Winter bike: Boardman Singlespeed v Comp...

rokkala

So heres the dilemma.

Have my Ribble Sportive i got during the summer which i have decided i don't want to ruin by continuing to ride on it through the winter, have also come to the conclusion after trying out the turbo that i definately cannot survive on that alone until winters over.

So i have £320 worth of High Street vouchers burning a hole in my pocket, only bike related place i can use these is Halfords. Was thinking about putting this towards either the Boardman singlespeed which is £499 and paying the rest in cash, or paying a whack extra to get the Boardman comp at £649.

Never ridden singlespeed before so no idea what it would be like, i just really want to maintain fitness over the winter as a minimum, and enjoy riding whatever bike i'm on.

One thing i noticed with the singlespeed is that the hubs are cartridge bearings rather than sealed. Would that not get wrecked riding it through the winter, which is pretty much going to be its sole purpose?

Or if i decide on the Comp, anybody think i'd be able to do better for £330 getting a decent winter bike from somewhere else?

Cheers

cougie

If you spend £650 on a winter bike - its not really a winter bike any more - its more of a second best bike ?

I love fixed wheel in the winter - you might not though - so I'll rule the Boardman out - and its still quite pricey.

What about this one ? £340 or so

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... o-09-34691

Mark Alexander

ebay

rokkala

Hmm, yea that Carrera looks alright actually, and wouldn't feel at all guilty about beating it up. Anybody had experience of Innova tyres?

markos1963

I have a Boardman single speed. Very nice ride, wheels are definatly better than a Comp which I have ridden, much stiffer and quicker to spin up. The SC also can fit full mudguards and 25mm tyres on no problem so makes a better winter bike. As for riding SS only you can tell, I'm not the greatest of riders and I was worried about being able to get up hills. I needn't have worried, not only can I get up them I am getting far better than I ever was, I think the fact the SC weighs only 8kg helps a lot.

Steve_b77

I've got a Boardman Comp Hybrid flat bar jobbie, pretty damm good at coping with wintereryness

rokkala

markos1963 wrote:

I have a Boardman single speed. Very nice ride, wheels are definatly better than a Comp which I have ridden, much stiffer and quicker to spin up. The SC also can fit full mudguards and 25mm tyres on no problem so makes a better winter bike. As for riding SS only you can tell, I'm not the greatest of riders and I was worried about being able to get up hills. I needn't have worried, not only can I get up them I am getting far better than I ever was, I think the fact the SC weighs only 8kg helps a lot.

Not having ridden SS before, at what speed/cadence is it when you start 'spinning out' when on flat and downhill?

Also, with the SC having cartride hub where the bearings are open to muck and stuff, have you had any problems with it all on that side of things?

markos1963

I don't have a computer on it but my riding buddy has told me that I'm spinning out at around 30 mph but to be honest after dragging myself up the hill i take the opportunity to rest coming down the otherside

No problems so far with the hubs although I do wash it regulary and I have a 8 week programme for maintainance of bearings etc but so far no play at all with nearly a 1000 miles on it.

Zipp

nice dilema to have, went through it myself in the summer. Wrecked Campag centaur/chorus groupset on Colnago master with 2 years riding through winter. Having forked out on new g/set, decided to go s/s. Had to be steel frame, check out byerscycles, they do steel f+f for £180, bomb proof, but black only. With off the shelf mass produced bikes somethings got to give in the price if your working to £600, you can't have it all. But you can if you build it up yourself. Added Mavic aksium front to byers steel frame, selle italia, centaur dual pivots (f&r), TT seat post and deda stem and bars, £550 and unique. However don't kid yourself it's just a winter hack, in no time at all you'll be loving it, washing it , and as already stated it will be your second bike. good luck !

cougie

Surely your spinning out speed depends on how fast you can pedal.

I use my fixie happily around Cheshire and North Wales. Its only long fast descents that I have to drag the brakes on - but some guys in my club happily pedal at those cadences.

I do like the look of the Boardman - seems very nice -maybe too nice for a winter hack ?

rokkala

Zipp wrote:

nice dilema to have, went through it myself in the summer. Wrecked Campag centaur/chorus groupset on Colnago master with 2 years riding through winter. Having forked out on new g/set, decided to go s/s. Had to be steel frame, check out byerscycles, they do steel f+f for £180, bomb proof, but black only. With off the shelf mass produced bikes somethings got to give in the price if your working to £600, you can't have it all. But you can if you build it up yourself. Added Mavic aksium front to byers steel frame, selle italia, centaur dual pivots (f&r), TT seat post and deda stem and bars, £550 and unique. However don't kid yourself it's just a winter hack, in no time at all you'll be loving it, washing it , and as already stated it will be your second bike. good luck !

Yea if i was just using my own hard-earned cash then i'd probably look at sourcing frame and components and building it that way, but i need to use over £300 quid of Halfords vouchers, so can't really go down that route!

Torn between just getting the Carrera Virtuoso and only having to put a tenner to it, or spending a bit more of my own for the singlespeed Boardman just for something different :S