Kinesis TK3 or Ribble 365 Sportive?

dieselgeezer
dieselgeezer Posts: 231
edited November 2014 in Road buying advice
Which would make the best winter bike. Both about the same price & geometry but one aluminium & one carbon.
-- "I am but a spoke in the wheel of life" -- Ghandi

Comments

  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    TK3 no question. Top end alu > cheap carbon
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Grill wrote:
    Top end alu > cheap carbon

    But nobody is ever actually able to quantify why this might be the case; and simply saying it is never good enough! Me, I think it is an Old Bicyclists Tale...... :wink:
    Faster than a tent.......
  • freebs
    freebs Posts: 199
    My TK3 is a great bike. Not ridden the Ribble.
  • pmannion9
    pmannion9 Posts: 287
    I just built up a TK3 for winter and all round use.
    Also have aluminium and carbon bikes.
    Cant state how impressed I am with the TK3. Super stiff but with the carbon fork still comfy.
    It has a pretty race orientated geometry and very quick and light...
    I bought it mainly for its versatility..Takes full mudguards - no more cruds.
    Can take rack for occasional touring and also plenty good enough to race...
    Think there are some bargains on the frame if you shop around. Think I got mine for around £440 about 2-3 months ago..
  • infopete
    infopete Posts: 878
    My winter/shopping bike, it's got Shimano brakes now to replace the rubbish Tektro's.

    And a Tubus Airy so I can take panniers.

    IMG_0215.JPG

    I think it's a great bike.
    Oh and please remember to click on my blog:

    http://americanbicyclegroup.wordpress.com

    The more clicks I get the higher it creeps up the google radar :)
  • dieselgeezer
    dieselgeezer Posts: 231
    Infopete,
    Are you using 23's or 25's? If 23's do you think there's sufficient space for 25's?
    PS Snow already!
    -- "I am but a spoke in the wheel of life" -- Ghandi
  • infopete
    infopete Posts: 878
    dieselgeezer wrote:
    Infopete,
    Are you using 23's or 25's? If 23's do you think there's sufficient space for 25's?
    PS Snow already!

    The picture was taken at the end of March this year in our never ending winter :(

    The front tyre is a Continental Gran Prix 24 and the rear was a Michelin pro race 3 25mm. It's currently on Gran prix 24mm front and rear as they were cheap :)
    Oh and please remember to click on my blog:

    http://americanbicyclegroup.wordpress.com

    The more clicks I get the higher it creeps up the google radar :)
  • foghat
    foghat Posts: 16
    infopete,

    I'd be interested to know what size frame that is in your photo (Large?), and the following actual measurements (so I can compare with the geometry diagram):

    - head tube length (end to end)
    - seat tube length (centre to top)

    How is it at absorbing road vibration/shocks? How is toe overlap?

    Do you think '28mm' Gator Hardshells (actually about 26.75mm) will fit with mudguards in place?

    Regarding your Tubus Airy rack, have you found any rack-top bags that will attach satisfactorily to the narrow top? I have a Vaude Silk Road Small that fits well, but finding larger ones that work is proving harder.

    Thanks!
  • infopete
    infopete Posts: 878
    Foghat wrote:
    infopete,

    I'd be interested to know what size frame that is in your photo (Large?), and the following actual measurements (so I can compare with the geometry diagram):

    - head tube length (end to end)
    - seat tube length (centre to top)

    How is it at absorbing road vibration/shocks? How is toe overlap?

    Do you think '28mm' Gator Hardshells (actually about 26.75mm) will fit with mudguards in place?

    Regarding your Tubus Airy rack, have you found any rack-top bags that will attach satisfactorily to the narrow top? I have a Vaude Silk Road Small that fits well, but finding larger ones that work is proving harder.

    Thanks!

    I'll go and do some measuring and see if the tyres will fit. They wouldn't fit under my standard mudguards though.

    I've not used the ribble since last winter so I'll dust it too.
    Oh and please remember to click on my blog:

    http://americanbicyclegroup.wordpress.com

    The more clicks I get the higher it creeps up the google radar :)
  • letap73
    letap73 Posts: 1,608
    Rolf F wrote:
    Grill wrote:
    Top end alu > cheap carbon

    But nobody is ever actually able to quantify why this might be the case; and simply saying it is never good enough! Me, I think it is an Old Bicyclists Tale...... :wink:

    +1
  • infopete
    infopete Posts: 878
    infopete wrote:
    Foghat wrote:
    infopete,

    I'd be interested to know what size frame that is in your photo (Large?), and the following actual measurements (so I can compare with the geometry diagram):

    - head tube length (end to end)
    - seat tube length (centre to top)

    How is it at absorbing road vibration/shocks? How is toe overlap?

    Do you think '28mm' Gator Hardshells (actually about 26.75mm) will fit with mudguards in place?

    Regarding your Tubus Airy rack, have you found any rack-top bags that will attach satisfactorily to the narrow top? I have a Vaude Silk Road Small that fits well, but finding larger ones that work is proving harder.

    Thanks!

    I'll go and do some measuring and see if the tyres will fit. They wouldn't fit under my standard mudguards though.

    I've not used the ribble since last winter so I'll dust it too.

    I've had a look and I'm not sure 28mm tyres will fit then again I'm not sure why you would want them.

    Anyway if you're near Market Harborough you're welcome to try the bike out.

    :)
    Oh and please remember to click on my blog:

    http://americanbicyclegroup.wordpress.com

    The more clicks I get the higher it creeps up the google radar :)
  • foghat
    foghat Posts: 16
    Thanks for the offer, @infopete. Unfortunately I'm some distance from Market Harborough now, although I did a lot of riding in that area around 20 years ago.

    Did you manage to measure your Ribble 365's head tube (end to end) and seat tube (centre to top)? Is your frame a Large?

    How about the Tubus Airy rack - found any rack-top bags that fit well?

    Cheers!
  • infopete
    infopete Posts: 878
    Hi

    I've not measured the top tube. I'm sure an email to Ribble will give you this information.

    I only use antique Karrimor paniers on my Tubus and I've never tried a rack top bag. The Tubus is a bit too narrow to fix a tent to though as it wobbles about. My Omega has a wider rack that does a much better job and I use that for touring. The Ribble is my shopping bike. :)
    Oh and please remember to click on my blog:

    http://americanbicyclegroup.wordpress.com

    The more clicks I get the higher it creeps up the google radar :)
  • foghat
    foghat Posts: 16
    It's actually the head tube and seat tube dimensions that interest me - they are easy to measure whereas the top tube can be tricky to get right.

    I fear Ribble will just direct me to their geometry diagram, and the diagram is what I'm hoping to verify with some real-world data. They don't have any 365 frames in stock at the moment to be able to measure themselves either!
  • infopete
    infopete Posts: 878
    Hi

    The seat tube centre to top is about 56cm. The head tube is about 18cm.

    And I think the top tube is around 56/57.

    Regards

    Pete
    Oh and please remember to click on my blog:

    http://americanbicyclegroup.wordpress.com

    The more clicks I get the higher it creeps up the google radar :)
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Well I've just had my first ride this season on my 7 year old Racelight Tk, and I'd forgotten how good ride it was.

    And that's coming from the dry weather bike which is a CR1-SL.

    So I think if I was choosing now, I'd probably say go for the Tk3. No actually it's now the 4S.
  • foghat
    foghat Posts: 16
    infopete wrote:
    Hi

    The seat tube centre to top is about 56cm. The head tube is about 18cm.

    And I think the top tube is around 56/57.

    Regards

    Pete

    Thanks. So am I right guessing your frame's a Large?

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