spesh allez comp vs boardman team carbon

markypeeps

Hello all!

Planning on getting my first bike soon. I did decide on getting a boardman road comp or if i could stretch to it the team carbon, because the spec for the dosh seems very good.

BUT....... i went to my lbs and they have the specialised secteur elite for £799 and the allez comp for £999.

They let me take them out. Although im a complete novice i loved the allez comp 2010 bike. It was very lively and responsive. Although i liked the secteur, it was a lot more sluggish although more absorbant and perhaps comfy. I guess they do what it says on the tin!
So out of those two im thinking of the allez comp, but what about the boardman??? Soon the 2011 model comes out, perhaps they will cut the 2010 prices?? Also the carbon is so light and a good spec, but would the spesh be better?? Ive read its perhaps better to get a top end alloy bike than a cheap carbon. Would the spesh fit that description??

What would you do?? Also a bonus is that i can get interest free credit on the spesh.

The bike will be used for training, and my first duathlon and perhaps triathlon next year, (i am a runner). Also a coast to coast charity ride. (300 ish miles).

Thanks for your help!

LazyLoki

Normally I'd recommend a good alloy frame over cheap carbon but to be honest the Boardman has been getting rave reviews. I'd say it's probably about the best bike for that kind of money.

sundog

A better spec alloy bike would be better than a cheap carbon

markypeeps

so would the allez comp be more preferable over the team carbon or is the team carbon the exception to the rule, as is appears...

marin_maniac

Ride both, then decide.

I suspect most opinions already posted are from people that have ridden neither bike, let alone both of them.

nfiore

As a MTB'r, I ventured onto skinnies with an Allez last year, great bike, always made me smile and subsequently has got me well and truly hooked. I now ride a Scott CR1 and a Boardman for the winter, so hopefully I can offer some advice based on my experience. The carbon will be more comfortable on longer rides, but it looses the power to the wheels on the climbs. The Boardman [looking past the name] is very comfortable, very responsive and very close to the Spesh for enjoyment. I am going to assume that for tri your priority will be speed over comfort, in which case an alley frame, decent fit, decent saddle and shorts will do.
Good luck with the C2C

rake

either bike would be good. the boardman isnt primarily about comfort, its acceptable on long rides but its designed more for speeding. i cant fault mine, i have nothing to compare cheap carbon wise but it doesnt ride cheap at all. it think cheap in this instance is the wrong word, its more very good value because of the distribution network, not budget basement build. it shares the same design throughout as the pro carbon but a bit heavier and possibly more robust.still comes in at 8kg which is good at the ricepoint. it puts power down very well and i too think its the best bike at the price. 2k clocked up and no problems at all. other 'cheap' carbon might be different.i have a fairly heavy alu bike and it isnt as stiff in the bb . no reports of flexible front ends either. the forks are triangulated and quite thick as are the seatstays which im sure adds a lot of rigidity. it handles beautifully at any speed, turns well but is very stable, ive been nearly touching 50mph downhill and not had a hint of twitch or speed wobble.it has quite a large rake i believe. i just hope the next incarnation of the bike is as good never mind better.

Bar Shaker

I bought a Team Carbon after riding my wife's. Its certainly not a cheap carbon bike. Cheap carbon bikes are painted to hide shoddy frame building.

By lacking a whole tier of distributor, Halfords can sell it for 30% off what an LBS would need to charge. Its stiff, light, lightning quick and comfortable for long rides. SRAM Rival is just the nuts of a gear set.

It would be a stunning bike at £1500 and I love mine.

father_jack

bar shaker, wiggle have full carbon sram force for £1400 :-) comes with £300/£400 wheels too!

rake

Father Jack wrote:

bar shaker, wiggle have full carbon sram force for £1400 :-) comes with £300/£400 wheels too!

that tells you something about the frame. my wheels have been fine. the swapping histeria was about some of them built with too low spoke tension which would cause any wheels a problem. when well tensioned they hold true and are solid, 2k and no trueing says so.

Constant headwind

Brilliant. Now I can add the Team carbon to my list also. So confused.

These are the other two I was considering.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/specialed ... ERC&bike=1

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBP ... n-sram-red
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father_jack

rake wrote:

Father Jack wrote:

bar shaker, wiggle have full carbon sram force for £1400 :-) comes with £300/£400 wheels too!

that tells you something about the frame. my wheels have been fine. the swapping histeria was about some of them built with too low spoke tension which would cause any wheels a problem. when well tensioned they hold true and are solid.

eh the frame is pants?

rake

Father Jack wrote:

rake wrote:

Father Jack wrote:

bar shaker, wiggle have full carbon sram force for £1400 :-) comes with £300/£400 wheels too!

that tells you something about the frame. my wheels have been fine. the swapping histeria was about some of them built with too low spoke tension which would cause any wheels a problem. when well tensioned they hold true and are solid.

eh the frame is pants?

it leaves less margin for the frame with those components. the term cheap carbon must have been coined somewhere? maybe not pants but id be surprised if it was as good.

father_jack

Was £2000.

rake

how do they manage to slash that much off.

father_jack

End of year sales. There's 40% off Killer Bee LTD edition.

rake

nice. im backing away from the exchange now. wheres my hat.

father_jack

pity abou the colours. Got a white road bike, interested in team replica but it's...white. Killer Bee LTD...white

rake

black shows up dust but maybe not as bad.

father_jack

lol my dad said that about his old car (black) now has white car..says white is better. Mate with white BMW says the same too. Weird eh.

Bar Shaker

The Pro version of the Boardman carbons has SRAM Force but is £1599.

Cycling Weekly voted it Performance Bike of the Year.

father_jack

Between the £1600 Boardman, or £1400 Focus Team Replica, I'd get the Focus. Although the Boardmans have unpainted black look if you prefer. But £200 less, also wheelset on the Focus is a bit more expensive (£100 if I recall) Differences in warranty?

rake

if the boardman ever came down with 40% off it would be no contest. youre really comparing to a 2k £ bike. not going to be many available. id still have the boardman. price says a lot but not everything.

father_jack

yeah if the Boardman was £1400 get it instead, prefer the black carbon look. I guess not as good offer if bundled wheelset isn't as good.

rake

how are the wheels not as good. i like dt swiss but the 1900 isnt their top line, but yes a very good wheelset.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV8MNbBIlOI&feature=fvst

father_jack

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=49155

did find wheelset on the boardmans bit less.

rake

thats a sleeved rim not welded. and there not hugi hubs, two pawl. not much difference.

father_jack

those are the wheels on the focus.

rake

yes.

Bar Shaker

Interesting. Would you buy it because of the colour or something? Cycling Weekly didn't think the more expensive Focus Cayo Expert with Ultegra was up to the standard of the Boardman Pro.

But we digress as this thread is about the Allez and the Team Carbon.

father_jack

can you find wheelset that comes with the £1600 boardman?