Ribble

gosshawk

Hi guys, after doing extensive research, I have discovered interest free credit!
This makes for a more interesting bike shop, as originally I had planned a budget of £500, but this is now more like £900. I am after a triple chainset, as I spend most of my time on the small ring climbing, and the middle ring when I am cruising on past bikes.
So far, I have narrowed it down to a custom Ribble or a Cube Peloton Triple.

The custom spec for the Ribble is:
Frame
Ribble 7005 Sportive Frame 55cm (C-Top)
Ribble Headset Branded Ribble 1 1/8" Hidden (ITS) 45 x 45
Shimano Tiagra 4603 10 Spd Triple Groupset:
Shimano 10 Speed Tiagra 4600 Cassette 11-25
Shimano Tiagra Triple 4603 10 Speed Chainset 172.5 30/39/50
Wheels
Shimano RS30 Clincher Wheels Pair Black 8/9/10 Shim
Handlebars
Ritchey Comp Road Curve (31.8 ) Bars Black 42cm
ITM Alutech 6061 (31.8 ) Stem White 90mm
Trivio Headset Spacers Alloy 1 1/8" Black 10mm
ITM Cork Embossed Handlebar Tape Black
Saddle
Selle Italia X1 Man Saddle Black
ITM Alutech Wing 6061 Seatpillar Black 31.6 350mm
Tyres
Continental GatorSkin Rigid Tyre 700x25mm
Continental Race Inner Tube 700x18/25 LV60mm

Pedals: Shimano Clipless Spd-SL R540 (105) Pedals Black

Total Price inc Pedals: £865.40

I want to swap the saddle out for a Spech BG as I have always got on with them, but is there anything else you would change?

Ribble or Cube? Cube is about £100 cheaper without pedals, but has a slightly lesser groupset (Sora)

All opinions welcomed

gosshawk

Glad Im not the only one with that sort of opinion! I had a 2010 Giant defy 4 for a season, and paid about £500. It came with a lower than Sora groupset, rubbish brakes and tyres etc.
So I would be happy to pay an extra £300 for a full spec I want (except the saddle) and actually ride it until something breaks/wears out, rather than changing stuff just because it's pants.

Thanks for the advice!

centimani

Have you got a link for the Cube ?, it'd be interesting to see the specs.

I faced this last year, Ribble or Bianchi Impulso. I REALLY wanted the Impulso at £1200, but it came with part Veloce, part FSA running gear, the Bianchi was alloy, the Ribble full carbon, full Veloce groupset...for £1200.

Then comes the marmite opinions re Ribble themselves, some people vow NEVER to use them again, some (plenty actually) get good service at good prices and are more than happy.

With Ribble, you don't get skimped on spec, there's no cost cutting by substituting inferior parts (FSA MegaExo in Bianchi's case)...mush as I love Bianchi bikes, the lure of better spec was just too much to pass by.

gosshawk

This is the link to the Cube specs:
http://www.cube.eu/en/road/road-race/peloton/

I know exactly where you're coming from mate, and I couldn't agree more! It is a bit of a gamble ordering a mail order bike, but I have a good idea from past steeds what frame size I need and all that, so willing to take the gamble. Bought my Giant from a local place, took it out for the 5 min spin, but still ended up changing saddle, stem, brakes, handlebars. So I am happy to order with my fingers crossed! I spend the best part of 8 hours a day driving a van in a seat that is designed for anyone with a driving license in safety boots that have some vague universal sizing system - so I'm sure that spending 5-10 hours a week on a bike that's at least roughly my size wont do me any more harm.

Brakes are my pet hate with road bikes - they all have the potential to send you hurtling down the tarmac at 30+ mph straight out of the factory, but most manufacturers seem to forget that you might like to stop at some point.
Definitely paying a bit extra at the outset to get a good all-round spec.

Also, reviews don't phase me too much - most people are usually only motivated to write a review if they've received dire service - which happens to some people no matter what business it is - always ones to slip through the net. How many people ordered their bike off Ribble, received it fine and ride it without writing a review to say that they got what they ordered?

I did look at the Ribble carbons, they are stunning, just can't justify the cost to the mrs......for now!