Boardman - Team Carbon vs Pro Carbon

Gav888
Gav888 Posts: 946
edited October 2009 in Road buying advice
Guys,

Im doing some research into getting another bike and top of my new list is the Boardman Team Carbon which I can get for approx £600 on C2W, which I think is a real bargain!!

However im still tempted by the Pro Carbon, but is it worth paying an extra £900 for?

Has anyone ridden both?

Ps, this isnt another 'What bike to get for £1500 post' as there are loads of those about along with bike reviews etc, im just comparing the Team and Pro bikes to see if its worth the extra, or should I forget Boardman all together.....

Pps, im not keen on the new white special edition so it would be black :wink:
Cycling never gets any easier, you just go faster - Greg LeMond

Comments

  • Aggieboy
    Aggieboy Posts: 3,996
    edited October 2009
    There is a review of the Team Carbon and others in Cycling Active. (It came top). There is also a comparison with the Pro Carbon included.
    Depending on your use of the bike I think, for the difference, I'd stick with the Team Carbon and use some of the £900 to upgrade the wheels if you feel it necessary.
    "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, t'would be a pity to damage yours."
  • jonmack
    jonmack Posts: 522
    I love my Team Carbon, I don't think I'd notice much difference between that and the Pro. When I get my Pro Race Prepared I'll definitely notice a difference though!
  • kfinlay
    kfinlay Posts: 763
    Both bikes have been reviewed on this site, just go to Bikes and Gear section and look for the boardmans. If I remember rightly they didn't think the extra outlay was completely justified but still rated the Pro as a great bike HTH
    Kev

    Summer Bike: Colnago C60
    Winter Bike: Vitus Alios
    MTB: 1997 GT Karakorum
  • Gav888
    Gav888 Posts: 946
    Thanks for the quick replies.

    I think ive read most of the reviews I can find on both bikes and both have done very well in group tests and individually for there respective price brackets, but none of the reviews have been side by side that I could find.

    Im thinking about a bike that is still a good bike in 3 or 4 years from now so I dont mind spending the full amount for a Pro providing it is 'that much better' than a team :)

    Aggieboy - I will have a read of the Cycling Active review if I can find it.... Cheers.
    Cycling never gets any easier, you just go faster - Greg LeMond
  • Gav888
    Gav888 Posts: 946
    Hmm,, interesting. So would a Team Carbon with £900 worth of upgrades make it a better bike than the Pro Carbon?
    Cycling never gets any easier, you just go faster - Greg LeMond
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    Gav888 wrote:
    Hmm,, interesting. So would a Team Carbon with £900 worth of upgrades make it a better bike than the Pro Carbon?

    Quite possibly, the upgrades would be what YOU want and not what the builder puts on. Your bike would be a lot more individual and reflect the sort of riding you do.
  • The big difference is in the frames - in that the Team C uses T700 weave, whereas the Pro C uses T800 weave. I have to say I'm not entirely sure what the difference is, but it's obviously a better, lighter frame. As to durability, I guess that's all down to how you look after the bike. If you can accept the T700 frame, then £900 will buy you an awful lot of equipment that I think would make it a better bike (frame aside) than the Pro C.
    I maybe wrong, if so, someone please correct me.
    Lets also not forget that the OP was looking at the C2W cost of the team, but when comparing them side by side at shop prices, there is only a £500 difference. So really, is the difference worth £500? I don't think the reviews on here felt so.
    Limited Edition Boardman Team Carbon No. 448
    Boardman MTB Team
  • pastey_boy
    pastey_boy Posts: 2,083
    i own the 2009 pro carbon and think its an amazing bike for the money. my mate just bought the 2010 specialized tarmac pro for £4000 and my boardman is lighter than it. the heart of any good bike is the frame. i would go for the pro as the parts on it dont need any immediate upgrading as such (although ive pimped mine slightly) just get the wheels fettled by someone who knows what their doing and youll have a sweet bike
    Viner Salviati
    Shark Aero Pro
    Px Ti Custom
    Cougar 531
    Sab single speed
    Argon 18 E-112 TT
    One-one Ti 456 Evo
    Ridley Cheetah TT
    Orange Clockwork 2007 ltd ed
    Yeti ASR 5
    Cove Hummer XC Ti
  • I'm not sure if you can get the Pro Carbon on the C2W scheme.

    When I asked in store I was told that the limit was £1000 and I couldn't pay anything towards that.

    I got the Pro Carbon in the end but had to buy it outright. Well worth it though!!

    I'd check with your work and Halfords though as I know different employers have different schemes.

    Good Luck!!
    Giant NRS-1

    Boardman Carbon Pro
  • Gav888
    Gav888 Posts: 946
    Get the ltd edition one, might need to be quick though;
    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... MwnvgKKF3o

    I dont like the look of it to be honest.... the yellow is horrible :?
    Cycling never gets any easier, you just go faster - Greg LeMond
  • jason78
    jason78 Posts: 158
    mrdvernon wrote:
    I'm not sure if you can get the Pro Carbon on the C2W scheme.

    When I asked in store I was told that the limit was £1000 and I couldn't pay anything towards that.

    I got the Pro Carbon in the end but had to buy it outright. Well worth it though!!

    I'd check with your work and Halfords though as I know different employers have different schemes.

    Good Luck!!

    I think it depends on which store you go to....i had no problems getting mine just left a deposit of £200 and then it was just a waiting game for my c2w voucher to come through.
    2010 Cboardman carbon pro--- gone to pastures new
    Ribble Addax winter with sram force
    2012 Scott Cr1 SL ----in process of being built 2018 MOVED ON
    Stork Visioner ---Current steed