Choice of 2 , help me choose please :)

cyberknight

Choosing a bike, choice of 2 advice please.

Postby CyberKnight » Sat Jun 11, 2011 6:05 pm
I have narrowed my choices down to a Boardman Race 2011 and the boardman comp 2011.

Realistically the race is all the bike i will ever need and i prefer the colour and the price tag, or should i put the boat out and go for the sram apex specced bike?

Money is an issue as although i am getting a new bike , i am only allowed one because mini CK#2 is due in December and the wife will not be returning to work so i convinced mrs CK that if i do not get one now it will be a long time before the next one.
Is it worth the extra cost for gaining 1 gear on the cassette and shifters i can use from the drops when i am happy with sora?

specs.
RRP: £649.99
Size: S,M,L,XL
Frame: Lightweight alloy triple butted, full smooth welding with mudguard clearance
Fork: Lightweight carbon, alloy steerer, mudguard clearance
Headset: FSA Integrated
Spacers: Alloy
Stem: cboardman
Handlebars: cboardman
Seatpost: cboardman
Saddle: cboardman
Brakes: Tektro R358
Shifters: Shimano Sora
Rear Mech: Shimano Sora
Front Mech: Microshift
Cassette: SRAM PG950
Chain: KMC Z99
Chainset: FSA Vero compact 50x34T
Bottom Bracket: FSA cartridge
Rims: Mavic CXP22
Hubs: Formula
Spokes: Stainless black
Tyres: Continental Ultra Sport
Pedals: Wellgo alloy with clips and straps
Weight: (excluding pedals) 20.6lbs


RRP: £799.99
Size: S,M,L,XL
Model: Road Comp
Frame: Lightweight alloy triple butted, full smooth welding, tapered steerer with mudguard clearance
Fork: Superlight full carbon, tapered steerer, mudguard clearance
Headset: FSA Integrated
Spacers: Alloy
Stem: cboardman
Handlebars: cboardman
Seatpost: cboardman
Saddle: cboardman
Brakes: Tektro R730
Shifters: SRAM APEX 10speed
Rear Mech: SRAM APEX
Front Mech: SRAM APEX
Cassette: SRAM PG1050
Chain: KMC X10
Chainset: FSA Gossamer compact 50x34T
Bottom Bracket: FSA Mega Exo
Rims: Mavic CXP22
Hubs: Formula
Spokes: Stainless black
Tyres: Continental Ultra Sport
Pedals: Wellgo alloy with clips and straps
Weight: (excluding pedals) 20.2lbs

Bobbinogs

I guess it is all a question of degrees of improvement and personal choice. Most of the spec you list is either noise or comparable so, as you have already done, the focus just boils down to the differences which appear to be:

Chainset
BB
Gears (9 spd Sora v 10 spd Apex)
Front mech
Brakes

I think the main difference though will be how you get on with the shifters when you are riding the bike for a few hours. Have you tried Sora? Some folks like it, some don't. I get on ok with the shifters but don't own a bike with them. I am more than happy with 9 spd as I have it on two of my bikes (one is Campag and the other is a Heinz 57 groupset with Shimano/Campag/Stronglight, etc.). Then again, I also have 10 spd 105 on one bike and that is really nice.

Have you actually tried the bikes? I am not sure if Halfords do test rides but if not then you could pop down to somewhere like Evans and test ride an Allez with Sora or something else with Apex and see how you get on with them. You never know, you might even see/try a bike that actually hits the spot and buy it instead of the Boardman (or go back and buy the right Boardman since they are pretty good, IMO).

Ultimately, I think that only you will know if one of the bikes is worth more of your money than the other.

cyberknight

I ride a virtuoso with 2300 so i am used to the shifters and i currently do around 150 miles a week, did a 100 k sportive with it and i get on fine with them.Any of the 2 bikes will be a big jump up from what i have.

I have sat on the bikes to test reach etc etc and looked into geometry to compare with my current bike and both have the same top tube measurement, the seat tube is 1.5 cm longer but fits fine .

Unfortunately i live very far from a place big enough to have a big range of bikes so its either the LBS with a limited range or halfords which our company uses for C2W which is how i will pay for it .Looked into trek etc etc by comparing geometry but the boardman fits the bill and is cheaper for the same spec

drkawaszelong

i'd go for 10 speed, just because when it comes to upgrading parts, 10 speed bits are just that little more widely available also, you may struggle to change gear from the drops with Sora (i had the 8 speed version, and found it almost impossible, with medium sized hands, dunno if it's changed)

but, decision is yours, try both bikes out first if you can

night_porter

Whilst it may seem that the difference in price only gives you a change in shifters and 2 gears there is another factor to consider in the equation.

For £650 how much are you actually going to gain over your current bike? Carbon forks and 2 extra gears?

You say you are happy using the thumbshift of the 2300/Sora but have you ridden a bike with Sram double tap shifters? I find Sram hoods to be very comfortable and even though I have 2 Tiagra equiped bikes I still prefer the feel of my Sram equipped bike more.

Also considering that you are getting it through CTW you are not really paying £150 extra and as you told your wife this bike will be around for a long time. My advice is go for the higher spec one and save yourself from regrets and if only's in the future.