Decent road bike?

[chris watton]

I have just moved to the Forest of Dean, and would like to buy a decent road bike with an aim to try and get fit again. (At the moment, I am so unfit, working from home mainly on the PC - I have got very lazy where exercise of any type is concerned..)

As we have such nice roads around here, I thought I could try and get fit using a bike – I used to enjoy cycling a lot when I was younger (45 now).
With this in mind, I have been trying to choose the right bike for the road, and for all weather. The best I have found is this:



http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbg/road-track-bike/...

Would this be my best bet. If so, what would be the best running gear to go with it, or is what’s already standard OK? (The areas it will be used are quite hilly)

Cheers,

Chris

[Jimbo.]

Budget?

[chris watton]

Jimbo. said:

Budget?

£300-£1000

[Rolls]

I'm sure they'll be loads of replies shortly, but as is the case with most things, you get what you pay for...

[chris watton]

Damn - just realised I didn't check the spelling of 'Bike' before pressing 'Submit' - Idiot!

I specced a bike up from the Ribble website, and it comes to just over £700:

Ribble Winter/Audax 7005 Horiz Frame Blue 50cm (C-Top)
CSN BlackStorm Mguard eyes Winter Forks 1 1/8" ITS
Ribble Headset Branded Ribble 1 1/8" Hidden (ITS) 45 x 45
Campagnolo 2013 Xenon / Veloce Black 10 Spd Double Groupset
Campagnolo Power Torque Outboard Cups Eng
Campagnolo Veloce Black Brakes Road
Campagnolo 10 Spd Veloce Cassette 11-25
Campagnolo 10Spd Veloce Chain
Campagnolo Veloce Black PT 10Spd Cset 172.5 39/53
Campagnolo Veloce Black 10Spd Dble Front Gear STD/CT Bz-on
Campagnolo Xenon 10 Spd Rear Gear Short
Campagnolo QS Escape Ergopowers Xenon 10Spd with cables
Rodi Pr Whls Airline 4 Clinchers Black 9/10/11 Camp
ITM Triango Carbon (31.8) Bars Black 40cm
ITM Triango Carbon (31.8) Stem Black 70mm
Pro-Lite Lodi Saddle Black
CSN Carbon S.E. Seatpillar 27.2 300mm
Prorace Nitro Rigid Tyre Black/Black 700x23mm
Prorace Inner Tube 700x20/23 SV42mm
ITM Cork Embossed Handlebar Tape Black
System Ex EM15 Dual Function Pedals

Is that a decent deal/set-up?

[mcelliott]

That spec looks pretty good, and also Ribble make some really nice frames, so I think this bike definitely ticks all you boxes. You have a decent budget to play with so if I were you I'd look at stuff like Canyon, Felt, Dolan, and you can get some really good deals on decent spec Cannondales at the moment.

[Gizmoish]

chris watton said:

Campagnolo 10 Spd Veloce Cassette 11-25
Campagnolo Veloce Black PT 10Spd Cset 172.5 39/53

Two /three things I'd say...

1. 50cm frame is quite small. I ride a 54cm and I'm only 31" inside leg. 70mm stem is quite short too. I don't know how tall you are of course.
2. Campagnolo finishing kit is supposed to be very nice, but the shifters are "marmite" - small thumb lever to go down gears is something some people like and some don't.
3. The gears you've chosen above are a 'standard double' front and a pretty racy rear cassette. That means your smallest gear is 39x25; just as a comparison Wiggo rides 11-27 at the back and sometimes more (using an MTB derailleur). As someone returning to cycling, I'd advise a 'compact double' at the front (34/50) and probably a 12-28 or even 12-30 cassette depending on how much juice you think you'll have in your legs.

Some will say it's wimpy having "granny gears", but I'd argue grinding your way to the top of a hill in a walking gear is still cooler than walking up a hill pushing the bike (or avoiding hills altogether).

[GTIAlex]

Have a read though this topic i started recently, might be of help?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[andySC]

I've had 2 Ribble winter/audax bikes over the years & they are "alright"...they're a great all weather winter trainer (hence having 2) but they are tanks, they're a bit lardy & not the liveliest ride. But for plugging away & racking up miles they're almost perfect. Both of mine were Shimano equipped (105 & Tiagra) & I thought, great value.

I use a Planet X Team Aluminium now as a winter hack & it's a completely different beast, in fact I had an hour on it this evening & tbh it flies, buzzy, alert & racy...ie not a Ribble (maybe not what you want tho)

I'd echo previous comments regarding chainset spec...if you're returning to cycling opt for a compact, there maybe a shock to the system (and legs & lungs) when all you can call upon is a 39/25.

Edited by andySC on Friday 12th October 23:09

[thiscocks]

Gizmoish said:

Wiggo rides 11-27 at the back and sometimes more (using an MTB derailleur)

....when riding in the alps!

Id say you can't go far wrong with a ribble alu. I had one as my first road bike and served me well for years. I think a 53/39 would be fine unless where you live is particularly hilly. Mine had a 53/39 and 12-23 on the back and I don't remember having to get off on hills (ok maybe once or twice!)

Good thing with the ribble is they are possibly the only bike in that price range available with campagnolo- which is ofcourse the best make of gears.

