Boardman Bikes

ilovesherbet

I was after a nice new fast commuter bike and bought the Boardman Road Comp. What a laugh. The brake levers touched the bars and the brake pads weren't even near the rim. The cassette was knackered, before I even took it out. It's managed 13miles according to the cycle computer, thankfully not a Boardman, and it's been in twice to have new parts fitted under warranty. The Bikehut specialist even admitted he didn't really know how to sort the gears properly, he "hoped" the bike would be in working order after he "fixed" the bike today. Couldn't garantee it though. Please give your money to your LBS and don't give anymore to Halfords.

farrell

Take it to a proper bike shop and have it set up by someone who knows what they are doing. I'm sure when this is done it will feel great to ride.


There should be a law against putting the words 'Bikehut' and 'Specialist' together.

spasypaddy

i saw someone on one today and asked him what he thought of it and he said it was his first ride on it and he was very happy... so if you are reading this man who was in Barnet i'm the cannondale rider who lost his mate.i

cooper.michael1

The brakes wont be boardmans fault, it will be the person who set it up.....and can be fixed in about 30 seconds. The cassette will be a shimano, most probably Tiagra, which will be found on all the same level Specialized and Treks, again not really boadmans problem.

If you buy a bike from halfords dont expect them to be able to fix it, just how if you buy a television from Tesco. Learn some basic bike maintanance, from the park tools websitea and you will be fine.

ilovesherbet

Never really blamed Boardman per se. I fixed the brakes myself. The only reason I took it back twice was to have defective parts swapped because I obviously don't feel like having to buy a cassette after taking the bike out the shop. What happens if someone who doesn't know anything about bikes buys one because of the name on them and goes down a hill with the brakes not set up properly. My complaint is with Halfords.

andyp

ilovesherbet wrote:

My complaint is with Halfords.

So why does the title of the thread suggest otherwise? Don't you think you should change it to clarify who your beef is actually with?

kevin_stephens

Er, surely Boardman Bikes and Halfords are one and the same?

jibi

If I put my name to a bike I would expect to take the flak, as well as the plaudits,

but then I wouldn't sell them through Halfords

george

richardjallen

If you took it to a proper bike shop to be setup it would cost you. Would Bikehut cover that on their warranty? I guess they would not but if they are that bad at doing it themselves then you have not much option.

NorwegianBlue

IME Bikehut are very, very variable. Some of their staff are very good mechanics, some don't have a clue. It does seem however that like most shops the capable staff work monday to friday, while the part time, minimum wage, monkeys work weekends. So if you want the job doing right take it in on a weekday.

I've encountered similar idiots at other big name chains, which is in a way even less excusable, Halfords are a car/outdoorsy/bike shop whereas the others only sell bikes.

Finally, just to give the other side of the coin, at my last house I stopped shopping at my LBS. It seemed every inch the proper bike shop, but neither of the staff knew any more than me (and I'm no pro) but one of them was a complete moron who couldn't deal with anything that didn't have 20" wheels.

giant_man

Don't know why you're surprised quite honestly. All these bikes are Halfrauds 'specials' with Chris Boarman's name on the tubing.

I mean, for the money, what do you expect? Surely not reliability and quality parts?

You wasted your money because you were pulled in by the hype that an ex british champion has brought out a range of bikes and has given Halfrauds the 'privilege' of selling them.

Ste_S

giant mancp wrote:

Don't know why you're surprised quite honestly. All these bikes are Halfrauds 'specials' with Chris Boarman's name on the tubing.

I mean, for the money, what do you expect? Surely not reliability and quality parts?

You wasted your money because you were pulled in by the hype that an ex british champion has brought out a range of bikes and has given Halfrauds the 'privilege' of selling them.

Nowt wrong with the bikes themselves, just the muppets who assemble them.

bryanm

Chris Boardman bikes from Stan Boardman cycleshops....

The bikes look well specced, but Halfords mechs who put them together are just so variable.

Stwutter

I can only agree with the sentiments about Halfrauds. The bike is probably fine, but you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. Like any other major chain, you do occasionally fluke it, but more often than not, the staff don't know a front mech from downtube...

I'm just a little miffed that Boardman felt the need to push his bike via Bikehut. I know the party line says he wants to offer a range of bikes, not just ones aimed at the enthusiast, but there's plently of that in all the major chains already. How good would it have been for him to launch a range in the same way as Lemond or Merckx? He could've had an entry level range, then covered all the bases up to a top of the range bike.

I guess it's easier said than done, and he's just taken the chance to earn the bigger bucks, but it's a shame nevertheless.

NorwegianBlue

giant mancp wrote:

Don't know why you're surprised quite honestly. All these bikes are Halfrauds 'specials' with Chris Boarman's name on the tubing.

I mean, for the money, what do you expect? Surely not reliability and quality parts?

