Which Boardman

s800byj

Hi there guys, I know the which bike has been asked a thousand times but I need some advice before splashing out the cash. Now that Halfords has started their Bike Sales early, they have slashed their Boardman range by up to £170.

Cash is a big factor, no Cycle2Work Scheme for me as I am in the Armed Forces.

I am looking at the Boardman Road Race

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_789253_langId_-1_categoryId_165710?shouldCachePage=true&msg=

or the Boardman Road Comp.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_777859_langId_-1_categoryId_165710?shouldCachePage=true&msg=

I want it to be a long lasting bike but I really have no idea about the gearing and I am currently riding a cheap and heavy Apollo Veho hybrid from Halfords and have clocked 400 miles on it.

I intend to enter the EtapeCaledonia next year so need something good on hills. I cannot really go higher than £600 but I also don't want to go down the really cheap route and have something I have to replace in a year or so.

So any advice would be gratefully appreciated. I have been bitten by this cycling lark and really want to venture into my first road bike with a bit of knowledge.

Thanks in advance,

Scooby

styxd

I'd get the road comp since it has a proper 10 speed groupset with some decent Apex shifters. The gearing on it will be all you need to get you up the steepest hills.

Ringo 68

styxd wrote:

I'd get the road comp since it has a proper 10 speed groupset with some decent Apex shifters. The gearing on it will be all you need to get you up the steepest hills.

+1
I have a comp and it is a very nice bike. The Apex gearing is every bit as smooth as the far more expensive Ultegra gears on my main bike. Plus you can climb up walls on the 34/32 low gear.

plb

I think it's going to be down to which one you prefer, both should last if looked after (definitely longer than a BSO). If it was me; between these two; I'd take the Comp - mainly because I prefer the shifting on the SRAM levers to the thumb-shifters on the Sora. Have you had a chance to jump over them/ride them? The frames look to be very similar, looks like the group is the real distinguishing feature between the two.

But then, it looks a bit sharper in black...

Ka12

I bought a Boardman Carbon Female road bike about 4 weeks ago and love it, really good to ride and very comfortable.

Do you know any students as NUS discounts save 10% off at halfords and NHS staff get 7.5% off when buying halfords gift vouchers, also joining British Cycling gets you a 10% discount at halfords.

The RRP for my bike was £1300 but with the Halfords sale (£300.00 off), NUS discount (£100.00), NHS discount (£75.00) and Topcashback (£30.00) I paid £795 for the bike.

s800byj

Thanks for the info guys, didn't realise you could tote up the discounts. I am a mature student with a NUS card too and if I were to Join British Cycling I am sure they give 10% off too.
I am going to hop on them as soon as the local store has them in. Might be cheeky and see if they could get 2 sent to the store to try.

Again thanks

Scooby

PKRAZOR

Sit on them and see what feels right

essjaydee

I'd go for the comp

I have a road race and it's been great, but the thumb shifters I found to be a pain, so replaced them. Also had issues with rear hub bearings as it's got a cheap formula hub, but then I do ride in all weathers right on the coast, and I'm a fatty (for a cyclist)

juankerr

The Comp looks like a great all-rounder. Wide ratio gear and mudguard fixings and I'd take Apex over Sora any day.