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Hello...

TheDudeisnotinTheDudeisnotin Posts: 16
edited July 2009 in Road beginners
Hello. I'm new to road cycling and new to the forum - been lurking for a few weeks though :)

I just bought a Boardman Hybrid Comp for £500: http://www.boardmanbikes.com/hybrid/hybrid_comp.html and broke it in with a 240 mile trip last week. Probably done another 150 since then as I got used to being on the bike. I think I might be a bit addicted already.

I wondered what other people's opinions of the bike were, if they had any. Also if there were any upgrades that people might recommend. I could spare £150 in a couple of weeks and wondered if it was worth changing the brakes or the chain...?

I'm generally happy with the bike and it's lovely to ride compared with anything else I've tried - but that's not a fat lot as I've used my Raleigh Burner when I need to for about 20 years :) The stem seems to be loose though and there is quite a lot of movement when I hold the brakes and move the bike back-and-forth. Halfords have offered a service but having read some opinions on Halfords on here and other forums, I'm not certain it's worth bothering with them and maybe going somewhere specialist to service it might be the best...? Is this wiggle normal in a stem? Everything else seems great though and even with heavy bags on the racks it was lovely to ride.

Cheers for any advice :)

Posts

  • Campy KingCampy King Posts: 201
    240 miles on your first ride, wow that's impressive!! :shock:
  • GarzGarz Posts: 1,155
    Got the boardman comp road bike, done about 400 miles but cant fit panniers on this one! Got some new clipless pedals which Im trying out this w/e.
  • WappygixerWappygixer Posts: 1,396
    You shouldn't have any movement in the stem, it needs adjusting.
    Undo the 2 allen key screws on the back of the stem, a couple of turns should be enough.Them on the top of the stem will be another allen bolt, it may have a plastic cap in the head though, if it does remove this, thme tighten that bolt a little until the movement in the stem goes, don't forget to re-tighten the bolts on the back of the stem though.

    I would probably upgrade the brakes first to hydraulics.The Avid BB5's are pretty good though.
  • TheDudeisnotinTheDudeisnotin Posts: 16
    Campy King wrote:
    240 miles on your first ride, wow that's impressive!! :shock:

    We rode from Cologne to Amsterdam in five days via Appeldorn and Utrecht and a couple of forests. It was great fun but hard work. Just need to keep it up :)

    Wappygixer wrote:
    You shouldn't have any movement in the stem, it needs adjusting.
    Undo the 2 allen key screws on the back of the stem, a couple of turns should be enough.Them on the top of the stem will be another allen bolt, it may have a plastic cap in the head though, if it does remove this, thme tighten that bolt a little until the movement in the stem goes, don't forget to re-tighten the bolts on the back of the stem though.

    I would probably upgrade the brakes first to hydraulics.The Avid BB5's are pretty good though.

    Ok, thanks for the advice. I'll take a look now.

    Regarding the Avid BB5's; they do feel good compared with friends' bikes I've tried out. But I've never had a road/hybrid before so maybe I'll give it a couple of months of commuting before I splash some cash on better ones.

    I did get a nice seat from Halfords as well which felt incredible even after 200+miles.
  • TheDudeisnotinTheDudeisnotin Posts: 16
    Wappygixer wrote:
    You shouldn't have any movement in the stem, it needs adjusting.
    Undo the 2 allen key screws on the back of the stem, a couple of turns should be enough.Them on the top of the stem will be another allen bolt, it may have a plastic cap in the head though, if it does remove this, thme tighten that bolt a little until the movement in the stem goes, don't forget to re-tighten the bolts on the back of the stem though.

    Thanks. It's sorted now. Feels great.
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