£2k for Road Bike - Any ideas?

StanwaySteve62

I'd be all over the Condor bike builder bit of thier website

plife

My scheme has just allowed the sign up again and like the OP is up to 2k, however it is 36 monthly payments of 55 something which totals 2k.....seems like a duff deal now to me! We get 150 of accessories and it is with Halfords (so could be the same scheme!). Seems just like an interest free loan to me with some overpriced Halfords accessories!

rolf_f

TommyEss wrote:

The Libservatives have renamed it the "Buy a great bike for a little less than you might be able to manage in the shops; don't worry if you don't ride it to work but please don't whinge when it costs you more at the end than you first thought scheme"

Yep, terrible deal. It's now going to cost you a whole 2% more than you thought it would. Still, the more people that believe they'll have to fork out 25% on handover, the less incentive there will be be for the Govt to bother scrapping it completely

plife wrote:

My scheme has just allowed the sign up again and like the OP is up to 2k, however it is 36 monthly payments of 55 something which totals 2k.....seems like a duff deal now to me! We get 150 of accessories and it is with Halfords (so could be the same scheme!). Seems just like an interest free loan to me with some overpriced Halfords accessories!

No it isn't - go and speak to your HR people and ask them to explain it in more detail. The 36 monthly payments of 55 are before the tax and NI; it always looks like you are paying full price when you look at the value of the deduction without taking the tax into account.

Pross

Wicked2627 wrote:

Thanks for the help guys. Just measures my inseam and know what seat post length I nee too )

I can see why you want the best bike you can afford and most of us would do the same in your position. However, I'm not sure if you've said the above slightly tongue in cheek but if you are spending £2k on a bike that you will be paying for over 3 years (and which you won't be able to sell) please make sure you get a full bike fit done rather than just relying on your inside leg measurement (otherwise get a 58cm, I'll buy it off you for £100 if it doesn't fit and won't tell your employer ).

benno68

I agree Pross, a bike fit especially for someone new to the road cycling scene is a must.

I bought my Cube online but only after checking out one owned by a fellow club member. I would have a 56 in most brands but needed a 58 as Cube measure up slightly differently from most.

Also worth traveling to a well respected specialist bike shop rather then popping around the corner to a car accessory shop that happens to sell bikes too.

benno68

I agree Pross, a bike fit especially for someone new to the road cycling scene is a must.

I bought my Cube online but only after checking out one owned by a fellow club member. I would have a 56 in most brands but needed a 58 as Cube measure up slightly differently from most.

Also worth traveling to a well respected specialist bike shop rather then popping around the corner to a car accessory shop that happens to sell bikes too.

plife

Rolf F wrote:

No it isn't - go and speak to your HR people and ask them to explain it in more detail. The 36 monthly payments of 55 are before the tax and NI; it always looks like you are paying full price when you look at the value of the deduction without taking the tax into account.

OK you are right....didn't notice that this was gross and not net! Should try and read the T&C when I am wide awake!!

Now if only I knew the prices for the Boardman 2011 models!!!

ian@srb

Have you considered a cyclocross bike.

wicked2627

Cheers guys - useful info as ever.

The reason i'm steering towards a Boardman is because I love my Boardman mtb and also it seems to be the best value for money at £1.6k. The groupset and carbon bb can't be seen to be matched. Years ago I used to have Shimano XTR on a Specialized Stumpjumper and it was always causing me issues. So I prefer Sram (as X0/9 stuff on mtb is awesome) and the Boardman has Sram Force.

I'm happy to look at the above suggestions but would they ride much different (if they also have carbon frames)? If it's just the brand, then i'm not too fussed in all honesty. I'm not really weight conscious and will probably fit a Brooks saddle to it, however the lighter the better.

I know the voucher can be used at Leisure Lakes which may help.

Chris James

Wicked2627 wrote:

My thoughts exactly. I am sure I will love Road biking and want a bike that I can use for years, not something that starts causing problems after a couple of months as that will put me off it.

You should buy whatever bike you like the look and feel of, assuming you can afford it,

However, a £2k bike is no more reliable than a £1k bike. Possibly less reliable, given that the components on it are often stripped down race equipment.

ian@srb

If you want Carbon forks and frame and a carbon SRam group set fulcrum wheels, and italian design for under £1,600 check this spec out:-

SINTESI Z1 PRO £1,599.00

The SINTESI Z1 Pro is new for the 2011 season It features a carbon frame and fork, Sram Rival carbon shifters and Sram carbon 50/34 crank set. Mechs are also Sram Rival. SINTESI 991 finishing kit and Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels complement the Z1. Available in XS-S-M-L-XL

cougie

Wicked2627 wrote:

My thoughts exactly. I am sure I will love Road biking and want a bike that I can use for years, not something that starts causing problems after a couple of months as that will put me off it.

