Noob Needing Some Quick Advice

Grego2330

Hello, New here.

My work has joined into a Ride To Work Scheme, Giving me the option to get a new bike with some cost savings.

I have only till next friday to choose and order the bike. So i could do with some help on choosing which to go for.

Halfords is where i get to choose, which brought me to this Boardman

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

It seems to have some decent parts but i haven't really got a clue. What are your thoughts?

i have just found out that Halford have the option to source a bike from a network of independent retailers so this could expand my choice. So...Is there anything else you would spend your £850 on??


Thank you in advance for your help. I do normally spend time doing lots of research on these things but haven't got long to sort it


Baz

mcnultycop

That's a good bike.

Myster101

As above, it's a great bike for the price.

IDave

It's an excellent bike! It's a very high spec for the money.

I have the Boardman Team FS and I love it.

One thing I would say though is that the service you receive at Halfords varies wildly from store to store and their bikes are often not set up very well at all. You might want to get a friendly Local Bike Store to check it over and help you set it up properly if you are new to biking and are not confident doing it yourself. Although there are hundreds of videos on YouTube that can teach you how to do it yourself.

What kind of riding do you intend to do on it?

Grego2330

Ahh, Cool.

Yea i have seen a good few reviews that vary from excellent to extremely poor service. Shame really, I am a manager in retail and there is nothing worse than delivering shite service! These guys should be EXPERTS and all trained to be able to carry out the work to a high standard, Anyway...

I plan to do get very much into biking as i used to be very active but the last 4 years have been anything but
as for what type of riding. Mainly off road through trails, Have planed to go a 2 day route around the lakes with mixture of road, fields and tough off road.

I already have a Specialised Hardrock 2012 Disc. Picked it up cheap from Evans Cycles. But it is just not good enough quality to have proper fun on it. and rather than start upgrading all the parts I'm going to flog it and take advantage of this Ride To Work scheme (Even tho i live 40 miles from work lol) and get a better bike.

I always had my eye set on a Full Suspension bike, But have been told to stick to a Hard Tail if I'm not always off road and they are like a donkey on the road, This right?

Im off to my local halfords today to have a look at the bike and maybe talk deals with some add-ons.

Has anyone got discount with halfords before?

Grego2330

Oh also, For the same money they do that bike in a 29er.

Would you go for this or stick to the 27.5 wheels?

IDave

Well my current bike is my first ever FS bike, I have to say it's not terrible on the road. It's obviously a little heavier than the HT, but I'm carrying a few extra kilos myself, so it's no big deal to me. It's also super smooth off road, like floating across the bumps, I find it so much easier to control than my HT was. Also there is no 'pedal bob' at all from the rear shock.

The team FS comes in at just below £1k (which is the limit on a lot of C2W schemes) and you do sacrifice a little on some of the kit to allow it to get in at that price. The brakes are down specced as is the front mech, and the stanchions on the fork are chrome plated steel rather than alloy. But it is a better fork with more travel (Rockshox Sektor) and has a through axle.

Regarding the wheel size - I haven't noticed much difference between 26 and 27.5 (650b), and I have never ridden a 29er so I can't comment on that. 29er is meant to be better for cross country riding, they tend to cost more for what you get though and again you are taking on extra weight. (and I think they look goofy!)

It's a shame they don't make the Pro HT in 650b as that would be a cracking bike! The Pro FS is 650b and has some nice kit on it if your budget stretches to £1.6k

Grego2330

Great info pal, Thanks.

Im going to stick to the HT as with the budget of £1000 i would like to try get few extras too.

I am off now to go have a look at the bike and see how helpful halfords are. I am going to attempt to work out a deal on the bike with extras so ill see what happens.

Im with you on the look of the 29er, looks proper goofy ha

Boromedic

Grego2330 wrote:

Im with you on the look of the 29er, looks proper goofy ha

Lol, depends on the 29er! I personally think mine looks frigging awesome, but each to their own and all that ;-)



Think you've already made some great choices there and I'd definitely go HT over Full Sus at your price range, I'd maybe try the 29er but 650b is probably a great compromise between the two. (can't comment never ridden them, but ignore the wheel size debates and make your own choice, I did and I'm glad I didn't get another 26" HT)

Good luck with your purchase, Boardman makes some awesome bikes, I'm personally not over keen on their choice of SRAM drivetrains but they are things to change once they wear out. By which time you may have some specific ideas on upgrade choices based on your own personal riding experiences. More importantly enjoy getting out there and riding, whatever we argue about (sorry, discuss!) on here as long as we go out and hit some trails, that's all that matters.

Boromedic

I'm sure based on my own research on cycle to work that Halfords don't deal with On One, but for the sort of money you're talking about this is the biggest bargain I've ever seen on these pages. It takes the Boardman outside and kicks the living shite out of it!

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPWDEO/o ... ntain-bike

Grego2330

So I've made the finally choice and i have reserved

The Boardman Team HT 650B 19"

Looks good, feels very light compared to my specialised, wider handlebars have good feel too so i am happy.

Also had a look at the 29er while i was there and to be fair, it don't look as bad in the flesh. Just after sitting on them both i felt more comfortable!

Time to choose all my add-ons and send my details to the Cycle To Work Guys

Excited


Also i have a Go Pro, so can't wait to get out on the bike a video some of the trails

Boromedic

:-)

Grego2330

lol..

I am now in need of advice for carriers. Does anyone use a rear mounted one (not a toe bar one) on a saloon car?

or am i best just getting roof racks and carriers?

t0pc4t

Both have advantages, roof bars are slightly more of a pain to load, rear carrier means you can't open the boot / tailgate

If I'm not using a roof box I have Thule roof carriers, for when the box is on I have a Saris Bike Porter 3 which is really good

Grego2330

Im going to for the roof bars and carriers. Keeping my eye out for a second hand set really.


I got the details through today for the voucher, signed it off and got the voucher sent though straight away! HAPPY!

Until i rang halfords and asked about booking a build date for the bike, and over a week was the reply!! Thats rubbish. I am going to call around some branches to see if i can collect earlier from anywhere else!

The Rookie

Or DIY!

I use a tow ball mounted carrier and really like it, have to unload before I can open the rear though, but that just changes the order I unload the car anyway, and as it's an estate I can access the boot from inside at a push.

Grego2330

Well i have sourced one at a halfords down the road, The ordered it in and will have it built ready for tomorrow afternoon. Winner!!

Yea i think the loading onto the rear would do my head in to nip into the boot , Roof bars and carriers it is