Boardman issues or not?

Girth
Girth Posts: 148
edited September 2011 in Road beginners
Hi All,

Just wanting some help with road bikes. I am a mountain biker by trade but after watching the TDF for years and spending time on the edge of getting a road bike i have decided enough is enough and time to take a leap.
Started out not too fussed about what bike, something around £600 would do, something just to thrash around on but like the mountain bike purchase i have quickly realligned my budget to something sub £1500. Should have seen it coming.
I know one bike is not suitable for all, but on reviews i have got down to a short list and this is what i have so far.
Boardman Team Carbon
Focus Cayo
Verenti Rhigos
Fely z5
Cannondale Synapse

I am going to be trying out bikes where i can but i had already kind of put the boardman provisionally in the lead with a good spec even though i am still trying to familairise myself with the pecking order of road bike running gear when all i know is mountain bike stuff. Seems to have got great reviews but then i found a few youtube vids basically saying dont touch the 11/12 Boardman range. Service from Halfords i am aware is not always great but is there anything fundamentally wrong with these bikes or is it just BS?

Comments

  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    mainly bs...

    don't worry too much about spec, focus more on fit. So tbh i'd buy from a good inderpendant who offers a strong fit package.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • bobones
    bobones Posts: 1,215
    No personal experience, but there seems to be an issue with the BB30 bottom bracket with the Boardmans. I think these bikes are good value for money, but the bike snobs will always look at them as a Halfords bike.

    If I was spending £1500 I would definitely add the new 2012 Felt F6 to my shortlist - full carbon and SRAM Apex.
  • parsons1927
    parsons1927 Posts: 31
    Pinarello FP2's are a great price on Wiggle at the moment, £1199
  • Nairnster
    Nairnster Posts: 602
    Must admit, for that sort of budget, I would be looking at some kind of sale item from a company other then Boardman.

    Not because of any reliability issues, but more that you can get something a little less 'bike supermarket'
  • itchieritchie
    itchieritchie Posts: 332
    As above, don't worry too much about bike snobs. And yes, bike fit is critical. A £5k superbike is pants if it doesn't allow you to stretch out comfortably.

    You'll probably find that in time you want to upgrade here and there (we all love to tinker don't we...??).

    In that case, do what I did and get the best frame you can for the money as it's the one thing you can't change.

    Don't know about Verenti but I can vouch for Focus. I have a 2007 Izalco Expert. It rides like a dream. No internal cabling, no press fit bottom bracket or tapered headtube or any of the current fancy must-haves, just massive carbon tubes, a great fork and perfect geometry. Also stiff and comfortable and suits me to a tee. With a set of clip-on tri-bars it allows me to make up for my rubbish swim times in triathlons. And good value, very importantly. Since then I know their frames have improved no end, offering things such as size-specific frames, which are better tailored for rider weights.

    I'd probably look at a Cube bike if you're in that range too. They offer really good value, as do Ribble and Planet X.

    Good luck and let us know what you plump for. Glad you're also a roadie now. Speed is addictive...!! 8)
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    My Boardman CX BB failed in about 13 miles - no lube. If you get one, just make sure they check the lube before you take delivery. Good bike though & hunt around for a discount code for 10% off Boardmans.

    That said, I have a Cayo as my proper road bike and I love it. I had a Focus Variado before that (still have it) and that was great too
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • Girth
    Girth Posts: 148
    Key to it for me will be the test ride so it kind of puts the Wiggle bikes on the back foot in that regard. I like a local store as well, i payed £150 more for my mountain bike just so i could grab it out of my LBS rather that online.
    By the time i get all done and dusted i will problably have missed most of the current bargains and be on a 12' bike.
    Weight of bike isnt a great issue for me as i weigh 95 kilos myself so much cheaper to put myself on a diet than carbon everything, but i know i will end up up with a carbon bike, it just seems like the right thing to do :D
    I like the look of that 2012 Felt F6!
    Not too fussed about Boardman image, Pro teams use Boardman so that is good enough for me, if the bike is right than fair enough but will look out for than bottom bracket/lube issue.
    I know i will love road biking as much as mountain, for different reasons obviously, just keen to get out. Live in Yorkshire so perfect countryside for it!
    Cheers for all replies.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Wiggle do their 30-day test rides - better than many bike shops in my experience
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • mattwood
    mattwood Posts: 148
    Just to add in another angle,

    Would you look for a secondhand bike within that budget? I only throw that up as when I was looking for a road bike (also having come from the world of MTBs) I found some really top gear that is well under your budget and I infact bought a custom built 2011 Argon 18 Krypton in as new condition (ridden once on road test) and would have had change from the RRP of the Boardman.

    If you're willing to look long and hard enough the second hand market is brilliant.
  • Girth
    Girth Posts: 148
    Yeah wiggle do great service that way. But i was more meaning that if you get on a bike you know within 30 seconds if it feels right or wrong. That could make it a long process with Wiggle going backwards and forwards testing different bike but i certainly arent ruling them out.

    erm, i wouldnt rule out a second hand bike if i was confident of what i was getting and that it had been looked after etc, but my preference would be new. I think it would give a little more peace of mind.
  • HasselHough
    HasselHough Posts: 83
    I got a Boardman Road Team on my c2w scheme. The BB needed a regrease after 80 miles, I say re grease, it didn't have any in in the first place. Bit disappointing but got the bike back the next day, and all is well so far.

    Sod the bike snobs, it's a good bike, good spec and aggressively priced.

