Giant vs. Ridley

TiCoyote · Dec 3, 2012

So it's starting to look like new bike time. I ride an Airborne Torch, which is a great bike, but a little heavy, and not really fitted for me.

Option 1: Giant TCR Advanced, Ultegra, with Giant Wheels, $3100 from LBS.

The advantage here is that I can get fitted at the LBS. It comes with nice wheels, and love that new Giant Overdrive head tube.

Option 2: Ridley Excalibur, Ultegra, Mavic Aksium Wheels, $3000 from Comepetitive cyclist.

Ridley makes a great bike. This might be a little lighter. Also I'm wondering if the classical geometry would be better for me. I have long arms and legs, but a short torso. I always thought the compact geometry would be stiffer and better for climbing, but now I'm not sure sure.

Thoughts?

looigi · Dec 3, 2012

IMO, the Giant and Ridley will both be significantly stiffer than the Airborne. Especially in CF, details in the materials design, layup, etc have a bigger influence then whether the TT is sloping or not, and in choosing between these two isn't a significant consideration. Giant is a huge (NPI) vertically integrated manufacturer which can provide benefits in delivering value. I've bought bikes from CC with no complaints and excellent support, but patronizing your LBS may have some additional value to you, one of which is getting a fitting. If you need it and they're competent at it, that can be a significant consideration.

IMO these considerations point toward the Giant, but there are other factors which may sway your judgement in the other direction.

pulser955 · Dec 3, 2012

If the Ridley fits get that. I have an 06 Excalibur and I am in love with it. It's one of the best bikes I have ever ridden. What I love about Ridley is there pant work. They don't use decals. Every thing you see is pant.

Ventruck · Dec 4, 2012

.....

TiCoyote · Dec 4, 2012

So here's another way to look at it: which bike is a better value? I think Giant is the biggest bike company in the world right now. If you buy a bike from them, you have all of the advantages of economies of scale for their purchasing power, R&D, and warranty support. But with a big company, things are more likely to slip through the cracks, and each customer is less important.

Ridley is a much smaller brand. It's probably more expensive for them to buy and make every part. However, their attention to detail may be greater, and they will care more about the customer.

Used2Run · Dec 4, 2012

pulser955 said:
If the Ridley fits get that. I have an 06 Excalibur and I am in love with it. It's one of the best bikes I have ever ridden. What I love about Ridley is there pant work. They don't use decals. Every thing you see is pant.

I didn't know that bikes wear pants

pulser955 · Dec 4, 2012

Used2Run said:
I didn't know that bikes wear pants

I hate the English language. I am talking about paint not pants. :mad2:

pulser955 · Dec 4, 2012

TiCoyote said:
So here's another way to look at it: which bike is a better value? I think Giant is the biggest bike company in the world right now. If you buy a bike from them, you have all of the advantages of economies of scale for their purchasing power, R&D, and warranty support. But with a big company, things are more likely to slip through the cracks, and each customer is less important.

Ridley is a much smaller brand. It's probably more expensive for them to buy and make every part. However, their attention to detail may be greater, and they will care more about the customer.

I don't know if one bike is a better value then the other. I guess if you like one bike more then the other then it's an easy question. With Giant you get a lifetime warranty Ridley gives you 5 years. I still say get the Ridley there bikes tend to have long top tubes. So fitting could be an issue. The fit is perfect for me. My bike is an 06 and I still love it. The only way I would replace it would be with a new Ridley.

Ventruck · Dec 5, 2012

I don't have anything bad to say about Ridley customer care, but I highly doubt it would prove as a distinguished factor over Giant. I really think the LBS component that comes with buying the TCR really sets it ahead.

skinewmexico · Dec 5, 2012

I'd get the Ridley Noah RS with full Ultegra from Competitive Cyclist for $2499, and buy some Boyd wheels for $550. Everyone rides a Giant.

Bosock · Dec 5, 2012

The size of the company does not equate into value...look at Trek. Based on the limited info posted by the OP, the Ridley is the better value as it has the same flight deck, better wheels, and comes in at $100 less. Honestly so many factors come into play it is hard for us to tell you specifically what we would recommend with the bikes coming in so close. If you have access to a ridley dealer in your area i would ride both and see which one you prefer. If you dont, ride the Giant and if you love the ride then your sold, if not then research the Ridley far more. I agree with supporting your local LBS if they are decent folk...we have a couple around here i would buy the opposite brand they sold just not to deal with them and we have a couple i would buy there brand to work with them...so my take on supporting your LBS is a matter of do they deserve your support...if they do that is definitely a leg up in ensuring you will get the most out of your purchase. I personally like the Ridley and when i did my testing before i bought my S-Works I would have to say I liked the ride of the Ridley. Giants are an oddity to me...they are always near the top of my purchasing list but nothing stands out to the point I am sold on the bike and end up going a different route. This is true with most of the people in our riding group when they go get bikes...they all like the Giant...they cant find much fault...but generally end up purchasing something different. Either way i think both bikes would be a win and total enjoyment. However, if i could ride the Giant and LOVED the ride, the LBS were bike enthusiasts and not salesman, I would probably pursue the Giant...if the ride didnt sell me i would keep looking and research the heck out of the Ridley or test ride other bikes.

