Ribble CGR Series

[R5_BOY]

So after much research and like a few others on the forum i've opted for a Ribble CGR. Wait times pretty good and potentially could arrive in February which I'm fine with.

However I'm stuck which spec to go..ideally would like to keep around 2k. But do I go carbon, aluminium , alloy, 725 variant. Then theres the choice of SRAM or Shimano. I'm new to the whole biking world so alot of this is alien to me. Is there a setup anyone would recommend in particular? I don't want an overkill bike which I don't need but at the same time I want something decent thats going to last me a good number of years and alot of riding.

Pretty sure I'd like the simplicity of a 1 x set up so ive got that far!

Thanks for any help or advice

[numtumfutunch]

Plenty of other threads here but what do you want to with it?

My (nearly) new gravel bike is on two sets of wheels
One with nobblies and one with slicks

I use it off road where it's ace on the nobblies and as a winter road bike with proper mud guards and slicks

I can change both wheels and mudguards in ten minutes

As I use it on the road I went 2x11
If I always rode off road 1x11/12/13 would be fine

Cheers

[OttoMattik]

I went through the same decision making process as you though the budget was half that and ended up with a Boardman ADV 8.9. Only thing was started off wanting a 1x but ended up with a 2x, and glad I did as it's not massively more complicated but the greater range of gears does make a difference when on the tarmac.

If you're set on the Ribble range - the CGR SL would be my choice. There's one at £2k which looks to have everything you need - https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-sl-shima...

[Deep]

R5_BOY said:

So after much research and like a few others on the forum i've opted for a Ribble CGR. Wait times pretty good and potentially could arrive in February which I'm fine with.

However I'm stuck which spec to go..ideally would like to keep around 2k. But do I go carbon, aluminium , alloy, 725 variant. Then theres the choice of SRAM or Shimano. I'm new to the whole biking world so alot of this is alien to me. Is there a setup anyone would recommend in particular? I don't want an overkill bike which I don't need but at the same time I want something decent thats going to last me a good number of years and alot of riding.

Pretty sure I'd like the simplicity of a 1 x set up so ive got that far!

Thanks for any help or advice

I'm sure you've done more research than me but I was somewhat put off Ribble by some very bad reviews. Some people seemed to have been treated appallingly.


https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=hp&ei=a...

[OttoMattik]

Deep said:

I'm sure you've done more research than me but I was somewhat put off Ribble by some very bad reviews. Some people seemed to have been treated appallingly.


https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=hp&ei=a...

My limited research on Ribble leads me to believe good bikes, patchy CS. The situation hasn't been helped due to the massive spike in everyone buying bikes during lockdown and they've suffered as a result. Online opinion also seems to indicate that a doubling of their estimated times is not too far off what to expect, so adjust your expectations accordingly.

The option to order at least and then wait for the bike to arrive is tempting, as most other places and brands won't even let you order something until it's in stock, and even then it's a race as the stock ends up being snapped up immediately.

[Deep]

OttoMattik said:

My limited research on Ribble leads me to believe good bikes, patchy CS. The situation hasn't been helped due to the massive spike in everyone buying bikes during lockdown and they've suffered as a result. Online opinion also seems to indicate that a doubling of their estimated times is not too far off what to expect, so adjust your expectations accordingly.

The option to order at least and then wait for the bike to arrive is tempting, as most other places and brands won't even let you order something until it's in stock, and even then it's a race as the stock ends up being snapped up immediately.

Thanks. It's the doubling of the wait time which will be the biggest issue. They are quoting Feb/March for most bikes. If that's actually going to be June/July then that's a huge issue for me and I suspect most people. You can understand how so many people are pissed off.
That's why people like Sigma, Balfes etc won't let you pre order etc.

Ribble should just be more transparent. I'm happy to wait until Feb but not July

[xflowRich]

Just to offer balance against the customer service / delivery reviews:

I ordered a CGR Al in June-ish, when estimated delivery date was end-August. The bike arrived on 2nd September. Dead happy with it; arrived perfectly set up and is (he says quietly) every bit as enjoyable as my double-the-price Specialized Roubaix. Very happy with it.

[Master Bean]

My friend bought one for about £2k. It's carbon with Shimano 105. 50/34 up front and an 11*32 on the back. Bought the Mavic Allroad upgrade for an extra £50. It came with 40mm tyres but he's fitted 32s and likes it alot. Full length mudguards too.

Edited by Master Bean on Thursday 17th December 19:50

[R5_BOY]

Thanks all for the input. My other consideration is Dolan, has anyone had any experience with them? Website doesn’t seem to specify wait times ? So looking like up to the 30 days they quote?

[lufbramatt]

Bought a Ribble CX SL at the end of summer, it arrived 2 weeks before the estimated delivery time. Guys at the Bluewater showroom were really helpful. Build quality was spot on. I specced it with a Mavic wheelset which came with tubeless tyres, they were included in the box so I have a spare set of road tyres to go on it if I don't want to run CX tyres. No issues here, really pleased with it.

[Harpoon]

R5_BOY said:

Thanks all for the input. My other consideration is Dolan, has anyone had any experience with them? Website doesn’t seem to specify wait times ? So looking like up to the 30 days they quote?

I've only bought frame/forks from Dolan but when I had a few queries on the headset & cable routing during the build, they answered e-mails quickly.

[Comacchio]

Harpoon said:

I've only bought frame/forks from Dolan but when I had a few queries on the headset & cable routing during the build, they answered e-mails quickly.

Myself and a few others on the forum bought from Dolan back in June/July and suffered some waits and poor customer service - delays responding to emails etc. The issue back then I was told was the sheer demand combined with annual leave. In terms of the bike and any other customer service I can't fault them. Recently been responding fairly quickly. I suspect they've worked through most of their backlog by now - if it shows no expected delivery date on the order page then chances are they have bikes in stock just now.

I had to wait on my frame being delivered from China - ordered 4th July and the bike was delivered 10th September.

[R5_BOY]

Comacchio said:

Myself and a few others on the forum bought from Dolan back in June/July and suffered some waits and poor customer service - delays responding to emails etc. The issue back then I was told was the sheer demand combined with annual leave. In terms of the bike and any other customer service I can't fault them. Recently been responding fairly quickly. I suspect they've worked through most of their backlog by now - if it shows no expected delivery date on the order page then chances are they have bikes in stock just now.

I had to wait on my frame being delivered from China - ordered 4th July and the bike was delivered 10th September.

Great thanks for reply - what bike did you go for? We’re you happy with the quality of the product when arrived?

[Sway]

OttoMattik said:

I went through the same decision making process as you though the budget was half that and ended up with a Boardman ADV 8.9. Only thing was started off wanting a 1x but ended up with a 2x, and glad I did as it's not massively more complicated but the greater range of gears does make a difference when on the tarmac.

If you're set on the Ribble range - the CGR SL would be my choice. There's one at £2k which looks to have everything you need - https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-sl-shima...

That's a banging spec and bike for two grand.

[Comacchio]

R5_BOY said:

Great thanks for reply - what bike did you go for? We’re you happy with the quality of the product when arrived?

Apologies only just seeing your response.

I went for the Dolan GXC with Shimano GRX 1x11 RX810. Specced up with Night black/Power red colour, 40T upfront and 42T rear, Deda Gravel 100 bars, Hunt 4 season wheels and mudguards.

Over the moon with the quality of the bike, well worth the wait.