Ridgeback bikes

fatherdougal · 20 Jul 2008 at 18:27

I have a 2004 Ridgeback Genesis. Took it in to the shop yesterday as I had a suspicion that I had managed to crack the fourth frame that I have had for the bike. Turned out that I was right. I have an 18 month old Bianchi via narone that, touch wood, is fine and though I am a big guy, 6'2" and 16 stone, I think that it is a bit crap really. All of them have broken in the same place, drive-side where the lower stay is welded on and all have cracked within a centimeter of the weld. Cheap Aluminium or bad geometry design? They have been alright at replacing the frame, lifetime warranty, but I am still more than a little peeved.

JBuk · 20 Jul 2008 at 18:35

which model is it?

is it road/ hyrbrid ?

fatherdougal · 20 Jul 2008 at 20:52

JBuk said:
which model is it?

is it road/ hyrbrid ?

Flat Bar hybrid/road thingy. I've spent quite a lot on it making it into a fast, fun and comfortable commuter. It's just that she is so prone to faults. We call her 'Trigger's bike' in honour of the broom from Only fools and horses.

Alasdair · 22 Jul 2008 at 23:31

I've heard similar with On One Inbreds, but that was down to chainsuck causing the chain to rip the frame apart under load. Was there any external damage to the chainstay?

HeadlessChicken · 23 Jul 2008 at 08:21

Alasdair said:
I've heard similar with On One Inbreds, but that was down to chainsuck causing the chain to rip the frame apart under load. Was there any external damage to the chainstay?

There was a chainsuck issue, but was mostly due to people installing the (then) new HTII cranks incorrectly. I have 2 inbreds, and it's not the frame's fault

Sounds as if OP has a certain weld point failing, which is very different (need some major chainsuck to actually break a steel frame structurally). Sounds like poor design / manufacture. Or maybe the geom isn't right for your build, altho 16st is nothing and any bike should be able to deal with that.

fatherdougal · 23 Jul 2008 at 14:29

Frame is 6061 Aluminium. The chainset also went the last time the frame cracked, bent the spiders and rings. Personally I think that the frames are not very well put together, lots of ugly marks around the welds and this is just the point where the frame takes the most punishment, drive-side. I would never, ever, buy another Ridgeback and think that I will foist the bike onto my nephew, with the new warranty frame. Can't decide whether to replace it with a Cannondale Bad Boy, Specialized Sirrus, Marin Pointe Reyes or a Specialized Tricross. I'll try and get into my LBS and give all of them a good try.