Planet X or Ribble?

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

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. 

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

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

   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.

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

Have you considered a Dolan?

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

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

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

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

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

Is the Ribble one last years Ultegra?

I had a Spec Allez and now have the Canyon AL (both with 105). Canyon is a much better bike but no mudguard mounts.

If you want carbon (who doesnt) then you will have to get carbon or you will always think "i should have gone carbon"

I'd go for the Canyon (I have one and love it)...else Ribble tbh