Boardman

scoobywrx

Any owners of a boardman MTB Comp Ht care to comment how good or bad they are.
Did you manage to get any freebies out of halfords or change anything on the original bike

Cheers

bails87

I've got the Pro if thats any help, love it, fast, well built and with top notch kit on it. I don't have any real concerns with halfords themselves (as this thread will inevitably descend into a "halfords is rubbish" discussion), they've been very good with the one problem I had, and the bike came to me very well set-up.

The comp should be very similar, just a little heavier because of the step down in terms of kit, but I'd still reccomend it. What kind of riding is it for though? I think they could be described as relatively 'racey', but I've found mine very willing at Follow The Dog, as well as general XC.

You should be able to get a few bits and peices if you're spending £700, (possibly depends on the store, but I think you might be able to get a voucher for free accessories when you buy) but they won't change anything on the bike, unless you bought any upgrades in store and had them fitted of course.

scoobywrx

I do 7 miles most morning before work on woodland trails with few decents and hills. Weekend similar but 10-12 miles with the odd 20-28 miler. Then 37 round trip commute (v occasionally maybe add semi slicks for this)

Nothing too heavy or too scarey

Time to sell my Marin Eldridge Grade (very old now)

do you find the tyres ok (knobbly enough)

bails87

Mine came with conti explorers which were fine grip wise, but did seem stupidly vulnerable to thorns, or maybe it was just my bad luck. But I'm now using Racing Ralphs seeing as its summer.... :roll: .....which probably have less grip than the speed kings I think you're asking about, and I'm no expert but I manage with those, so I think the speed kings would be fine.

And that riding sounds like ideal boardman territory, I reckon you'd struggle to spend your money on something better!

carbonfibre

I keep hearing great things, and I think Boardman must have put the fear into quite a few manufacturers, which will ultimately benefit...us!

jmillen

I can't comment on the Comp as I have a '09 Pro but as a general comment on Boardman, near on unbeatable value for money....don't let the Halfords association put you off, you won't regret it....

Stoo61

Again, no Comp but an 09 Team. Adore it.

Everything is bedded in nicely now, forks are plush, brakes are ready to kill you if you aren't focussing. I imagine the Comp is very similar. 8)

Im going to buy some more road specific tyres soon for those long road miles and some other XC tyres. I have been doing these on the Conti speed kings and the bike is so light it still keeps a good speed but to be honest im done with the Conti's, they aren't the best. For the commuting it will be very good, just lock the fork out and it'll fly.

Apart from the stock tyres, the bike is very confidence inspiring, it is quite racey but I throw it at my local forrest trails and it takes a fair bit....leaves me smiling anyway. Teaching me a lot of technique to go quickly on a hardtail.

I did have issues with Halfords but its all forgotten now, its worth putting up with it for the bike. (I got mine in a box and had it built elsewhere)

scoobywrx

this is the cream on the cake now. You have told it to me........buying it through the c2w scheme. Placing my order tomorrow......should have it by the weekend.

Im excited......just a little

Seems like the tyres are a little proune to punctures.......will try and see though first

thanks for selling the bike........bring on those trails and hills!!

glennpro09

hello to everyone

i've just upgraded to the boardman hardtail pro 09 and what a bike one hell of a step up from my old full suss 40lbs bike , mine was 2 months old when i bought it and not a mark on it and saved £350 over a new one, went straight to our local halfords which happens to have people who know what there doing (nuneaton) to get it checked overwhich they did for free which included setting the forks to my weight.
i have the speed kings on it which i like alot compared to the conti vapour which i put on my old bike, soft sidewalls i thought and VERY prone to thorns.
overall the bike is everything the reviews say about itanyone out there thinking about a boardman mtb hardtail just do it you will not regret one minute of riding it.

teulk

Ive got a Team 09 HT. I got the display model, i did however have a problem with the frame but they changed that with no problems at all. I had the speedkings and the rear was about half worn after about 250miles so i changed them for semi - slicks. The speedkings are like paper and very prone to thorns - went through a phase of getting a puncture due to a thorn everyday for a week. Change the tyres and you have an excellent bike - very light too.

Si78

Hi,
Ive got the Boardman Sport. Really chuffed with it. Reckon the Comp will be a very good buy 8)

I wish I could have stretched to the Pro myself, but I'm happy with what Ive got for the moment

I bought a cheap second set of wheels, a couple of brake rotors, a cassette and some Michelin City semi-slicks for riding to work and back. Much easier, and I dont have to faff about changing the tyres over all the time.

Anyhoo, the Michelin tyres have a 'protek' anti puncture strip in them. Quite heavy tyres, but f*ck all in the scheme of things. Have ridden over broken glass, sharp stones, thorns etc and, touch wood, all seems ok. Were only £10 each on CRC.

Hope you enjoy the bike!

Si

Stoo61

What wheels and rotors did you buy on the cheap Si78? Was thinking about doing the same.

Although I was going to get some bling Rotors for the off-road wheels so could use the spare rotors there.

Is it working out well for you, same performance from both sets of wheels?

m@rk

Just Bought a Boardman pro HT on Cycle to work. I had my previous bike (GT Zaskar Custom build) for10 yrs. So really shopped around for a mtb this time and everything led me back to the Boardman range of bikes. A couple of my work colleagues are roadies and they too are edging towards Boardmans.

Read the reviews, look at the specs. Ride the bikes. I defy anyone not to be swayed towards buying one . . . . . the only reason is the fact that they are sold by Halfords and some people are bike snobs, I was, and am still thats why I've gone for a Boardman.

I would however check the bike over thoroughly ,as mine came with a cromo railed saddle and not Ti as specced by the boardman catalogue. But apart from that by one its worth it just for the parts.

Stoo61

Cheers Si,

Not decided what route im going to take but thats some good advice.

I've been pondering it and with the upgrade madness that I have on my mind I'm thinking of treating the bike to some belting offroad wheels and keeping the standards for road use.

Decisions decisions.