Ribble vs. Condor any difference except 50% price premium?

collie27 · July 2007

Been looking at the Ribble Dedacciai Carbon/Ultegra 10 Double as a purchase when work sorts out Cycle to Work scheme and this lunchtime went to Condor to look at their stuff to compare.

Both ranges seem to be all Dedacciai manufactured frames avilable in 5 sizes only and looking at this Ribble vs the Condor Baracchi I'm struggling to see a difference vs the £1100 and £1800 price tags for the same groupset.

Seem to be same damn bike to my untrained eye, any contrary opinions?

Ste_S · July 2007

It's the Dedacciai Nero Corsa frameset isn't it ?

There's quite a few companies who sticker up the same frameset, Dolan for one.

I'd imagine the components are somewhat different, even Condor can't get away with sticking £700 on the top

collie27 · July 2007

Many thanks for confirming my suspicion

Would love an education where the £700 goes on wheels, saddles and bars :shock:

I double checked and those are the respective prices for Ultegra equpped bikes.

So is the trick for London twats like me to get fitted instore at Condor and order a custom bike from Ribble?

collie27 · July 2007

Even better: :? Kona does same frame with same Aksium wheels as the Ribble and only 105 groupset for £1800 too.

http://www.konabikes.co.uk/2k7bikes/zing_deluxe_2k7.php

My eyes have been opened.

fluff. · July 2007

The Kona frame looks less tacky as well, imo anyway

Still, I'd want better wheels on my bike if I'm spending nearly 2 grand.

Ste_S · July 2007

On a side note, Dedacciai make the tubes, but who assembles the frame itself ? I wonder if it's possible to buy from them direct ?

Condor charge £900 for the Nero Corsa with their stickers on it, I wonder how much cheaper it is sticker less ?

acorn_user · July 2007

I think Deda supply those as complete framesets, although I do not know where they are made. I think they are supposed to use Toray CF. Toray is a Japanese firm that also supplies Pinarello.

El Tel · July 2007

Buy the Ribble. It's really good with Chorus and Campag Neutron Ultras. 7.5 kg all up inc pedals and cages.

FrankM · August 2007

"collie27: So is the trick for London twats like me to get fitted instore at Condor and order a custom bike from Ribble?"

I was intending to do this.

collie27 · August 2007

Condor charge £900 for the Nero Corsa with their stickers on it, I wonder how much cheaper it is sticker less ?

£695 with a Ribble sticker on it.

Ste_S · August 2007

collie27 wrote:

Condor charge £900 for the Nero Corsa with their stickers on it, I wonder how much cheaper it is sticker less ?

£695 with a Ribble sticker on it.

Does Bern post on here ? Why the extra £205 for Condor stickers over Ribble stickers ? Or is it not that simple ?

Eat My Dust · August 2007

Ste_S wrote:

collie27 wrote:

Condor charge £900 for the Nero Corsa with their stickers on it, I wonder how much cheaper it is sticker less ?

£695 with a Ribble sticker on it.

Does Bern post on here ? Why the extra £205 for Condor stickers over Ribble stickers ? Or is it not that simple ?

I wouldn't be surprised if it were that simple!!!!

gkerr4 · August 2007

Eat My Dust wrote:

Ste_S wrote:

collie27 wrote:

Condor charge £900 for the Nero Corsa with their stickers on it, I wonder how much cheaper it is sticker less ?

£695 with a Ribble sticker on it.

Does Bern post on here ? Why the extra £205 for Condor stickers over Ribble stickers ? Or is it not that simple ?

I wouldn't be surprised if it were that simple!!!!

It looks like it IS that simple

and actually - it is £325 more as the ribble frame is just £575

Eat My Dust · August 2007

They must have BIG windows at Condor!!!!

wildmoustache · August 2007

i guess Condor will charge what they can get away with ... they probably have higher overheads than Ribble being in London, so you'd expect some price differential, but the brand is also more desirable, and some consumers will clearly pay the premium for the brand.

I'd go for the Ribble no question and maybe put a (Condor) beside the Ribble decal.

Well done to the OP for exposing this !

graham_g · August 2007

That's quite a difference - but there's a shop to maintain in Central London, there's a very comprehensive fitting service and then there's hundreds of old C+ forum threads bemoaning the shite service from Ribble. I agree the gap should be a bit closer than it is but if we all just become penny pinching arseholes then the number of shops that offer good service for a slight price premium will drop even further. I'd rather spend an Extra 10-15% at somewhere like condor for a serious purchase, simply for the value of customer service and fitting services and not having to f**k around with couriers.

Just my tuppence worth.

wildmoustache · August 2007

Graham G wrote:

and not having to f**k around with couriers.

.

LMAO that you say this is a virtue of Condor

I know what you really mean...

graham_g · August 2007

Didn't think of that when I was typing it - just going by my recent experience with nationwide motorised parcel Delivery companies other than Royal mail/Parcelforce

Smeggers · August 2007

In defence of Ribble, I bought mine from the actual shop and found the "value of customer service and fitting services" to be excellent.

Its just the mail order side which used to have a bad reputation. Although I beleive its improved these days.

