Buying for the next step

Garz

Hi people, I am asking for some advice on my next purchase as I bought an entry level bike about two years ago only costing just shy of £200. It has done its job now and very soon will start requiring major attention, however instead of buffing up this cheap machinery I feel a step up to the next level of equipment would be better.

I aim to spend between £500-700 on the next bike, and the chief choice in this bracket would be the boardman range from halfords. However when I asked about tweaking the wheels etc this was going to cost me more than the sale price so I decided to seek some opinions and also try a few local bike shops.

I mainly cycle for fun/fitness using a carrera hybrid, I dont intend to compete or race, just the weekend rides and occasional overnighter would be enough for me. If you can offer me any advice I would greatly appreciate!

Garz

FSR_XC

Nothing wrong with the Boardman Team (or the Comp).

Garz

Should I try and get them to change the wheels as when I viewed them in shop they seem too thin for the tarmac I regularly ride on? A wider slightly more durable tyre would be better suited.

STEFANOS4784

+1. Boardman bikes crop up a lot and seem the obvious choice. The downfall being that some of the Halfords staff (dependent on where you buy, ie luck) don't really seem to know there censored from there bottom bracket so if your confident in checking the bike over yoursef or willing to pay LBS to check it over then they are great value for money IMO

STEFANOS4784

Garz wrote:

Should I try and get them to change the wheels as when I viewed them in shop they seem too thin for the tarmac I regularly ride on? A wider slightly more durable tyre would be better suited.

Road bike wheels are stronger than they look, what kind of surfaces will you be riding?

Garz

Just general roads stefano, however now and again its impossible to avoid the odd sleeping policeman or pothole. You guys think the tyres/wheels that come stock will stand the test of britains devalued roads?

STEFANOS4784

Yes. Stock wheels will probably last better than a sub 1 kg set which would cost the best part of a grand(eg here:. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGmxWiHi8Dk(apologies for the music, not my choice :roll: ) My Shimano RS10's run beautifuly straight and they've been battered. I'm still waiting to get a light set of wheels because there's to much choice and i'm a skinflint so will keep on waiting untill i find a super bagain

Garz

Ahh ok, thanks for that! Its just they look so flimsy in the shop and the hybrid I have tyres are not far off twice as thick.

I maybe thinking of adding some carriage for the rear in case I do a overnight ride, would the bike be fine for that?

STEFANOS4784

I'm not sure that they have the pre made holes for mounting a pannier. But i don't know. Check out tourers rather than full out road/race bikes, might be more suited for what you want.

See here:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/

cougie

Garz - thousands of us put in biiig rides on our racing bikes every weekend on our thin tyres and wheels - we hit sleeping policemen and potholes and its not a problem.

Look on youtube for Paris Roubaix clips.....

Garz

OK cougie, duly noted! I just assumed the more hardcore racers had the thinner wheels for speed and would chortle at an inexperienced rider trying to use them on a commute/casual bike.

STEFANOS4784

Everyone willpoint and laugh see here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12625108

Garz

Thanks guys, will check in store that it can accomodate panniers for future long rides and if so shall probably go for one of the boardman's!

Dunno which to go for the team or the comp, being £649 and £499 respectively.. :?

Meds1962

Go for the best you can afford to avoid to avoid another upgrade in a couple of years time.

Garz

Was my thoughts except on the reviews (i think affiliated with bikeradar?) that the cheaper comp was almost the same as the team bike, with comments on 'for better value get the comp, as it's virtually the same bike' or something to that effect. :?