Boardman Performance Hybrid Comp 09
luca_79
Posts: 8
Hi all,
I've got a Cycle2Work voucher, I wondered if anyone has a Boardman Hybrid, and has any feedback?
Also, which frame size should I go for? The clueless guy in Halfords (didn't have any Boardmans in stock but had some Carreras) came up with the following pearls of wisdom:
"You should probably go for a medium as I assume the Boardman sizes are roughly the same as the Carrera. You should be fine with the medium."
Inside leg is 76-77cm and I'm 5'9''. I was thinking the small (45cm)?
Cheers in advance
I've got a Cycle2Work voucher, I wondered if anyone has a Boardman Hybrid, and has any feedback?
Also, which frame size should I go for? The clueless guy in Halfords (didn't have any Boardmans in stock but had some Carreras) came up with the following pearls of wisdom:
"You should probably go for a medium as I assume the Boardman sizes are roughly the same as the Carrera. You should be fine with the medium."
Inside leg is 76-77cm and I'm 5'9''. I was thinking the small (45cm)?
Cheers in advance
0
Posts
No opinion on the Boardman I'm afraid, except that it's a Hybrid, and I dislike Hybrids!
2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX
2020 Canyon Inflite SL 7
On the Strand
Crown Stables
The Boardmans's seem good bikes by their reputation, somewhat let down by Halfords, but there are some Halfords out there that are better than some LBS's.
Oh, but get drop handlebars as they are more confortable and useable, and get a CX bike (do Boardman do one?) if you want to do some off-roading. There, that will save everyone else having to say it.
I'm sure I read on one of these forums that you can't use drop handlebar brake levers for discs....
...actually, anyone know if this is true?
PBo
I was looking at buying a Boardman road bike, but wasn't prepared to wait for 3+ months for it to be available, so I bought a Trek instead and had it within a couple of days.
It's also worth noting (and I don't know whether this is all stores), but I was told I would not be able to test ride any of the bikes, as it was "company policy".
I would say try the bike before you buy but with this being halfords thats usually not allowed. :roll:
Never tried a boardman but i'd never buy a bike from halfords.
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My Life, My Bike & My Xbox
Halfords dont seem to actually have the Boardmans in store, only to order, and wont let you trial them even if they did have them in store, making getting the right size frame a real ballache.
I was under the impression that I could use my voucher at Wiggle and other outlets, but it appears not.
Do Halfords have exclusivity over Boardman, or do other outlets stock them?? - I may be able to try the Boardman out in that case, and also see if the road version is more appealing than the Hybrid.
What's your budget? Perhaps people here can make suggestions for you to try out.
If you've got the full amount (£1,000), then you could try Condor Cycles, but I doubt you'd be able to afford anything without that much.
12mile each way commuter: '11 Boardman CX with guards and rack
For fun: '11 Wilier La Triestina
SS: '07 Kona Smoke with yellow bits
I have a Boardman Comp, which is excellent IMHO,
Is your chosen Boardman available at any other Halfords within your area? Try to search for availablity via their website. If you are extra lucky, you may just find a store with one in stock and maybe even a member of staff who can recognise the pointy end of a screwdriver.
Halfords sell bikes.
Sometimes expensive bikes...
... but they won't let you test ride them?
WTF is that all about?*
2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX
2020 Canyon Inflite SL 7
On the Strand
Crown Stables
lardboy>> I have a £600 voucher, £500 of which I want to spend on the bike itself (need new helmet, pump etc) - any suggestions welcome on a decent city/hybrid bike, that can handle the old in and out on a daily basis, but also go the distance a bit at the weekend.
I quite like the look of those charges mind.
The Boardman is a very good bike, my mate has the hybrid and I've got the mtb Pro and the Team Carbon road bike.
Go to the Bikehut standalone shop at St pauls, they'll let you have a decent test ride and know how to set the bike up.
Light and slim enough tyres to get up to some good speeds on the road but also not too bad on half decent trails/tracks.
If you can, spend the extra on getting the hydraulic brakes (Team and Pro). I thought they were a bit of a gimmick when I heard about them, but they are extremely good and I would never go back to mechanical brakes where possible.
Forget the fact it's from Halfords. It's a great bike and you can always take it to your LBS for a check over if you're at all concerned about build quality.
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2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX
2020 Canyon Inflite SL 7
On the Strand
Crown Stables
I don't - about 30"!
fwiw I think mech disc brakes are fine - cheaper and less maintenance
Maybe one day i'll even ride for Pinarello Splinters!
The best option was to speak to Halfords central team, they have some sort of arrangement with 'On your bike' (if you are near one I am using London Bridge store) and then you can get a proper bike from a proper bike shop. I am hoping to pick mine up on Sunday!
The person who sorted it out for me at Halfords was Carl Handly... [email protected] 07944 332338
Hope it helps!
GOOD LUCK!
OYB are not a proper bikeshop. They've dropped massively in my estimation recently after they totally ripped off a colleague, charging him over £100 for a "service" - charges included £30 odd for a brake service ffs! Total rip off. In contrast I had my Pinarello serviced by Condor the other day, cost me £40 and I had the BB taken out and the bearings etc regreased as well as the usual once over etc.
2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX
2020 Canyon Inflite SL 7
On the Strand
Crown Stables
Can't help you with sizing as I'm 6' 4" so it was large all the way. I got my Pro for £675 as they had the '09 bikes on the website before xmas at the wrong prices so I made them give it to me at that price. It's a great ride very fast and comfortable, I only have a 4.5 mile commute but I can get up to 25mph on the flat (if it's not to windy!!)
Don't be put off by halfords as it's the bike your riding not the shop or the staff.
Being a bit of an impatient type, I wanted to collect the bike as soon as I got the voucher, and having a company car, fuel card and a bit of time on my hands I did a bit of a road-trip.
I visited the Halfords stores in Bicester (completely censored , couldn't get any of the staff to speak to me, they were too busy hiding or texting), Tottenham (good chap in there, knew his stuff but very busy), Luton (again good) and finally Northampton Riverside (A1 chap in there, spent ages with me, knew his stuff)
I wanted to see the bikes in the flesh, so I got the stores to do a bit of ringing around; the Luton store had the Pro Hybrid in Large but when I got there we noticed that some scroate had nicked bits off it. The lad in the store phoned around, secured one at Northampton and they built it while I drove up the M1.
People knock Halfords, but they are as good or bad as the person they have working there. You'll know instantly if he/she is a halfwit or not, the chap at Nothampton was great.
I'm pleased with the bike, no problems so far and even though I'm a fat bloke I can still do a Lance Armstrong down the A40 into London.
hybrid sizes ie the seat tube
small 45cm
medium 49cm
large 54cm
hope this helps
i have the pro ht and i'm happy as a pig in sh t with mine lol
cheers glenn, i did look up the frame sizes in the first place, just wasn't sure if i should go small or medium as im pretty much on the cusp in terms of inside leg. but gotta get the reach right too - will test the pair of them at st pauls as soon as i can, then job done!
brixton halfords were totally disinterested and clueless (see first post), apart from the chap who takes care of C2W there, who i got some sense out of, but they had no boardmans to actually have a look at.
the chubby guy in st pauls halfords seemed to have his head screwed on.