Confused and in need of proper advice!
olddgreg
Posts: 53
Well, I've been umming and aahing over whether to spend my hard earned cash on a Boardman Team Carbon now for several weeks. Thought I'd done my research.
Thought I'd made up my mind, ready to purchase, when I decided to visit a bike shop which I'd only recently heard of, on the off chance they might have some good offers.
My first impressions of the shop were very good, I was not ignored like I have been in the past in other shops, a member of staff asked me in a pleasant manner if I needed help right away.
Anyway, I found him very helpful and friendly, he certainly didn't talk down to me as if I was an idiot. I told him I was considering buying the Boardman, and he went on to say that people often think carbon is what they need, when in reality, at £1000, carbon isn't a great choice given the quality of aluminium bikes at that price point.
He said that unless you were spending several grand on a bike, it makes more sense to buy an aluminium bike as the quality of the carbon used in more expensive bikes will be higher. He effectively said the carbon on the Boardman was 'not great'.
As an example, he showed me two bikes for simiar prices he had on sale in his own shop. First, a carbon Argon 18 road bike and a Cervelo S1 aluminium bike. He popped both on the scales, and the Cervelo was lighter. He said as well as being lighter, it would be stiffer, faster and probably more likely to survive a crash. He did indicate that speed would also depend on the quality of the wheels and tyres making up the bike.
I also said I would consider racing in the future, and he said that in 4th cat races, because a lot of people don't know what they're doing because people are new to the sport, crashes are frequent and if a carbon bike is cracked in a crash then it's buggered. He did point out though that aluminium and steel aren't invincible, and can break too.
They guy didn't strike me as an old, refusing to get with the times kinda guy, he was in his twenties and said he regularly raced/time trialled. He was very polite and friendly the whole time, and he seemed honest. As well as this bike advice, he gave me pleny of advice about local clubs and such.
So, do you think this shop was just giving me honest advice?
Or ar they spouting a load of anti-Halfords/Boardman rubbish, and trying to offload a bike to a confused 18 year old with a clever, well-rehearsed sales pitch?
They did seem extremely friendly and genuine, but I didn't know if what the guy was saying was bull or not!
FWIW I thought the Cervlo S1 was an awesome looking bike. Sorry for the long post!
Thought I'd made up my mind, ready to purchase, when I decided to visit a bike shop which I'd only recently heard of, on the off chance they might have some good offers.
My first impressions of the shop were very good, I was not ignored like I have been in the past in other shops, a member of staff asked me in a pleasant manner if I needed help right away.
Anyway, I found him very helpful and friendly, he certainly didn't talk down to me as if I was an idiot. I told him I was considering buying the Boardman, and he went on to say that people often think carbon is what they need, when in reality, at £1000, carbon isn't a great choice given the quality of aluminium bikes at that price point.
He said that unless you were spending several grand on a bike, it makes more sense to buy an aluminium bike as the quality of the carbon used in more expensive bikes will be higher. He effectively said the carbon on the Boardman was 'not great'.
As an example, he showed me two bikes for simiar prices he had on sale in his own shop. First, a carbon Argon 18 road bike and a Cervelo S1 aluminium bike. He popped both on the scales, and the Cervelo was lighter. He said as well as being lighter, it would be stiffer, faster and probably more likely to survive a crash. He did indicate that speed would also depend on the quality of the wheels and tyres making up the bike.
I also said I would consider racing in the future, and he said that in 4th cat races, because a lot of people don't know what they're doing because people are new to the sport, crashes are frequent and if a carbon bike is cracked in a crash then it's buggered. He did point out though that aluminium and steel aren't invincible, and can break too.
They guy didn't strike me as an old, refusing to get with the times kinda guy, he was in his twenties and said he regularly raced/time trialled. He was very polite and friendly the whole time, and he seemed honest. As well as this bike advice, he gave me pleny of advice about local clubs and such.
So, do you think this shop was just giving me honest advice?
Or ar they spouting a load of anti-Halfords/Boardman rubbish, and trying to offload a bike to a confused 18 year old with a clever, well-rehearsed sales pitch?
They did seem extremely friendly and genuine, but I didn't know if what the guy was saying was bull or not!
FWIW I thought the Cervlo S1 was an awesome looking bike. Sorry for the long post!
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Comments
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sounds like the sort of advice my local bike shop gave me when i was interested in a boardman bike last year ended up getting a trek 2.3 which i love the thing with the local bike shop they will give much better after sales support if i ever need any help with my bike or need advice they are there to help straight away as when i have been to my local halfords they look at me like i am from another planet i enquired once for the boardman in the xl size which their website said the store had one in stock when i asked the assistant he claimed they didnt do them in that size so that made the decision for me and now only go to my local bike store and to show their appreciation they usually give me a discount as well.
good luck with it anyway i bet the cervelo is an awesome bike.0 -
For my money I would (and have) bought the Soloist team (now S1) by Cervelo. It won races like liege bastogne just a few years back and there is currently another post running about the same the bike in all its colours on here.
Im fortunate enough to have a carbon bike as well - and have just ridden them back to back in last couple of days. For 3.5x the price I get a marginally more comfortable ride (only when ground broken up do you notice) and its a fraction lighter but I dont notice that really...remember by the time you have added a couple of water bottles, saddle tool bag, lunch, and a last nights dinner the weight difference is in the low %'s.
The soloist team Ive used for everything -winter/racing/sportives etc etc and it still does everyhting. Sure Cannondale top end is just as good. Carbon at a grand is fine..there are some good deals out there but to see a difference at this price is all down to the wheels and groupset etc you stick on it.
I now have my old soloist running full dura ace old style with 400 quid wheels and it looks and runs as good a new after years. I use it for everything and do a lot of miles. My carbon bike looks nice, no doubt about it ..and so it xxxxxxx should...and I do use that when I need very advantage I can get (getting old..) but you wont regret the alu frame IF you buy at the top end. The downside is it probably wont break so if you want a new bike in a couple years you'll have to hit it with a hammer repeatedly.
PS...the bloke at the bikeshop sound 100% genuine0 -
I'd always go LBS (as long as you they are good!)
Personally I'd get a cannondale CAAD9 for £1000 as a Cervelo S1 is going to be a few hundred quid over that built up.0 -
Thank you for your kind advice everyone....
Something in my head is nagging me to get the Cervelo.....0 -
The bloke at the shop sounds like he knows what he is talking about. OK, he is going to try to get the business over Halfords, but he is there to give GOOD advice as well as sell. This is the benefit of good staff in a good LBS and they are worth their weight in carbon0
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I had similar advice and went for a black alpha Trek aluminium frame.
One additional thing that occurred to me, was that if I was still interested in cycling in a few years, then I would know exactly the type of frame for my use and riding style and that with continual advancement in technology, there is a good chance we will get a better carbon frame for our £££ in a few years.0 -
Both really nice bikes. I have the Boardman, and really rate it. But I got it to see what this carbon fuss was about. I will be getting the CAAD9 on C2W next year and building it up as my pure race bike, as its meant to be the nuts!
If you have the cash for the S1 and want it, get it, as like napd says, you will always end up wishing you did!!0 -
I have had a close look at boardmans and the finish to the carbon and the frame joint were very rough on the example I saw, it put me off immediately, I will be seriously looking at a CAAD9 when I come to get another bike, something a with a more agressive geometry :-)0