I then had the stem replaced for proper reach...highly recommend a bike fit.

    I plumped for 105 double with 12-27 (with a Compact 170 34-50). I'm also exactly 100kg, coincidentally, and I find the gearing a bit of a struggle on longer hills...ie I am not able to maintain proper cadence so end up heaving out the seat to force the pedals. I've been discussing with my LBS the option of swapping the front cog out for a triple (which 105 is set up for anyway and presumably tiagra). so you may want to consider a triple.

    If I were you I'd just call the Ribble guys - in my experience they were extremely helpful and knowledgeable.
  • Wobblehead
    Wobblehead Posts: 264
    Can't help with the bike, but gearing wise a 34 up front (compact) with a 27 out back is almost identical to a 30 up front and a 24 out back.

    Divide back ring into front ring to get a ratio.
  • freezing77
    freezing77 Posts: 731
    BigLights wrote:
    Hello
    I bought a Gran Fondo in summer 2011 and it's magnificent, I totally love it. Supremely comfortable, after the bike fit I can literally sit on it for hours without discomfort. Wonderful.

    I'm exactly 6 foot, with an inside leg measurement that was in between the 54 and 56...I was going to round up but the chap at Ribble was very helpful on the phone and advised go for the 54. During the bike fit I then had the stem replaced for proper reach...highly recommend a bike fit.

    I plumped for 105 double with 12-27 (with a Compact 170 34-50). I'm also exactly 100kg, coincidentally, and I find the gearing a bit of a struggle on longer hills...ie I am not able to maintain proper cadence so end up heaving out the seat to force the pedals. I've been discussing with my LBS the option of swapping the front cog out for a triple (which 105 is set up for anyway and presumably tiagra). so you may want to consider a triple.

    If I were you I'd just call the Ribble guys - in my experience they were extremely helpful and knowledgeable.

    You may wish to consider a SRAM wi-fli 11-32 cassette, I have one on my Gran Fondo, was a shimano 11-27, there was no need to change either the chain length or the rear derailleur.
  • BigLights
    BigLights Posts: 464
    thanks Freezing, good shout, I shall investigate.

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