    Being from Preston I see a lot of Ribble and Hewitts bikes. I'm sure some of the owners have an elevated opinion of their bikes and themselves, Im sure most don't though.
    Who cares what anyone else thinks. Just pedal it hard, and gain respect by going fast :-)

    Enjoy whatever bike you get, I came from a MTb and haven't looked back.
    Cube Acid 2011 MTB
    Boardman Road Team....... yes i have had the BB re-greased :-)
  • Girth
    Girth Posts: 148
    Yeah if the Boardman works out best fit and everything else has it at the top i won't hesitate to buy it and now thanks to the replies i know to tell them what to ´check before i take delivery!

    I have just been to my LBS in Harrogate who stock Giant and Trek. They do a full bike fit service and use the online system to find your ideal geometry and if i match up i am going to be trying the Trek Madone 3.1 2012 once the demo bikes come in. So another bike on the short list now. I saw the bike in store and if it rides anything like it looks it should be a good'un
  • cyberknight
    cyberknight Posts: 1,238
    I have a baordman comp and its great.

    Absolutely no issues at all, i have not even had to re index the gears yet for cable stretch , mind you its a weekender atm :D
    FCN 3/5/9
  • jonbristol
    jonbristol Posts: 83
    There are knwon instances of boardman 'carbon' frames being brought to bike workshops because of crashes and there being clear dents in tubes....carbon doesnt dent but carbon wrapped alloy does.

    Its not all bike snobbery, its safety and frustration at seeing people not getting what it says on the tin
  • MaxwellBygraves
    MaxwellBygraves Posts: 1,353
    Boardman issues? Ask Soni...
    "That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college! " - Homer
  • morstar
    morstar Posts: 6,190
    jonbristol wrote:
    There are knwon instances of boardman 'carbon' frames being brought to bike workshops because of crashes and there being clear dents in tubes....carbon doesnt dent but carbon wrapped alloy does.

    Its not all bike snobbery, its safety and frustration at seeing people not getting what it says on the tin

    Links?...

    Or bs?
  • Swansea_Dave
    Swansea_Dave Posts: 73
    jonbristol wrote:
    There are knwon instances of boardman 'carbon' frames being brought to bike workshops because of crashes and there being clear dents in tubes....carbon doesnt dent but carbon wrapped alloy does.

    Its not all bike snobbery, its safety and frustration at seeing people not getting what it says on the tin

    Can you evidence these 'known instances'? It doesn't sound at all likely. Boardman sell thousands of bikes - I think it would quickly become common knowledge if the frames were carbon wrapped alloy (some seatposts maybe, but not frame tubes).

    I don't own a Boardman, by the way.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    jonbristol wrote:
    There are knwon instances of boardman 'carbon' frames being brought to bike workshops because of crashes and there being clear dents in tubes....carbon doesnt dent but carbon wrapped alloy does.

    Its not all bike snobbery, its safety and frustration at seeing people not getting what it says on the tin

    Hang on, are you saying Boardman are trying to sell carbon wrapped alloy frames as full carbon? If you can prove that I would suggest you pass it on to trading standards. If not I would be very careful!
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Didn't I read that you can now buy Boardman bikes from Wiggle? If so I would assume you can get one on their 30 day trial which would be perfect.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Pross wrote:
    Didn't I read that you can now buy Boardman bikes from Wiggle? If so I would assume you can get one on their 30 day trial which would be perfect.

    Yes - anywhere but the UK - I assume Halfords have the exclusive sales rights here
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Ah right. Sign of things to come hopefully.
  • itchieritchie
    itchieritchie Posts: 332
    Jonbristol. I'm always on the consumers side. And what you're saying might even be true, but still proceed with caution man. Your comments can potentially be very damaging so you may well be leaving yourself open to a libel claim unless you can fully substantiate what you're saying...
  • outcastjack
    outcastjack Posts: 237
    Some plank in Halfords did try to tell me that the bottom of the range Boardman (which is clearly advertised as alloy) was made from carbon fibre.

    I imagine these dented 'carbon frames' you describe could well be owned by gullible idiots too dim to look at the info card attached to the bike in the shop.
  • Fat-Boy-Roubaix
    Fat-Boy-Roubaix Posts: 413
    Going by Wiggles lack of 2012 Focus bikes and them stocking the full Boardman range in fact they stock more than Halfords, they list a CX Pro, Halfords only list a CX Team as long as you are out of the UK, I do wonder when the Halfords contract is up for renewal, and if Wiggle are about to take it over?
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Pross wrote:
    Didn't I read that you can now buy Boardman bikes from Wiggle? If so I would assume you can get one on their 30 day trial which would be perfect.

    Only outside the UK. Halfords must have an exclusive deal ......
    Faster than a tent.......
  • Malcolm44
    Malcolm44 Posts: 9
    Boardman bikes are sold in three ways in the UK. 1 Halfords who sell evrything up to the performance series Pro Carbon at circa £1800.

    The Elite series of bikes (the AiR and the SLR) are sold by:
    Corridori Cycle Sport, Epsom, Surrey, Echelon Cycles, Pershore, Worcestershire or The Bike Factory, Chester, Cheshire: thebikefactory.co.uk.

    I got my 2010 Pro Carbon online through Halfords site which actually comes direct from Boardman (their engineer checks and sets it up).
    Anywhere else in the world and you can buy at Wiggle

    I hope this download of Google has helped!!!!!
    exercise.png

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