You wasted your money because you were pulled in by the hype that an ex british champion has brought out a range of bikes and has given Halfrauds the 'privilege' of selling them.

Let me get this straight. You're saying Tiagra, Ultegra and Dura Ace aren't quality parts. What do you have on your bike?h

rockhoppergaz

How can a brand new bike have a knackered cassette after zero millege?????????

pliptrot

What prejudice I read here is appropriate to anyone who has had a bad experience with any retail outlet. It seems odd that we descend with vengeance to pick apart Halfords and yet the land is no doubt littered with shops who do a lousy job.

If you buy a bike from anywhere, it is not unreasonable to give it a thorough once over - normally in the shop - before riding it (or more likely putting it in the car if you've picked it up from a Halfords). At that point indignation and upset is appropriate if things are amiss, and if further problems reveal themselves with use then refunds and complete replacements are appropriate. I wonder how often this occurs?

We are all possessed of anecdotal evidence to support our points of view. How many of these are those of unabashed snobbery?

NorwegianBlue

Stwutter wrote:

I can only agree with the sentiments about Halfrauds. The bike is probably fine, but you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. Like any other major chain, you do occasionally fluke it, but more often than not, the staff don't know a front mech from downtube...

I'm just a little miffed that Boardman felt the need to push his bike via Bikehut. I know the party line says he wants to offer a range of bikes, not just ones aimed at the enthusiast, but there's plently of that in all the major chains already. How good would it have been for him to launch a range in the same way as Lemond or Merckx? He could've had an entry level range, then covered all the bases up to a top of the range bike.

I guess it's easier said than done, and he's just taken the chance to earn the bigger bucks, but it's a shame nevertheless.

The thing about Halfrauds/Bike Hut is that you don't pay peanuts, like most retailers you don't seem to get anything like a discount most of the time. Having said that and probably just to prove me wrong, they do seem to be knocking a lot of stuff out at a decent discount at the moment. I've seen some decent discounts on Kona stuff, and their own brand Carrera seems to be carrying heavy discounts at the moment. The budget Virtuoso model is selling at £237.99 at the moment, that was a decent bike at £279 but well worth £238 of anybody's money. Just don't let them set it up, get it boxed and assemble it yourself. It's not rocket science.

On the subject of Bikehut word is they are planning to spin Bikehut off into an entirely seperate brand, you'll notice it was Halford's Bikehut and now it's BIKEHUT at Halfords. Presumably next we'll see a few standalone Bikehiut stores. Then the next step would be to phase out the remaining Bikehut at Halford's. Then we'll have another bloody Evans.

I've nothing against the "pile 'em high and sell 'em cheap" philophy. As long as these box shifters don't pretend to be experts (PC World anybody?). And as long as they actually do "sell 'em cheap". The only way you get a discount out of Evans is if it's last year's model, otherwise it's RRP all the way. The sad thing is that smaller shops who do offer discounts are having to pay the manufacturer/importer more for the bike in the first place. So a good bikeshop offering a better service is actually making a lot less money per bike sold than the big boys who really don't care.

Big Red S

giant mancp wrote:

You wasted your money because you were pulled in by the hype that an ex british champion has brought out a range of bikes and has given Halfrauds the 'privilege' of selling them.

My guess is that it was more Halfords bringing out a new range of bikes, and convincing an ex british champion to let them put his name on them.

Ste_S

Halfords had tried for ages to sell something like Trek, but without success. I guess the big bike companies though it might downgrade their image having their products in Halfords, while also annoying their current retailer base.

I guess the Boardman bikes came about as Halfords couldn't tempt anyone in.

sjmoran

I am thinking about the Boardman Pro. Managed to get a test run on one last week. Overall impression was very good. Most noticeable was the stiffness and hold at the back end with the carbon chain stays. Bike also light and takes off when you push. I should also add though that in a 30 min run the chain derailed twice when shifting up to the big cog. Nothing to do with the bike though its the way it was set up. If I get one, as mentioned before, I will be taking to LBS to be fully checked.

giant_man

[quote="Big Red S"]

giant mancp wrote:

You wasted your money because you were pulled in by the hype that an ex british champion has brought out a range of bikes and has given Halfrauds the 'privilege' of selling them.

My guess is that it was more Halfords bringing out a new range of bikes, and convincing an ex british champion to let them put his name on them.[/quote]
Yes that could very well be the case here. Either way I don't think the components used and the service you receive from an outlet such as Halfrauds will be a satisfactory one.

The question which has to be asked is why on even the top model of these line of bikes is the frame aluminium with carbon seatstays? Has monocoque carbon suddenly gone out of fashion all of a sudden or something?

