Boardman bikes - Without Halfords chat!!

UnworthyPapaLazaru

Happy customers - tell us about your Boardman bikes!

Im about get a Team Carbon and would like to hear your reviews on what seems to be an excellent bike. 10/10 in cycling weekly and sets a new standard for sub £1000 bikes - do you agree??

The other stuff can stay in the many other halfords threads...

galaxyboy

It does look like a good bike. I personally have not used the SRAM gears before but similar frames with that gear on is usually double that price.
I had a look at the bike today and the only issue i had was that the bars did not like turning right as the rear brake cable went through the frame on the right hand side and the cable forced the bars straight again - this was only on the stand but there was some resistance, possibly the way the cables were set up.

cougie

But do you really turn your bars any distance when riding ?

galaxyboy

Just when i want to turn corners :roll: .

andrewjoseph

I'm really happy with my 07 comp. There are some issues with washers rusting slightly and the weld on the right side rear dropout was a bit proud and rubbing on the chain when in top gear.

I've changed the granny ring and cassette to give me a better range to spin up hills, and last month the front wheel needed a tweak to true it up a bit.

I've put on a brooks b17 saddle and changed the bars to a more compact shape to give me better reach to the brake levers on the drops. I've also put on different bar tape and used more padding underneath.

Everything else is still running well.

nickwill

galaxyboy wrote:

Just when i want to turn corners :roll: .

Next time you turn a corner, just observe how little you turn the bars. You might be surprised!

baser

I have an 08 pro and its top draw. On the whole halfords thing, some of the stores are really really good and offer a top service! The guy behind the counter said " its nice to see a decent bike for a change". Get one you will love it!

andrewjoseph

Nickwill wrote:

galaxyboy wrote:

Just when i want to turn corners :roll: .

Next time you turn a corner, just observe how little you turn the bars. You might be surprised!

You need a fair amount of slack in the cable run from the lever to the first stop. it should not be tight or restrictive.

Slow speed manoeuvring requires more turning of the bars. I'd prefer a tad too much outer loop than a tad too little.

The Spiderman

There are some stand alone Bike ut stores now,which are a completely different propostion to Halfords.The one in London (near St Pauls) is very good.

therichieboy

The other day I was lucky enough to ride a 2001 Trek 5200 (US Postal Service) and a Boardman Road Comp the day after.

It was narrow- but I preferred the Boardman-and bought it.

Obviously there's a difference in tech as the Trek's older but the Comp is a brilliant bike for its price.

Slightly stiff steering-not entirely sure about the semi-sealed casette but no other probs.

ringo42

I've had my Team Carbon (Road Bike) for about a month and it's fantastic. The frame is solid, no flex side to side yet i've ridden 55miles non stop and still felt reasonably fresh at the end.
Once the gears had bedded in and i'd got used to the different way of shifting up it was no problem at all.
It's extremely light for the price and i honestly can't think of anything i'm not happy with.
Had the usual spoke nipple unwind within the first 50 miles, but once hooked out of the rim and re-tightened it's been fine. In fact i've bunny hopped over a few pot holes and the wheels are still true.
I'm 180cm tall (5' 11") and went for a large which i think fits me perfectly.
Paid the book price for it but managed to get a £60 pair of clipless pedals for £5, so not a bad price really.
If you're thinking of it i would say definitely get one.

JC.152

just seen in the stuff that comes with British cycling license that you get 15% off at halfords for being a member. does anyone know if that include boardmans as well?

DomPro

Sounds like a good deal. Any chance of a link?

