Noob Question? Do I NEED a front shock? Boardman Team Q?

ram_145

:?:
Noob question if I may please? :oops: I am thinking of replacing the aged and decrepit MTB I was given and am quite taken with the Boardman HT Team R ('Urban') http://www.boardmanbikes.com/mtb/ht_teamr.html with a carbon fork. Primarily as I do around 75% on road mileage and don't really want the weight & maintenance of the front shock.

However... the 25% that I do off road is mostly, bridle-paths, pathways, rougher farm tracks etc where I really appreciate the front shock I have at the moment to absorb some of the rattles and roles. (I'm not quite up to serious trails and jumping down cliffs just yet!!)

Question is: How much would the carbon fork on the "urban" bike really help to absorb these ruts? Or should I really be thinking about upgrading to the "Team" edition bike with the lock-out fork? http://www.boardmanbikes.com/mtb/ht_team.html

I've read the BR review - saying that if you put proper tyres on it will help and dampen....but really wanted some real life example thoughts and opinions. Especially as I'd probably be using hybrid on/off road tyres like the Continental Double Fighter II's I have at the moment (simply as I like em!).

Open to thoughts and opinions...just wanted to hear what you folks thought?

The "expert" at Halfords was pushing me to the shocks, but I am quite tempted to save myself the £250 difference?

Thanks!

cooldad

I know a couple of people with Urbans and they are fine for relatively gentle off road. I still do a weekly school mountain bike club ride on a 25 year old rigid bike, and I keep up with the kiddies easily. I just use it becuse it's easiest to leave a bike at the school.
When I'm out to have fun I ride a full suspension.
You can do pretty much anything, on anything really. It's a personal choice.
For what you describe it will be fine, but it won't absorb ruts and things, no matter what anyone says. For that you have your body.

danlikesbikes

Q - Do you need a front shock?
A - NO

I have 2 of my old MTB's. First is a Dale with a new air fork & the second is a rigid Klein. I can easily out ride a vast number of riders on either bike without any drama or pushing the older bikes.

As per cooldad I too do have a few other more expensive full sus bikes and for real fun or racing I'll quite happily bust them out for a few hours and enjoy the fun.

Sounds like the terrain your riding you would not really benefit having a shock fitted & if you save yourself £250 now and decide at a later date to purchase you can always pick up something later.

I quite happily ride my winter road bike steel with a carbon fork on farm tracks an pathways without any issues at all & yes the carbon fork does make a difference over having a steel one as it dampens the vibrations but bumps etc are all taken with the body.

chez_m356

ram_145 wrote:

:?:


The "expert" at Halfords was pushing me to the shocks, but I am quite tempted to save myself the £250 difference?

Thanks!

they didn't have the comp in store ? http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499 gearing and brakes are slightly downgraded, but the forks decent

ram_145

Thanks for comments folks. Appreciate it!

I'm going to take a longer look at the Comp and see. Whilst most of my mileage in on the road... most of my smiles are off road! - So can see that % going up over time !!

Cheers!