If you pay anywhere upwards of £500 say - then you will have a reliable bike. But if you ride it thru salted roads each day and dont clean it well - then yes you will have problems, but that would be the same be it a 6k Pinarello, or a £500 Raleigh.

Theres no logic in needing to pay 2k to get a reliable bike. Pay a little less and then you have the money left over to give it a bit of TLC and some dosh for tools for simple jobs.

carrock

Cant understand why people sneer at boardmans. I mean, no-one sneers at eddy mercx bikes, do they.

Both great riders lending their brand to a bike, which in Boardmans case is great value.

Whats not to like?

:shock:

wicked2627

ian@srb wrote:

If you want Carbon forks and frame and a carbon SRam group set fulcrum wheels, and italian design for under £1,600 check this spec out:-

SINTESI Z1 PRO £1,599.00

The SINTESI Z1 Pro is new for the 2011 season It features a carbon frame and fork, Sram Rival carbon shifters and Sram carbon 50/34 crank set. Mechs are also Sram Rival. SINTESI 991 finishing kit and Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels complement the Z1. Available in XS-S-M-L-XL

Cheers but the boardman still seems better value i'm afraid. I can't find much info on the Sintesi so unlikely i'll be able to buy it with the C2W voucher but the Boardman is light, with Sram Force, titanium railed saddle etc.

carrock wrote:

Cant understand why people sneer at boardmans. I mean, no-one sneers at eddy mercx bikes, do they.

Its because of Halfords. However, one could always take their newly purchased bike to a LBS to get it checked over so I don't really understand the fuss.

Boardman was clever going to a major firm as it has meant he can buy all the SRAM/Rockshox stuff cheaper than others and has the advertising power of Halfords behind him. Problem is that someone who has spent £x more on a bike with a lower spec believes that Boardman's are inferior.

I shall pop down to Halfords to try some out for size as i'm 95% sure it'll be a Boardman Pro Carbon. The others look good from companies with a rich heritage, however there is nothing inherantly wrong with Boardman's so no reason to spend more for less.

carrock

carrock wrote:

t;]Cant understand why people sneer at boardmans. I mean, no-one sneers at eddy mercx bikes, do they.

Its because of Halfords. However, one could always take their newly purchased bike to a LBS to get it checked over so I don't really understand the fuss.

Boardman was clever going to a major firm as it has meant he can buy all the SRAM/Rockshox stuff cheaper than others and has the advertising power of Halfords behind him. Problem is that someone who has spent £x more on a bike with a lower spec believes that Boardman's are inferior.

Perhaps halfords approached him as they have wanted to sell major brands ( Spesh, Trek, etc. ) for years but without success. They suffer from the reputation of their apollo budget brands I think

plife

Went into my local Halfords today to see if they knew the 2011 prices, and after a search on the computer was told £1299 for the Team Carbon and £1799 for the Pro Carbon.

wicked2627

plife wrote:

Went into my local Halfords today to see if they knew the 2011 prices, and after a search on the computer was told £1299 for the Team Carbon and £1799 for the Pro Carbon.

Cheers,

Just been down and the prices are indeed going up for 2011. Not sure if the spec will be much different for next year but the price of carbon has increased and Halfords absorbed this increase in 2010.

Have paid a deposit for a Pro Carbon (only 2 left in the UK in Medium if anyone else in interested. Small is out of stock) which they will hold until my voucher arrives at the end of January. Due to their low stock, they did not have any built up. If, when it arrives, it is too big for me, then I shall downgrade and get the Team Carbon in small (as it will be too late for me to increase the value of the C2W voucher). The sales guy said they'd be no penalty as he'd probably buy the Pro for himself!

I was considering a Cyclocross or Hybrid as they will be safer on the roads. But they are too similar to my HT so have gone for a pure road racing bike.

wicked2627

All,

Picked up my new bike today - went for the Boardman Pro Carbon. Got it in the sale for £1290!!!!

I can't find many bikes under £2k that weigh close to the 7kg that this does. Plus this has Ritchey Pro and SRAM Force components.

Was too late to change the cycle to work voucher so had £470 worth of accessories to pick too - that was harder than it sounds!



Halfords don't sell spd's so off to JE James for those tomorrow and then hopefully out on the bike soon.

Thanks for all the comments guys and if anyone if after a new road bike, check out the Boardmans (esp in the xmas sale!)

dilemna

Nice bike. Enjoy. But will you actually ride it to work and back every day as the C2W scheme intends? Have you bought any good D-locks?

