[DP1]

I have a £1000 budget and am drawn to Planet X or Ribble carbon bikes – any thoughts?

Should I also look at Canyon AL or Spec Allez elite, both with 105, instead?

How can Ribble sell an ultegra equipped bike for £1000?

Topic

[Jimthebikeguy.com]

On personal experience, as a
On personal experience, as a mechanic who has to deal with their customer service, stay away from planetx.

[Paul7189]

SpikeBike wrote:

SpikeBike wrote:

Does look good. No good if you are 5″10 apparently no one is ever that height

 

Yeah i feel the pain on that one. On an unrelated note… anyone want to buy a 1 year old bike thats slightly too big for me?

[jerome]

kev-s wrote:

But it means the UK distros have less and less sales due to the groupsets/finishing kits being avaible much cheaper than other shops can sell for

Where do you see PX selling full groupsets?

They sometimes discount heavily a few parts, but not enough to build a bike. As for the finishing kit, they order OEMs parts branded to their name, like most do.

[mancsi]

I’ve got a Ribble Gran Fondo.

I’ve got a Ribble Gran Fondo. Had it 2 years now and it’s been an absolute dream. Never had any issues with frame or group set. I bought it over the internet and it’s likght and responsive! I am looking at getting either a Dolan Rebus or the Endurance Disc. 

[kev-s]

aegisdesign

aegisdesign

Of course not but the likes of Specialized, Trek or Cannondale dont buy groupsets in bulk direct from the manufactuer and then fit some of them to their bikes and then sell the rest of the groupsets separatley on their websites

This has happend on Finishing kits as well, they purposly over order for the amount of bikes they are building and sell the unused finishing kit at knock down prices

The groupset/finishing kit manfactuers dont really care as they are selling their product in bulk

But it means the UK distros have less and less sales due to the groupsets/finishing kits being avaible much cheaper than other shops can sell for

Even the UK shops complain to the UK distros about them and they have to explain its not them selling to them so cheap, its the manufactuer and they are annoyed too but cant do anything about it

 

 

[aegisdesign]

2old2mould wrote:

PX Pro: Comfortable bike albeit a bit flexy if you hammer it. The frame has been around for years and is well regarded by most, and has external routing for the cables so easy to work on yourself as a beginner. Decent choice, think of it as a Ford Fiesta of the bike world.

Now replaced by the Pro Carbon Evo btw https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/road-bikes/pro-carbon-evo

[aegisdesign]

kev-s wrote:

Personally id stay away from Ribble and Planet X

Had warranty issues with Ribble a few years ago and after 3 bikes i finally got my money back after involving trading standards

Planet X are better but i do hear quite a few people moan about warranty

Reason they can do Ultegra equipped bikes cheap is the groupsets tend to be grey imports

A friend who works for a UK distro says Planet X dont like to deal with UK distro companies if possible and rather go direct to the manufactuer and buy in bulk, hence the cheaper prices

Do you think Specialized, Trek or Cannondale go to their local distributor for parts or import them from the OEM directly?

[2old2mould]

I’ve owned a Ribble Sportive

I’ve owned a Ribble Sportive Racing, a PX Pro Carbon and a Canyon Endurace AL. 

 

RSR: Odd sizing, horribly stiff ride… I mean really not pleasant. The rear stays are like scaffolding poles and the seatpost is a 31.6 size so no flex there either. I’d avoid it like the plague.

 

PX Pro: Comfortable bike albeit a bit flexy if you hammer it. The frame has been around for years and is well regarded by most, and has external routing for the cables so easy to work on yourself as a beginner. Decent choice, think of it as a Ford Fiesta of the bike world.

 

Canyon E-AL: Great bike. Initially went for a medium (I’m 5’9″) but found a small with a 120 stem suited me better. Has a great mix of stiffness and comfort. It replaced the RSR and it was like night and day to ride despite being alloy. The supplied carbon 27.2 seatpost has a lot to do with that. 

 

I have ridden the new Spesh Allez Elite. It’s a bit ‘boring’ and dead feeling, which I think is due to the new Geometry. The old Tarmac lookalike model was great fun to ride and a fantastic Crit weapon. 

 

I’d probably go for the Canyon to be honest, and then in a couple of years you can upgrade to a full Carbon bike and keep your trusty Canyon as your Winter ride. 

 

Hope that helps!

 

2o2m

[Joe Totale]

Griff500 wrote:

Griff500 wrote:

Ribble appear to be heavy for carbon bikes do they not?

It’s hardly going to challenge an Emonda but it’s not too bad considering the fork has an alloy steerer. 

If you’re that way inclined it’d be easy to get it under 8kg by swapping out the wire bead tyres, changing the finishing kit for some lighter bits (they had to save money somewhere!) and maybe a wheelset change as Aksiums aren’t the lightest. 

I bought a Dolan E’tape a few years ago as my first proper road bike and for that purpose it’s been brilliant, it’s no lighter than this Ribble bike mind and to be honest I doubt there’s much difference between the two. 

[joeegg]

   It is very hard to look

   It is very hard to look past the Ribble when you look at the spec.Depends if you’re happy dealing over the internet if the store isn’t close. That would be same for Canyon as well. I wouldn’t discount aluminium as a good quality alu frame will ride just as well or better than a cheap carbon.

[Griff500]

Ribble appear to be heavy for
Ribble appear to be heavy for carbon bikes do they not?

[The Gavalier]

Have you considered a Dolan?

Have you considered a Dolan?

[kev-s]

Personally id stay away from

Personally id stay away from Ribble and Planet X

Had warranty issues with Ribble a few years ago and after 3 bikes i finally got my money back after involving trading standards

Planet X are better but i do hear quite a few people moan about warranty

Reason they can do Ultegra equipped bikes cheap is the groupsets tend to be grey imports

A friend who works for a UK distro says Planet X dont like to deal with UK distro companies if possible and rather go direct to the manufactuer and buy in bulk, hence the cheaper prices

 

[AfterPeak]

Does look good. No good if
Does look good. No good if you are 5″10 apparently no one is ever that height

[Joe Totale]

If it’s this bike he’s

If it’s this bike he’s talking about then it’s full R8000:

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-sportive-racing-ultegra-black-summer-sale/

Ditch the 23mm rigid tyres for some better quality, wider, folding ones and you’ve got a great bike there. 

[Author]

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