JC.152

this should work

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/mem/fb/membership_affinity_benefits.asp

coldeverything

I bought mine back in November 2008 (when they came out) from Bike Hut in Dorking. The bike has been faultless. The SRAM groupset works very well compared to Shimano 105 (which is on my commute bike) and although I initially wanted to upgrade certain items I have only changed two things. I swapped the wheels for some hand built Harry Rowland Mavic Open Pro wheels because I had experienced the loose spoke nipples on the rear wheel on three occasions. I believe this problem is now rectified and I also believe it only affected the early bikes (which mine was). I also changed the stem for something which lifted the bars a bit more. I found the bike very comfortable for rides that where under 2 - 3 hours but when the ride was 4 - 6 hours I was feeling a lot of discomfort in my left shoulder. The stem change has rectified this and I put this down to a combination of my non standard body proportions (longer legs / shorter body) and the race bias of the frame geometry (highlighted in review). The brakes are not as bad as people say. I would say they are very good once bedded in. Wet or dry they do the job. I am very impressed with the bike for the money as it is indeed very light and responsive and a pleasure to ride. When you press on you can really feel the bike respond to what you are doing and it's a sensation which is always apparent, even when i'm feeling a little tired. I am not sure how many bikes of this spec exist for under £1000 (I can only think of the Focus Cayo 105 but there may be others) but I do believe the Carbon Team is worth it.

UnworthyPapaLazaru

Great stuff Coldeverything. I have had my one a week now, will write up my thoughts soon. In the meantime, any idea what the lettering on the underside of the down tube?? CFG UD CM TEAM CARBON???

dsmiff

JC.152 wrote:

this should work

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/mem/fb/membership_affinity_benefits.asp

Just checked:

Terms and conditions

- Minimum order value of £75
- Discount can only be redeemed on cycles at full retail value
- Specialist and Boardman cycles are excluded from this offer

- Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

coldeverything

UnworthyPapaLazaru wrote:

Great stuff Coldeverything. I have had my one a week now, will write up my thoughts soon. In the meantime, any idea what the lettering on the underside of the down tube?? CFG UD CM TEAM CARBON???

Uni-Directional Carbon-fibre Monocoque

That deals with the UD CM bit but I'm struggling to think what CFG stands for?? Anybody else got any ideas??

UnworthyPapaLazaru

coldeverything wrote:

UnworthyPapaLazaru wrote:

Great stuff Coldeverything. I have had my one a week now, will write up my thoughts soon. In the meantime, any idea what the lettering on the underside of the down tube?? CFG UD CM TEAM CARBON???

Uni-Directional Carbon-fibre Monocoque

That deals with the UD CM bit but I'm struggling to think what CFG stands for?? Anybody else got any ideas??

Right enough, gold star for you!

Mystique

Compact Frame Geometry perhaps??

coldeverything

Yes. I believe that must be it. Obvious really when it's staring you in the face. Well done Mystique!!

bompington

I was in LBS today who dissed the Boardman by saying that the chainset (& some other component? I can't remember for sure) isn't real SRAM despite being labelled as such - anyone know anything about that?
Of course said LBS was trying to persuade me to get our C2W scheme going with them rather than H********, so they might just have a vested interest...

UnworthyPapaLazaru

The brakes are non labelled Tecktro R580 and the chainset isnt 'Rival' but is labelled SRAM. I imagine that is what they are on about. In absolutely no way are these show stoppers, no where near!

I even considered completing the gruppo but 'upgrading' the non Rival parts to Rival. Utterly pointless looking into it.

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=R0016 Rival brake

or

http://www.benscycle.net/index.phpmain_ ... 3989c97c2e


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=31619

or

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=31368

70g difference

Pretty petty stuff from your LBS, and probably just a bare faced lie!

cougie

I've had tektro brakes on my fixie for 7 or 8 years now ? Never had a problem with them.

prawny

I've got an 08 Road Comp and it's great, It's my first road bike since I was about 8 so I'm still getting used to it but i've gone from being an ex cyclist to a 40 mile a day 3 days a week commuter and it's pretty easy. even on rough roads the wheels have stayed true.

I've not ridden any other road bikes so I can't compare directly but I've definately got the bug now, next stop cervelo town 8) (or maybe team carbon )