When comparing with Condor at least compare apples with apples.

wildmoustache · August 2007

Smeggers wrote:

In defence of Ribble, I bought mine from the actual shop and found the "value of customer service and fitting services" to be excellent.

Its just the mail order side which used to have a bad reputation. Although I beleive its improved these days.

When comparing with Condor at least compare apples with apples.

I'd defend Ribble too. their mail order stuff is good value. I got shamal ultras from them for £470 which ain't bad.

top_bhoy · August 2007

Smeggers wrote:

In defence of Ribble, I bought mine from the actual shop and found the "value of customer service and fitting services" to be excellent.

Its just the mail order side which used to have a bad reputation. Although I beleive its improved these days.

When comparing with Condor at least compare apples with apples.

I've had several orders to Ribble in the last several months and they have all arrived in Oz within 7 days from order (If you negate the effect of the Royal Mail strikes) - first rate service I'd say.

passout · August 2007

Very interesting so far. I'm planning to go carbon soon. Visited the Ribble shop in Preston and was impressed by the bike (great value.) and service. I narrowed it down to either this Ribble or either the £999 of £1300 version of the Focus Cayo. I'd obviously have to buy the Cayo online from Wiggle or I could the Ribble direct from the shop. The only thing stopping me going for the Ribble is the fact that I don't know much about them - I've seen very few reviews of their bikes. In contrast Focus seems to be recommended right left and centre in the cycling press. What do you think guys, Focus or Ribble? :shock:

wildmoustache · August 2007

can you please list the full spec of the focus and ribble so that we can make a decision ... has anyone ridden both??

OnTow · August 2007

Gents, are you sure you're comparing apples with apples?
Same wheels, tyres, headset, b.b, bars, stem, saddle, seatpost, chain (AKA finishing kit)?
If you can drop in to Ribble and get fitted properly, then maybe it's worth it.
Personally, forking out 100 notes and a day on the train for a round trip to Ribble, then back again for the service/spares/ongoing advice and maintenance is not worth it for me, as a Londoner.

The advice and help I've received in store at Condor (riding/fitness/nutrition/sizing etc) are great, and being just round the corner from the office, plus being able to pick a pair of decent quality components/clothes off the shelf, make it a worthwhile deal.
The sales guys really know their stuff - all being riders who happen to work in a shop... as opposed to some chains where they're shop assistants who happen to ride-occasionally.

Oh, don't forget to try a Planet-X though.

At least if you go to Condor, then you'll get a test ride - call in advance to arrange though,as they're victims of their own success (busy), plus they may not have your size for demo.

Eat My Dust · August 2007

I just bought a Focus Cayo. I was going to buy a Pinerello, but Mrs EMD wasn't having any of that!!!! I must say that I think I made the right decision, the Focus is half the price of the Pinerello, but I bet that there isn't much difference in performance. The Focus is a flying machine, I can't believe how much better it is than my Ambrosio (even though that was more expensive!)

BTW, the Focus is much better looking in the flesh (carbon) than it is on Wiggle's website!!

Eat My Dust · August 2007

I forgot to add that I order my bike on Thursday, was delivered yesterday, took it out of the box, adjusted the handle bars, put the pedals on, and away I went. Great service!!

wildmoustache · August 2007

I don't know, I think some people like to feel part of the in-crowd if they speak to shop assistants, when in reality that assistant can often be talking balls and/or knows far less than you can establish on the internet in half an hour. if you want to pay for that, then fair play

But having access to a good mechanic is valuable for lots of people, and I feel you do get treated better than you would otherwise if you also buy some products from the shop. no way i'd buy a bike at a huge premium though.

passout · August 2007

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 5360026005
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 5360026046
Both bikes have the same frame.

To answer your question here are the links for the two focus bikes that I'm considering.
I do agree that a decent shop fitting is an advantage, but the focus sounds great and is good value (like the Ribble). My main concern is how the Ribble rides and is the frame as good as the Focus Cayo? Basically I need more info. on the Ribble carbon.

wildmoustache · August 2007

a number of guys in my club have the ribble and like it very much. also, at least one has the dolan and likes it. indeed, i think one may even have the condor. not sure if he knows about all this.

i see loads of those carbon ribbles going around and i've never heard a bad word about them. must be someone on this forum that has one. they look nice as well

passout · August 2007

Thanks wildmoustache & Mr EMD - that's useful.
Anybody else got any info. on carbon ribbles or indeed 'foci'.

Ste_S · August 2007

gkerr4 wrote:

Eat My Dust wrote:

Ste_S wrote:

collie27 wrote:

Condor charge £900 for the Nero Corsa with their stickers on it, I wonder how much cheaper it is sticker less ?

£695 with a Ribble sticker on it.

Does Bern post on here ? Why the extra £205 for Condor stickers over Ribble stickers ? Or is it not that simple ?

I wouldn't be surprised if it were that simple!!!!

It looks like it IS that simple

and actually - it is £325 more as the ribble frame is just £575

Ribble is £575 frame only
Condor is £899 frame+forks+headset

Ribble vs. Condor any difference except 50% price premium?

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