New carbon bike - Ribble Gran Fondo?

on2wheels

Been looking for a while now, want to research before I buy. Fancied a Spesh Roubaix for comfort and long rides but I have doubts, the bike is expensive and the kit on board is low spec, paying £1,800 with sora gears doesn't seem good to me. Started looking at Ribble Gran Fondo, looks ok and you can spec the bike as you want, anyone have any views on this bike. Thanks in advance. Paul

sparklehedgehog

where the hell have you seen a roubaix with sora for £1800?

sport compact sl4 is £1600 and is 105 gears

evans are doing the sora version for just £1150 so then you could upgrade to ultra etc for under £500 and end up well specced for £1600 ish

crescent

I have a Gran Fondo and absolutely love it. Pics at the link below.
Like you say, the possibilities for adjusting the spec are numerous.

viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=12929155&p=18402726&hilit=fondo+allez#p18402726

ytchi

I was in Planet X this morning and saw the N2A in white - looked superb for the money

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXN2A680 ... -road-bike

freezing77

on2wheels wrote:

Been looking for a while now, want to research before I buy. Fancied a Spesh Roubaix for comfort and long rides but I have doubts, the bike is expensive and the kit on board is low spec, paying £1,800 with sora gears doesn't seem good to me. Started looking at Ribble Gran Fondo, looks ok and you can spec the bike as you want, anyone have any views on this bike. Thanks in advance. Paul

Look at the special edition Gran Fondo as opposed to the bike builder version. Works out at about £1000 with full 105 kit.

on2wheels

Sorry sparkle hedgehog that price i quoted was a typo!!! ;-(

1964johnr

Purchased one in March and have completed 400 miles on it so far. Relaxed geometry, light, handles fast speeds well. I have been up to 60kph with no problems. Frame shape is what attracted me initially. Lots of curves. Looks really good. 105 set up provides good gearing. There will be an issue with set up if you by a ribble which will require some adjustment which you can do yourself if you are okay with front mech adjustments and cable tightening. Although the cassette has 11 cogs, you will not need to use all of them, neither will you be able to use all of them due to front mech chain rub. I have mine set up to use the easiest seven gears in the big ring and the little ring which works well for me. Overall I am very pleased with it and would say it offers good value for money. You do need to make sure you order the right sizes in frame size, crank size and particularly handlebar stem so that your saddle sits plumb centre. I made a small error and went for a 110mm and should have gone for the 130mm, so I have had to move my saddle back to the limit position.

rolf_f

1964johnr wrote:

You do need to make sure you order the right sizes in frame size, crank size and particularly handlebar stem so that your saddle sits plumb centre. I made a small error and went for a 110mm and should have gone for the 130mm, so I have had to move my saddle back to the limit position.

This does illustrate a problem with ordering online if you don't know exactly what you need. The saddle doesn't need to sit plumb centre on the rails (that is a function of seat tube angles and seat post layback) and the solution to the stem being the wrong length is to get the stem exchanged for one of the correct length (which, hopefully, if it is in unused condition, the supplier would be prepared to do for no cost beyond postage). Moving the saddle back just makes a bad situation worse.

freezing77

Gran Fondo having a religious experience!

rattyc5

the gran fondos look great.not keen on the wire cable hanging so far down though. are the frames good?

crescent

rattyc5 wrote:

the gran fondos look great.not keen on the wire cable hanging so far down though. are the frames good?

They must be good they're "Crafted in italy". A bit of an in-joke amongst GF owners there
I find the frame very pleasing aesthetically and, so far, no obvious shortfalls. I think the frame is about 1kg but the fork often comes in for a bit of criticism for being heavy(ish) at 600g due to the aluminium steerer. Let's face it though, 2-300 grammes heavier than a carbon steerer to most of us is negligible.

duckson

Planet X SL Pro Carbon now with Ultegra 6800 for £1k.....

sparklehedgehog

duckson wrote:

Planet X SL Pro Carbon now with Ultegra 6800 for £1k.....

+1

rolf_f

Crescent wrote:

rattyc5 wrote:

the gran fondos look great.not keen on the wire cable hanging so far down though. are the frames good?

They must be good they're "Crafted in italy". A bit of an in-joke amongst GF owners there
I find the frame very pleasing aesthetically and, so far, no obvious shortfalls. I think the frame is about 1kg but the fork often comes in for a bit of criticism for being heavy(ish) at 600g due to the aluminium steerer. Let's face it though, 2-300 grammes heavier than a carbon steerer to most of us is negligible.

The current Gran Fondos have carbon steerers. I think the frames are probably lighter too - they are certainly less chunky looking.