Ajost · Dec 5, 2012

Unless you have to have ultegra, I picked up my 2012 Cannondale Supersix 105 for
$1799. Added Boyd Vitesse Alloy clinchers for $570, Total= $2369. Would have plenty of money left over for handlebars, stem, and new seat.

I love my Supersix

Something to consider.

v/r

Ajost

2012 Cannondale Supersix 105

Vengeance81 · Dec 5, 2012

If it's a matter of $100, I would go with the Giant as that is the one you will be able to take on a test ride.

terbennett · Dec 5, 2012

I'm not a fan of compact design frames but I'd still give it to Giant. Great bikes, great value and great support. Ridley probably offers the same but the taking your bike for a ride before buying it says everything. Giant.

kegbert1 · Dec 9, 2012

Typical Snarky Roadie Response

Used2Run said:
I didn't know that bikes wear pants

Pulser955- Used2Run is a fine example of the typical superiority complex Roadie Snob...I am a mountain biker first and roadie 2nd. I love to road bike, but have huge disdain for snarky road attitudes like Used2Run...I think that it is cool that roadies from all over the world opine here, especially since road cycling long steeped history hails from Europe...

Pulser955, please forgive our rude sarcastic road brethren Used2Run...most of the RBR community appreciates your opinion despite the impeccable spelling...we understood what you meant.

For what it is worth in this thread, I own a 2009 Ridley Excalibur, with a Campy Chorus 10 speed gruppo, and White Industry Hubs, Kinlin hoops, x-ray spokes...The Excalibur is, snappy, lively, responsive and quick. Before purchasing my Excalibur, I demo-ed a Specialized Tarmac, Roubaix, Cannondale Synapse, Trek, but not the Giant products. I personally liked the Ridley Excalibur the most.

Warpdatframe · Dec 9, 2012

I would cry if you bought that bike from competitive cyclist. Go support your local bike shop and and get the giant. My dad has a giant tcr and it's a great bike.

as300 · Dec 25, 2012

Has anyone ridden a Ridley Noah RS? The competitive cycles deal is a good one but not being able to test it out does give me some concerns. I have read good things about the Noah but ????

skinewmexico said:
I'd get the Ridley Noah RS with full Ultegra from Competitive Cyclist for $2499, and buy some Boyd wheels for $550. Everyone rides a Giant.

Lelandjt · Dec 25, 2012

If you buy a bike from the local shop they'll likely give you a discount on accessories bought at the same time, give you a fitting, and let you test ride different sizes. They'll also treat you differently in the future if you wheel a bike with their sticker into the service department than if you come in with an obvious mail order ride. I'm not saying they'll be rude to you otherwise but buying a bike from a shop often gets you some special treatment like free minor adjustments and the mechanic dropping what they're doing to take care of your bike right away. I often get comments from the service manager like "go over the whole bike and make sure everything's good" when a regular custom brought it in for a spoke replacement. When someone who bought their bike and most parts online brings a bike in it gets put in the waiting list and only the work they specify and pay for is done.

NJBiker72 · Dec 25, 2012

A really good Lbs here carries Giants so my next bike (years away) will likely be a Giant. But i do wish ot was easier to find different brands from lbs. Ridley really does make nice looking bikes but I would not want to buy online.

hppy4u · Dec 27, 2012

I ride a Ridley Noah and a Phaeton and would have to say that the Ridley Noah RS is a nice alternative if you are open to an aero road frame. Before I bought my Phaeton I was looking at a Noah RS as a nice backup bike to my Noah and would have to say that the RS was very similar to my Noah. The only reason I didn't get the RS was because at the time there weren't too many discounts to be had on RS model frames/bikes whereas I bought the Phaeton for $599. It was really hard to ignore the $1500 difference coupled with the fact that I wanted a rain bike with the same geometry as my "fair weather" bike.

I have also recently test rode a Giant TCR advanced just out of curiousity due their recent frame testing publication and found them to be a very nice bike as well. If you are content with the componentry on your current bike I have found that most of the TCR Advance framesets can be had for ~$1400 (last years model). This would allow you to save some money or build it up with whatever your heart desires. All in all the TCR is a nice bike but I didn't walk away "wanting" one. Nothing really stood out but that can sometimes be a good thing in that there was nothing to complain about.

Giant vs. Ridley

TiCoyote

looigi

pulser955

Ventruck

TiCoyote

Used2Run

pulser955

pulser955

Ventruck

skinewmexico

Bosock

Ajost

Vengeance81

terbennett

kegbert1

Warpdatframe

as300

Lelandjt

NJBiker72

hppy4u

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