You pay 1400 quid for an aluminium framed bike and they have the nerve to call it the pro model? You are far better off going to Planet X and getting one of their carbon superlight bikes for the same money. At least there you will get better service. And the bike will be put together properly. If other proprieters can do it, why can't Halfords?

gandalfcp

Ste_S wrote:

Halfords had tried for ages to sell something like Trek, but without success. I guess the big bike companies though it might downgrade their image having their products in Halfords, while also annoying their current retailer base.

I guess the Boardman bikes came about as Halfords couldn't tempt anyone in.

Well, not quite, The Bikehut in Putney has some very nice Condors, Van Nicholas and Fondriest. Bikehut also claim to stock De Rosa as well.

rohloff-rich

gandalfcp wrote:

Bikehut also claim to stock De Rosa as well.

The one in Brighton does - stand alone store

primalcarl

Anyone know how to contact Chris Boardman? Let him know about your problems. The Halfords stores chosen to stock his bikes were specially selected after all for this very problem. Obviously worked in your case

nick hanson

In my view you pays your money,you takes your choice.If you are confident in your mechanical abilities,you buy from the cheapest sources,tinternet,Dribble Bwiggle,etc
The Boardman range seem to be offering a top spec for the cash,so place in the same bracket.
If you want top service,backup etc,then cherish your LBS & accept they have overheads to pay for without the high turnover of products to spread out the costs.
It's amazing the amount of cyclists you see at meetings with expensive cars,but sulk at having to pay a bit of a premium for good service from a GOOD LBS.As i said before,you pays your money......... :?:

penugent

nick hanson wrote:

If you want top service,backup etc,then cherish your LBS & accept they have overheads to pay for without the high turnover of products to spread out the costs.

I agree 100% with this.

I support my LBS with 100% of my purchases and as a result get top rate service and a discount on everything I buy - from tubes to bikes. If I were spending £1400 on a bike I'm sure that I'd end up happier with a purchase via the LBS.

Rich Hcp

They didn't set it up right.

If the cassette was a Tiagra, it should have been ok.

The monkey could have messed it up when 'setting up'

A badly set up top of the range bike will feel awful

A decent LBS can set a poor bike up properly and it feells fantastic, so go to your LBS

Ste_S

giant mancp wrote:

Big Red S wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

You wasted your money because you were pulled in by the hype that an ex british champion has brought out a range of bikes and has given Halfrauds the 'privilege' of selling them.

My guess is that it was more Halfords bringing out a new range of bikes, and convincing an ex british champion to let them put his name on them.

Yes that could very well be the case here. Either way I don't think the components used and the service you receive from an outlet such as Halfrauds will be a satisfactory one.

The question which has to be asked is why on even the top model of these line of bikes is the frame aluminium with carbon seatstays? Has monocoque carbon suddenly gone out of fashion all of a sudden or something?

You pay 1400 quid for an aluminium framed bike and they have the nerve to call it the pro model? You are far better off going to Planet X and getting one of their carbon superlight bikes for the same money. At least there you will get better service. And the bike will be put together properly. If other proprieters can do it, why can't Halfords?

Again, since when have Shimano and Richey been poor quality ? I'd imagine the frames are built by one of the reputable Taiwanese companies (along with 90% of the worlds other Alu frames). Agreed on the service though.

The Pro model is a bit badly thought out though, you're paying your money on that for Dura Ace, but bizarrely they've used 9spd Dura Ace.

Big Red S

Ste_S wrote:

Halfords had tried for ages to sell something like Trek, but without success. I guess the big bike companies though it might downgrade their image having their products in Halfords, while also annoying their current retailer base.

Like Kona, I suppose.

Halfords start stocking Kona, everyone stops buying them.

Ste_S wrote:

Big Red S wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

My guess is that it was more Halfords bringing out a new range of bikes, and convincing an ex british champion to let them put his name on them.

Yes that could very well be the case here. Either way I don't think the components used and the service you receive from an outlet such as Halfrauds will be a satisfactory one.

Again, since when have Shimano and Richey been poor quality?

I'd have thought he meant that the components used by halfords, as opposed to Boardman Bikes. Like replacing an Ultegra cassette with an HG50 one, for example.

The Pro model is a bit badly thought out though, you're paying your money on that for Dura Ace, but bizarrely they've used 9spd Dura Ace.

Presumably because they're aiming at the kind of people who know Dura Ace is the top-end Shimano road group, but don't think to check whether it's 9 or 10 speed. It's not uncommon, though this is a bit of a big gap.

DLT

I already posted this in the "Halfords" thread but I do feel sorry for the genuine guys that work for them..

I have recently picked up one of the new Team Boardman MTB's from my local Halfords in Bristol. The guy in there (forget his name now) was obviously very knowledgeable about bikes and kit... He even even said its a pleasure for guys like him to put together and sell decent gear for once... He spent time telling me about local trails i didn't know about.. Really made an effort to make sure i was happy.... I know Halfords are a big chain but there are decent guys out there

The new bike rocks and is excellent value for money.. Happy customer here