Sy Reene

Not cheap, but relatively speaking, I think it's priced well in the general marketplace
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribbl...r-record-12x2/

Sy Reene

Noctilux.95

I'm sorry, but at $7K, its way overpriced! You can buy the SR 12-spd groupset and those Campy wheels for $4K. Lets say you go all out and spend $1K on cockpit, saddle, and bar tape. That leaves you paying $2K for a generic Chinese frame. You can buy a Colnago C60 or Bianchi Specialissima frame for under $3500. Would you buy a Ribble bike for $7K or a Colnago C60/Bianchi Specialissima for $8500?

joesch

Id buy Colnago if I was spending that much

Sy Reene

A Bianchi Specialissima for $8500. That said, you're quoting something way below MSRP, no? Bianchi's site shows it for $13,700
Specialissima Super Record | Bianchi USA
Anyway.. where do get the 'generic Chinese frame' thing? It's a branded Ribble frame and comes with a 3yr warranty.

kbarch

I think that was rhetorical: ...no different from.... Honestly, there are generic super light frames. Personally I don't place any value in Ribble branding, and while the warranty is worth something, its not so much. I'm sure I'd enjoy it, but can't say that bike would get a second glance.

Noctilux.95

Actually, I was wrong. The groupset and wheels cost $600 less than what I estimated. Competitive Cyclist has the Bianchi frame for $3500, Merlin the C60 for $3100.

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/bianchi-specialissima-road-frameset-2016?skidn=BIA000M-FLUCEL-S59CM&ti=UExQIENhdDpSb2FkIEJpa2VzICYgRnJhbWVzOjE6OTpjY0NhdDEwMDE3MQ==

https://www.merlincycles.com/colnago...set-93522.html

https://www.starbike.com/en/campagno...rake-standard/

https://www.merlincycles.com/campagn...els-95077.html

noodle soup

Merlin even has many colors available, as long as you are short.

Noctilux.95

Size 50 top tube is 54cm. Totally different sizing. I normally ride size 52 which means I would buy size 48 in the C60.

noodle soup

I ride a a 62cm.

I totally agree that the Ribble bike is overpriced for a generic Chinese frameset.

jitteringjr

Or you could go with a year or two old closeout name brand frame and pay $7k for a 12sp super record build. Plenty of options in the $2k range for great frame that way.

Campag4life

^^^ This
I like the SR build as a Campy fan. I am sure the Ribble frame is decent and even light. But has no cache...or resale and the geometry doesn't work for me either.
Find a slightly used top tier frameset and hang Campy group and wheelset on and now you have a special bike.

Again, I am sure the Ribble bike is very nice. But for $7K as others have noted, a bike enthusiast can build a nicer bike with a bit of digging.

chaadster

Yes, calling the Ribble "generic Chinese" would seem to be inaccurate and inappropriate, both literally and figuratively. Of course it is branded Ribble, so the exact opposite of generic, but also Ribble say they "designed and built" the frame, which I take to mean it is a proprietary manufacture, and not shared with anyone else. As we know, most brands do the exact same, with very few controlling their own carbon fiber manufacturing, and fewer yet outside of China, so using "generic Chinese" as a pejorative is both nonsensical and meaningless.

The valuable point has been made clearly by @Campag4life that the name Ribble holds no cachet, and so is undesireable on a frame at this price point.

The other problem, for me, is that the frame is weight limited to 90kg!

noodle soup

Ribble is a bike manufacturer, about as much as Performance was(before being purchased by ASI), and their R & D consists of looking through a few catalogs, and choosing the colors they want.

chaadster

That could be true, or it may not be.

Sy Reene

So, as has been mentioned, you can easily build a Campy equivalent bike if desired and cheaper. Actually, this is nothing new in that it's always been the case that if you want a Campy bike, the worst thing you can do from cost perspective is to buy any company's complete bike that's Campy equipped. A case in point, take Bianchi's Infinito CV model. Note how the Chorus model is inexplicably listed at $1400 higher cost than the Ultegra model that is almost identically otherwise configured. There should be no way that an Ultegra groupset costs over $1K MORE than a Chorus groupset, when I myself can buy a full Chorus groupset for $1K and an Ultegra groupset for $300. Chorus Infinito Vs Ultegra Infinito

Anyway, I thought the Ribble bike an interesting offering as a COMPLETE bike.. as I haven't come across any such animal yet with SR 12-speed. And, as referenced and linked, the SR Bianchi (albeit "only" 11 speed) lists for about $7K more than the Ribble.

Now, all that said, I was surprised when I went back to Ribble's site, and played in the Advanced Bike Builder tool. You can build up the SL bike with Record 12 speed (not SR though) if desired, and come it at a cost of $3500..

Campag4life

To share a bit more Sy Reene and this has been touched upon in a previous thread, I wouldn't pay a nickel more for 12s Campy if it came on a bike or I were to buy the groupset separate. And of course 12s costs a lot more than a nickel more compared to Campy 11s.

Above Chorus 11s...what I ride on one bike, there is no value added 'for me'. I also own an older but still Ultrashift 10s Campy bike and the extra gear to 11s for me again is pretty much unnoticed.

I tend to buy a newish bike...or new bike and then ebay the groupset. I buy Campy groupsets out of the UK and install. Agree, cheaper than paying an upcharge for Campy say over Ultegra.

I know a lot of guys buy off brand or unbranded bikes to ride....many China frames out there for example that owners love. I don't take this approach. I don't denigrate others that choose this path, I just feel like the premium of paying a bit more for a name brand framset is worth it...a bit for peace of mind that due diligence was performed in mfg, quality and testing even recalling any bad product that gets out there which it does time to time, but also for resale if its time for the old girl to move on for some new shinier model. I don't want to say buying a less heralded frameset is a false economy per se...probably isn't, but my thoughts on why I prefer a top tier manufactured frame which no question, one pays a bit more for.

noodle soup

where can you buy an Ultegra groupset for $300?

Sy Reene

noodle soup

Damn! I was gonna buy one.

gt3racerich

Here is a good deal on a Campy 12spd (with discs): https://www.canyon.com/en-us/road/ul...c-9-0-team-mov
I don't care for the paint scheme but I think it is a lot of bike for the money.

noodle soup

This bike has Record, instead of Super Record, but still a pretty good deal.

Fox Farm

I would agree. I don't think that you really need Super Record vs Record. Or for that matter the Chorus 12 speed when that is available. From a bling point of view, I would prefer the Canyon vs the Ribble bike. Those Bora wheels are pretty high end hoops for sure.

noodle soup

Campagnolo 12-spd isn't an improvement for me. I like cassettes with a tightly spaced gear range(12-25t 11-spd), and Campagnolo doesn't offer a cassette like that.

Sy Reene