Boardman Comp fixed or Kona Paddy Wagon?

Pork Sword

I'm considering getting a fixed wheel bike for next Winter (nothing like planning ahead!) and have narrowed my choices down to either Chris Boardman Comp from Halfords or a Kona Paddy Wagon from Wiggle.

Has anyone got any experience of either bike and am I wasting my time in getting a fixed wheel to incease my fitness for 2010 anyway?

cougie

Has the Boardman comp got the dropouts to make it fixed ? And why buy a geared bike to make fixed ? Its a nice bike - but seems pointless. If you want fixed - buy one, or convert an old one ?

If you're getting a winter bike - go the whole hog and get guards for it. I'd go for something like a planet x pompino.

sicknote

I think Boardman have just start to make a fixed bike that does not have dropouts.
Here

Infamous

does not have dropouts.... so you can't give it a rear wheel? that's novel.

The Boardman singlespeed looks alright (it does have track dropouts) and can be fixed or singlespeed. The kona is nice too, the only real difference between the 2 is that the kona is steel and the boardman is alu.

For £500 I'd make one myself rather than get either of those.

Poulsy

Look at the Felt Dispatch too. Love mine.

cougie

I didnt know Boardman has done a singlespeed ? Interesting.

brushed

The Kona Paddy Wagon and On One Pompino come with mudguard eyes if you want to fit proper full length guards and also have loads of clearance for fatter tyres if need be.

colonel_sponsz

Finally taken delivery of a Boardman Comp SC - only took Hellfrauds two months to find their stock! It does have mudguard eyes front and rear but the clearances are fairly tight. It's light with a stiff aluminium frame - whilst that's nice for short hops round town I'm not sure if it's what you'd want for a winter trainer.

Tom Butcher

Yeah I think proper clearance and ideally mudguard eyes are essential for any commuter/winter trainer. By proper I mean you don't have to start faffing about every other ride trying to adjust the guard so it doesn't foul the tyre.

markos1963

Why not a Pearson Touche? Got great reviews when it came out and it takes mudguards no problem.

Gav2000

Why not check out eBay? If you're tall 6'+ there's a very nice looking Specialized Langster in an auction that ends at 9pm tonight.

In fact it looks remarkably like my bike that I'm currently selling.

Gav.

PS. THAT'S AN EBAY AUCTION THAT ENDS AT 9PM TONIGHT FOR ANYONE 6'+ LOOKING FOR A WELL LOOKED AFTER FIXED BIKE.

toshmund

Being a Bowery owner...I was going to say the Langster/Touche millitia kind of scoff in your general direction! Speche' - they do have a very good marketing section. The Fuji/Kona look a nice bike.

meagain

I think that a fixed can help maintain fitness over winter - especially if properly kitted out for all weather riding. And so as above, one that will take full grds and reasonably fat tyres. A Tricross Single would be my choice, but that's simply a matter of personal preference.