I like the Boardman frames but the components are a bit sh1t. I think lower models have Truvativ chainsets and components which are sh1te. A Trek hyrbid I bought a few years back had a Truvativ chainset which was heavy and crap.TBH I think the top Boardman which is yours should be spec'd with SRAM Red. I'm not keen on Ritchey either as I had a left crankarm snap on one of their chainsets and also handle bars. So sh1te bascially, avoid.

For £1600 you can get a Trek Madone 3.2 with Shimano 105 groupset throughout which is a better spec'd bike IMHO.

Anyway make sure you ride your Boardman to and from work otherwise it will become a BiK and the Revenue hopefully will be after you. Why should I and other tax payers subsidise your toys?

MaxwellBygraves

dilemna wrote:

Nice bike. Enjoy. But will you actually ride it to work and back every day as the C2W scheme intends? Have you bought any good D-locks?

I like the Boardman frames but the components are a bit sh1t. I think lower models have Truvativ chainsets and components which are sh1te. A Trek hyrbid I bought a few years back had a Truvativ chainset which was heavy and crap.TBH I think the top Boardman which is yours should be spec'd with SRAM Red. I'm not keen on Ritchey either as I had a left crankarm snap on one of their chainsets and also handle bars. So sh1te bascially, avoid.

For £1600 you can get a Trek Madone 3.2 with Shimano 105 groupset throughout which is a better spec'd bike IMHO.

Anyway make sure you ride your Boardman to and from work otherwise it will become a BiK and the Revenue hopefully will be after you. Why should I and other tax payers subsidise your toys?

I'm sorry but that's rubbish. You're right that some lower end components aren't great, but Ritchey is good stuff. The top end Boardman does have SRAM Red, the pro race prepared!
In my opinion, for £1600 you can't go wrong with the Boardman Pro, but to say the Trek Madone is better specced is crazy.The Trek has their lowest level carbon frames, basic (think £600 bike) wheels and a mid range groupset. I'm no expert, but I reckon an awful lot of your cash their is paying for that Trek name which is plastered all over the bike.
FWIW I don't own a Trek or a Boardman, and have no interest in either.
I also think it's quite rude to come and rubbish someones new bike like that.
What do you ride? I reckon it's crap :?
Wicked, I think you've got an awesome bike and I hope you have great fun riding it

Squillinossett

dilemna wrote:

Nice bike. Enjoy. But will you actually ride it to work and back every day as the C2W scheme intends? Have you bought any good D-locks?

I like the Boardman frames but the components are a bit sh1t. I think lower models have Truvativ chainsets and components which are sh1te. A Trek hyrbid I bought a few years back had a Truvativ chainset which was heavy and crap.TBH I think the top Boardman which is yours should be spec'd with SRAM Red. I'm not keen on Ritchey either as I had a left crankarm snap on one of their chainsets and also handle bars. So sh1te bascially, avoid.

For £1600 you can get a Trek Madone 3.2 with Shimano 105 groupset throughout which is a better spec'd bike IMHO.

Anyway make sure you ride your Boardman to and from work otherwise it will become a BiK and the Revenue hopefully will be after you. Why should I and other tax payers subsidise your toys?

Your an idiot...

I can guarantee the IR will not spend 1 minute chasing someone over a cycle to work scheme, as quite frankly they simply are understaffed, and have much bigger fish to fry.

I had a Boardman Team Carbon as my last bike, and considering after tax savings it cost me £600, I would love to hear of better bikes that could have been had for the money.

P.S 105 is pretty poor when sided up next to Force...

sfichele

P.S 105 is pretty poor when sided up next to Force....

Force may weighs less, but that's harsh. 105 is an excellent bit of mid-range kit

Squillinossett

I have 105/ultegra kit on my winter bike, Rival on my summer bike. The rival is much better in use than the 105. (105 is indeed good kit, thats the reason I bought it, but Rival just feels & works better)

Though I am stuck between going with Red, or Chorus to replace it, I dont think from use Force is a big jump over Rival.

dilemna

MaxwellBygraves wrote:

dilemna wrote:

Nice bike. Enjoy. But will you actually ride it to work and back every day as the C2W scheme intends? Have you bought any good D-locks?

I like the Boardman frames but the components are a bit sh1t. I think lower models have Truvativ chainsets and components which are sh1te. A Trek hyrbid I bought a few years back had a Truvativ chainset which was heavy and crap.TBH I think the top Boardman which is yours should be spec'd with SRAM Red. I'm not keen on Ritchey either as I had a left crankarm snap on one of their chainsets and also handle bars. So sh1te bascially, avoid.

For £1600 you can get a Trek Madone 3.2 with Shimano 105 groupset throughout which is a better spec'd bike IMHO.

Anyway make sure you ride your Boardman to and from work otherwise it will become a BiK and the Revenue hopefully will be after you. Why should I and other tax payers subsidise your toys?

