We reported yesterday that customers were left annoyed with Ribble once again, after several cases of postponed deliveries and poor service caught our eye on social media. And once that we let that piece out on the wild west of Facebook, a bunch of more people commented about the problems they faced when buying from the Lancashire-based bicycle manufacturer.
> Ribble Cycles hit by delayed deliveries again as customers complain of poor service
Here's a roundup of the comments:
I ordered one start of last year, it had a four month delay. Then, when it came to the expected delivery date, it got delayed. Then delayed again. Then again.
I ended up cancelling when it was delayed for the sixth time, pushing the delivery date to 8 months. Ended up buying a Niner from Merlin instead, which was actually better specced for the money.
I tried to order one and the delivery date was pushed back time and time again. Bought a bike from an independent bike shop in the end.
I was told everything was on track then it slipped with no comms. I spoke to someone to be told it was forks and groupset that was delaying my bike. A couple of months later I went to cancel to be told it was the handle bars and frame that were delaying it! I was then offered a hybrid, gravel bike and everything but a road bike. I have two Ribbles and love them but they have really put me off going near them now.
road.cc reader Ian603207 commented on our page:
Ended up cancelling my order. Due two months after order, delayed for another two months with 3 days notice. The reason for the delay?? No frames! The only thing they have direct control over.
Shame really as bikes are great, pre sale experience is good, but if they can't deliver, what's the point ? Customer service 'chat' lines are a joke, and they don't answer emails. Strange thing is, after cancelling an 'account manager' was in contact within hours, so there are people there.
But is it all doom and gloom? Amidst all the buyers left waiting for their bikes, we also had a few anecdotes of people getting their bikes shipped earlier than expected, and even reported of good customer service.
Just bought a CGR Ti with Ultegra. Changed some parts to suit me. Given an original build time of 3 - 4 weeks. Order regularly updated on the website. Bike ready to deliver after 3 weeks but I had to delay as going on holiday. Talked to customer service and they arranged dispatch for the day after I returned. Bike delivered next day. All as expected and the bike is perfect and rides great.
I've just bought a Ribble bike - it arrived within 2 days!
My Endurance SL with custom paint job came 2 months early with great communication all the way through. Can’t fault Ribble one bit. Plus, it’s an awesome bit of kit
I did custom build great communication and deliverd on time . Would use Ribble again.
What has your experience been like? You know what the live blog is for, so let us know!
If you didn't know, the building that houses our parent company F-At Digital, has been off access as a result of a fire at the end of last month. Fortunately, we didn't face any harm, but by the looks of it, the building is going to stay shut down by the end of this month, and it's affecting the businesses in the area...
Green Park Bike Station, a bike service and hire shop next to our office in Bath has launched a fundraiser forced by the enforced closure, and Tomas Jenkins is appealing for whatever assistance small or otherwise you can give.
"The timing couldn't be worse as bike hire and servicing were just hitting their usual seasonal peak. We only get 5-6 months in the bike shop to make or break the year and this one's really broken things."
So if you want to help out a local Bath bike business, here's your nudge.
If there was a genie who could grant you the power to slow down someone with your eyes, Thomas would have been made a deal with it in an instant.
Ahhh that was close. Happy with the ride but gutted not to finally get a Giro stage win. Congrats @EvenepoelRemco#littlebastardpic.twitter.com/WMH8a0fwDU
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) May 14, 2023
The 2018 Tour de France winner had to say goodbye to teammate Filippo Ganna with Covid as well a few days ago.
“Not bad for a guy with Covid"
I know Geraint Thomas made these comments for Roglič after stage eight but let me rehash it for yesterday's events too... (disclaimer: given Jumbo-Visma's Covid policy and their subsequent replies to media questions it seems unlikely those Roglič rumours are true).
Evenepoel, who beat Geraint Thomas by JUST 0.09 SECONDS at the stage nine time trial, has pulled out of the Italian Grand Tour after testing positive for Covid.
> Remco Evenepoel OUT of Giro d'Italia with Covid
— Remco Evenepoel (@EvenepoelRemco) May 14, 2023
While the "alleged" Remco fan club at road.cc will be "allegedly" disappointed, here are some other reactions from around the world:
Hugely depressing to lose Evenepoel from what was shaping up to be an epic GC battle at the Giro
— William Fotheringham (@willfoth) May 14, 2023
My only question about Evenepoel's abandon is why the team and the rider didn't wait until tomorrow to give the bad news. Announcing in the middle of the night, before the rest day that the Maglia Rosa abandons the Giro feels pretty surreal. #Giro
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) May 14, 2023
And this from the road.cc comments section:
List of full riders to pull from the Giro due to Covid:
Riders to have tested positive for 💉Covid-19 during the 🇮🇹Giro d'Italia so far:
🇧🇪Remco Evenepoel
🇨🇴Rigoberto Uran
🇮🇹Filippo Ganna
🇫🇷Clement Russo
🇮🇹Nicola Conci
🇮🇹Giovanni AleottiWishing every single one of them a speedy recovery!
— Stats Goddess - Dani (@Stats_Goddess) May 14, 2023
Although this does have the potential to make things more interesting. Ineos Grenadiers' Geraint Thomas now leads the GC and will wear the maglia rosa tomorrow, with Roglič just two seconds behind him. But just three seconds further behind him is Thomas' teammate Geoghegan Hart. Besides, Ineos Grenadiers have a got a total of five riders in the top 15, who are not going to make it easy for Jumbo Visma and the Slovenian.
But hey, we've got a Welshman leading the Giro, I can't complain too much.
I was just getting used to the three-day weekends but then the extra holidays had to suddenly stop. It's back to reality for me, but what better way to start the week than making sure you're all caught up with the weekend news.
> Councillor encourages cyclists to be “brave” on a 1.2m wide “safe” cycle lane
> UCI "condemns" Giro d'Italia teams using helicopters to shorten post-stage travel
> Three-time Olympic champion Ed Clancy joins police close pass operation
> Ribble Cycles hit by delayed deliveries again as customers complain of poor service
> Cyclist run over by drink driver in shocking footage released by police after man jailed
And of course, this happened too (road.cc may or may not be a Remco fan club, as per yesterday's allegations, and we may or may not be extremely bummed about this)