Best C2W option - Allez Elite, Mythos or Boardman Team?

RuffRooster

Hi - New to the forum and wondering if anyone has any views

Have been thrashing around on a hybrid for a couple of years. Halfords C2W scheme will make it possible for me to upgrade to a real bike and will have a 1K voucher to spend.

Having researched and reasearched I have got it down to these options:
Specialized Allez Elite
Boardman Team Carbon
Dolan Mythos

Does anyone have these and how have you found them? Hear bad things about Halfords which worries me about the Boardman, Spesh seems really solid but Dolan interests me.

Would welcome advice from real riders.

graemematheson

Boardman team carbon wins it for me everytime. Mind you i have had one for a few months so i would say that. I had the same problem as some with the rear wheel but got it sorted FOC and subsequently done a good few miles (100+ per week) with no issues. I did get a bike mechanic mate to have a go at it and sort out the indexing, took him five mins and now shifts sweet as a nut. I love the SRAM shifters, very easy to adapt to from Shimano.

I was surprised how comfortable the bike is since I assumed stiffer meant less comfort, but after I replaced the saddle with a Selle Italia , same saddle as on all my bikes, I find it great. I would look at using the gel pads under the bar tape when I get round to repacing the tape, no rush for it though.

Did manage to get a ride on the spesh but TBH the Boardman felt more responsive and I preferred the position.

Not sure the Dolan's still available as a full build? Can't venture an opinion other than to say I considered it and it looks good.

G

RuffRooster

Thanks for this - I guess what is putting me off the Boardman are the reviews of poor customer support from Halfords particularly with regard to the wheels issue and SRAM set up. The latter is more easily overcome than the first and clearly you have managed to get past that.

The 10/10 C+ made it my first choice originally but the other aspect what worries me slightly is the view that this is a harsh 'race' machine - I'm in my forties recently returning to the sport so more likely to be putting it to use over 50 mile rides for fun or commuting 20 miles each way :oops:. Therefore more my frame than the bikes that concerns. Haven’t a clue over the merits of a carbon v the alloy debate on comfort.

That said it looks a cracking bike from the pictures but I haven’t actually managed to find a Halfords with one in stock to see or sit on. Also find it a bit bemusing that they say the ‘don’t have the facility’ to allow a test ride despite me offering up my kids as collateral :? Have managed to source an Allez but not in a place I can test ride it yet. Going to try and see a Dolan tomorrow (or the frame at least.)

Very much appreciate your response. No sign of the voucher yet so some more time to mull over.......Anyone a clue when 2010 bikes get released?

graemematheson

Ive done a few 50+ milers now on it and dont find it uncomfortable at all. I'm the wrong side of 40 as well and had the same concerns but after I got the position right, its never easy with a new bike, I find it as comfortable as any of my bikes.

If you're in central Scotland I'll lend you mine for a spin, no child deposit required. Your house title deeds will do just fine thankyou

If you can get a decent Halfords spannerman to put it together then it should be OK. I think they just tend to be a bit hit and miss.

G

RuffRooster

Thanks for the very kind offer. I'm down in Englandshire avoiding big hills - right now house deeds might be a fair swap!

graemematheson

No worries,

good luck! just dont be put off by the bike snobs who look down their noses at a boardman.

G

RuffRooster

Finaly plumped for the Dolan. Simply because the 'factory' is nearby, I went to visit and found the Dolan clan really helpful. I was able to handle the product and ask all the daft questions of a novice which were patiently answered in spite of much more 'expensive' issues clearly being handled round the place.

Buying time over now waiting to get the bike and get out and ride, hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

Infamous

RuffRooster wrote:

Finaly plumped for the Dolan. Simply because the 'factory' is nearby, I went to visit and found the Dolan clan really helpful. I was able to handle the product and ask all the daft questions of a novice which were patiently answered in spite of much more 'expensive' issues clearly being handled round the place.

Buying time over now waiting to get the bike and get out and ride, hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

Which part of Taiwan do you live in?

RuffRooster

arf arf- 'factory' in the UK sense of the word these days... Perhaps 'Bicycle Integration Facility' (BIF) would have made it a bit of a snappier post...

RuffRooster

Mythos landed Friday. What a great looking bike. Fast too. Only limiting factor is me, will be swaping spacers and stems around a bit to get it more comfortable on the wrists and back but the big grin will remain I'm sure.

screebs

RuffRooster wrote:

Mythos landed Friday. What a great looking bike. Fast too. Only limiting factor is me, will be swaping spacers and stems around a bit to get it more comfortable on the wrists and back but the big grin will remain I'm sure.

Wouldn't mind knowing how you get on with the Dolan as time goes on - i have a Boardman Hybrid at the moment from the CTW scheme and was looking to upgrade to a £1k carbon road bike - although not sure i would trust Halfords mechanics at that level of spend!

SCREEBS

RuffRooster

Picked the bike up directly from Dolan as I live nearby and they will post out so you don't have to go anywhere near a branch of H if you don't want to. Never managed to get on a Boardman to ride as there wen't too many around though I'm not heard anything bad about them from anyone who's actually manged to get one. Thing I liked about dolan was the ability to customise a little bit in terms of stem, cranks, bar width etc.

pavs

Ruffrooster

Hi Newbie here returning to road bikes some 23 years after the last, ignoring the mtb'ing.

I am in the same position as you, I have read up on the issues with Halfords, when buying a Boardman, I have also read someone's comment on the Mythos as having a long top tube and being a bit too focussed (although I have checked out the frame geometry and they seem to be pretty close) and also comments about the frame not being responsive.

I was lucky and went into a Halfords near where I live and they had a large Team Carbon and an XL Mythos both awaiting collection.

I like the look of the Mythos. One thing though, whilst acknowledging that one was a large and the other an xl, the Mythos was quite a bit heavier. Would the size difference make that much of a difference, and is it that important.

I like the idea of being able to get the Mythos adjsuted with stem crank lengths etc to fit you.

Anyway, I wanted to know how you have got on with the Mythos?

Any comments advice would be great.

Cheers

Pavs