[chris watton]

Thanks for the advice so far guys, greatly appreciated.

I am quite short (5'7"), so thought I'd need one of the smaller frames. The roads around here are quite hilly, so what would be the best gear combinations? I don't want to spent so much money only to realise I have made the wrong choice and have to push the bike up hills. (Although I am so unfit right now that I may not have a choice, short of fitting a motor to the bike..)

[andySC]

chris watton said:

Thanks for the advice so far guys, greatly appreciated.

I am quite short (5'7"), so thought I'd need one of the smaller frames. The roads around here are quite hilly, so what would be the best gear combinations? I don't want to spent so much money only to realise I have made the wrong choice and have to push the bike up hills. (Although I am so unfit right now that I may not have a choice, short of fitting a motor to the bike..)

Well you've kinda answered you're own question right there. I'd go for a compact chainset (50/34t) with a 12/25t cassette. That should be a safe enough bet given the hilly terrain where you live. Even when you get stronger the compact option will still give you all the ratios you need.

[thiscocks]

I'm just under 6ft and I had the 58 which was a good fit. I should think a 54 would be ok for you. I think there is a size guide thing on there where you measure your inside leg ect.. A 50 is too small imo. Go for a 90mm or 100 stem.

Well if it is hilly a compact would give you a better chance of getting up the hills so might be the better choice. Go for 13-26 on the back and that will be enough to get you up the steepest climbs.

[Rouleur]

As well as speccing a 50/34 x 12-25 I'd suggest you upgrade the wheels to Campag Khamsins at £36.75 and the tyres to Conti or Vittoria at £13.95 the pair. These upgrades will make the bike much nicer to ride, and the rest of the basic spec will be fine.

[chris watton]

OK, I have re-specced the bike to the following, after taking note of the ratios the ratios and measuring my inside leg (comes to just under 502, if my calcs were correct - what a shortarse!)

Ribble Winter/Audax 7005 Horiz Frame Blue 50cm (C-Top)
CSN BlackStorm Mguard eyes Winter Forks 1 1/8" ITS
Ribble Headset Branded Ribble 1 1/8" Hidden (ITS) 45 x 45
Campagnolo 2013 Veloce Silver 10 Spd Double Groupset
Campagnolo Power Torque Outboard Cups Eng
Campagnolo Veloce Silver Brakes Road
Campagnolo 10 Spd Veloce Cassette 12-25
Campagnolo 10Spd Veloce Chain
Campagnolo Veloce Silver PT 10Spd Cset Compact 172.5 34/50
Campagnolo Veloce Silver 10 Dble Front Gear STD/CT Bz-on
Campagnolo Veloce Silver 10Spd Rear Gear Short
Campagnolo Powershift Ergos Veloce Silver 10Spd w/cbls Black
Campagnolo 2011 Pr Whls Khamsin Blk Clincher Blk 9/10/11 Camp
ITM Triango Carbon (31.8) Bars Black 40cm
ITM Triango Carbon (31.8) Stem Black 70mm
Pro-Lite Lodi Saddle Black
CSN Carbon S.E. Seatpillar 27.2 300mm
Prorace Nitro Rigid Tyre Black/Black 700x23mm
Prorace Inner Tube 700x20/23 SV42mm
ITM Cork Embossed Handlebar Tape Black
System Ex EM15 Dual Function Pedals

£765.90

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/specialedition.asp?a...

That seems Ok for the Campagnolo gear set version, I think?

[dave0010]

Going to watch this thread with interest. I nearly bought a Ribble bike this year so look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

Good luck with getting back into riding, you will have legs like tree trunks with the roads and hills around the forest.

[Rouleur]

Just noticed that you've gone for ITM carbon bars and stem - I really wouldn't if I were you, they're heavier, may pass on more vibration, and will be less crash resistant than alu alternatives like ITM 7075 ones.

I guess they exist purely for posers.

[Jimbo.]

Rouleur said:

Just noticed that you've gone for ITM carbon bars and stem - I really wouldn't if I were you, they're heavier, may pass on more vibration, and will be less crash resistant than alu alternatives like ITM 7075 ones.

I guess they exist purely for posers.

All about the carbon: gotta look good at the coffee stop!

re. these Ribble frames. It seems they're of a more "traditional" geometry, non? In this day and age of compact/semi-compact, sloping this-and-that, they're comparatively oddball, so a x-cm of a more typical-of-today bike, won't translate into the Ribble sizes. So be wary, pay VERY close attention to the geometry table and Ribble's sizing *guide* (which is just that: a guide).

[Roman]

I'd buy a Moda Bolero:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/...

Much higher quality frame, fork and wheels than the Ribble Audax. Similar performance and weight to a £1k Ribble or Planet X Superlight or Moda Rubato but it comes complete with mudguards, greater tyre clearance, rack mounts and has 'sportive' rather that pure traditional 'race' geometry.

Lovely looking bike too.

Available for only £800 here!:
http://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/prod/aud_0001_...

[dubbs]

Rouleur said:

Just noticed that you've gone for ITM carbon bars and stem - I really wouldn't if I were you, they're heavier, may pass on more vibration, and will be less crash resistant than alu alternatives like ITM 7075 ones.

I guess they exist purely for posers.

I thought Carbon helped lessen vibration, not add to it.