I'm sorry but that's rubbish. You're right that some lower end components aren't great, but Ritchey is good stuff.

So you agree with me .

Not IME.

The top end Boardman does have SRAM Red, the pro race prepared!
In my opinion, for £1600 you can't go wrong with the Boardman Pro, but to say the Trek Madone is better specced is crazy.The Trek has their lowest level carbon frames, basic (think £600 bike) wheels and a mid range groupset. I'm no expert, but I reckon an awful lot of your cash their is paying for that Trek name which is plastered all over the bike.

In your opinion, yes .

The Boardman Pro Carbon is ok. I just think one can do better. This is MY opinion. The Madone frame is not their most basic frame .

And the OP's bike doesn't have Boardman plastered all over it :roll: ?
Do you think anyone would buy it if it had Halffords instead ?

FWIW I don't own a Trek or a Boardman, and have no interest in either.

But you still thought you'd stick your oar in :roll: ?

I also think it's quite rude to come and rubbish someones new bike like that.

I haven't. Obviously you're not very good at comprehension or you have chosen to ignore certain parts of my post. I would suggest you re-read the very first line of my post and tell me what I have written :roll: .

What do you ride? I reckon it's crap :?

Now, now, Maxy no need to be rude.

Wicked, I think you've got an awesome bike and I hope you have great fun riding it

Indeed.

dilemna

Squillinossett wrote:

dilemna wrote:

Nice bike. Enjoy. But will you actually ride it to work and back every day as the C2W scheme intends? Have you bought any good D-locks?

I like the Boardman frames but the components are a bit sh1t. I think lower models have Truvativ chainsets and components which are sh1te. A Trek hyrbid I bought a few years back had a Truvativ chainset which was heavy and crap.TBH I think the top Boardman which is yours should be spec'd with SRAM Red. I'm not keen on Ritchey either as I had a left crankarm snap on one of their chainsets and also handle bars. So sh1te bascially, avoid.

For £1600 you can get a Trek Madone 3.2 with Shimano 105 groupset throughout which is a better spec'd bike IMHO.

Anyway make sure you ride your Boardman to and from work otherwise it will become a BiK and the Revenue hopefully will be after you. Why should I and other tax payers subsidise your toys?

Your an idiot...

And your grammar is poor. It is you are an idiot .

I can guarantee the IR will not spend 1 minute chasing someone over a cycle to work scheme, as quite frankly they simply are understaffed, and have much bigger fish to fry.

You sure that you can categorically guarantee that the OP and all the other cyclists who have bought bikes under the C2W scheme but who don't actually commute on them wouldn't be pursued by the Revenue? Basically it's tax evasion and I don't see why I should subsidise people who screw the system. To all the people who do use their bikes to commute I haven't a problem with.

I had a Boardman Team Carbon as my last bike, and considering after tax savings it cost me £600, I would love to hear of better bikes that could have been had for the money.

Presumably the tax savings you made didn't simply apply because your bike was a Boardman Team Carbon ? You would have saved just as much tax under the C2W scheme if you had chosen a different make and model of bike?

P.S 105 is pretty poor when sided up next to Force...

Have you carried out a controlled scientific test ?

MaxwellBygraves

Dilemna, I would suggest you re-read your original post, and tell me if someone said that to you about the new bike about which had posted a picture of, you wouldn't feel a bit put out. You say the components are sh!t, charming!!
Your right that Boardman bikes are branded with the Boardman name, but Trek have a habit of over branding their products.
I'm sorry, I probably didn't make it clear enough enough that I was being sarcastic with the 'your bikes crap' bit. I have no idea what you ride, I just meant it in a sarcastic way to point out its not very nice to say that about anyone's bike.
We obviously differ in opinion, so there's no point arguing further, happy riding dude.

wicked2627

Everyone - chill!

The trek may be good but this bike was less than £1300 so is a bargain.

I agree that C2W is or people who cycle to work, but I walk to work. The benefit of the scheme is the government is promoting a healthier lifestyle and employees who regularly cycle (whether to work or for leisure) are less likely to be ill or use up NHS resources etc.

The government are not stupid 0 they know most users of the scheme do not need a £2k bike to get to work - however the benefit indirectly.

People who cycle to work or who cannot use this scheme (e.g. if employer doesn't offer it) may feel hard done by but that's the way it is and by stopping another person taking advantage of this scheme is not really helpful. Had it not been for C2W, I would not have got back into cycling at all.

dilemna

I wish you well with your bike. But really, by your own admission, it is a benefit in kind and should be taxed accordingly.

JKHinton

I hope you enjoy your new bike Wicked2627

you made a very good decision

amnesia

JKHinton wrote:

I hope you enjoy your new bike Wicked2627

you made a very good decision

+1 a cracking investment.

Have fun !