Boardman SLR 8.9C

bendertherobot

https://photos.app.goo.gl/idCDap3uwTA3g6487

My new cycle to work bike. It's "only" Tiagra but at least has a non FSA chainset.

Brakes are not the best. But the rest is absolutely great. The frame is superb.

£1k. Got free accessories of £75 and employer added £25 to the voucher.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

If there's one thing Boardman bikes excel at, it's having nice looking frames.

That wall needs levelling, or your saddle, or both.

bendertherobot

Both I think. Drive runs slightly downhill. Saddle now sorted.

And GP4000iiS's on

wotnoshoeseh

What's all that "stuff" under the stem?

Also, as for Boardman making a nice looking frame, sorry, but IMO that looks crap. Sloping top tubes look awful. Nice colour though....

dannbodge

Nothing wrong with the new Tiagra. It's a very good groupset.

bendertherobot

Dannbodge wrote:

Nothing wrong with the new Tiagra. It's a very good groupset.

Hence the "only." Missing 1 speed aside (and therefore not being easily able to stick it on my Tacx Neo) it's a really good groupset.

dannbodge

bendertherobot wrote:

Dannbodge wrote:

Nothing wrong with the new Tiagra. It's a very good groupset.

Hence the "only." Missing 1 speed aside (and therefore not being easily able to stick it on my Tacx Neo) it's a really good groupset.

I run Tiagra on my Neo with no issues.
You get the correct spacer in the box with the Neo.

bendertherobot

Dannbodge wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

Dannbodge wrote:

Nothing wrong with the new Tiagra. It's a very good groupset.

Hence the "only." Missing 1 speed aside (and therefore not being easily able to stick it on my Tacx Neo) it's a really good groupset.

I run Tiagra on my Neo with no issues.
You get the correct spacer in the box with the Neo.

Not being easy as all my other bikes are 11 speed (which I already use on there and the cassette is 11 speed).

i.e if I fancy sticking the Boardman on one day I'll have to change the Neo cassette.

redvision

Nice.

Is there enough clearance for mudguards or does it need raceblades?

supermurph09

Personally think that's a nice looking bike. Did you have an "Alloy with 105" vs "Carbon with Tiagra" debate?

supermurph09

One more question, have you had issues with the seat clamp?

bendertherobot

Sorry! Been away. Yes. I did have the alu dilemma particularly since it would have gone easier on the turbo (11 speed cassette on there). But, white paint was what really put me off and tiagra is otherwise as good.

Seat clamp has been fine. No issues with mine at all.

On tyres. It simply will not do 28c with guards, indeed clearance is very minimal indeed. It should do them with 23c and I will check on 25c soon I hope.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

bendertherobot wrote:

On tyres. It simply will not do 28c with guards, indeed clearance is very minimal indeed. It should do them with 23c and I will check on 25c soon I hope.

But as we all know (don't we?), not all tyre brands/models run true to their size.

What "28mm" have you tried with mudguards?

If you want GP4000 S2s, 700x25 will measure ~27mm wide on modern wider internal rim width road wheels. Their 28mm version is ~31mm wide.

bendertherobot

NitrousOxide wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

On tyres. It simply will not do 28c with guards, indeed clearance is very minimal indeed. It should do them with 23c and I will check on 25c soon I hope.

But as we all know (don't we?), not all tyre brands/models run true to their size.

What "28mm" have you tried with mudguards?

If you want GP4000 S2s, 700x25 will measure ~27mm wide on modern wider internal rim width road wheels. Their 28mm version is ~31mm wide.

Indeed we do. And, you're correct in saying it was the 28c GP4000.

That said, clearance at the chainstay with 28c is about 1-2mm or so. That interferes with both the guard getting fitted and stuff getting caught there. Another 28 might fit but I'd err on the side of 25 with guards here.

bendertherobot

Checked front yesterday with 25c GP4000iiS and SKS thermoplastic guards. A no go. 23c should be fine, just, as will a smaller 25c.

bendertherobot

Decided to swap my wife's fulcrum racing 7 onto this bike because they are narrower and would have given me chance to squeeze guards on.

Her bike is 11 speed. Both cassettes off, boardman wheels are 10 speed only. Surprising

seanorawe

Hows this bike going for you now? Its on my list of potential c2w bikes. I too am having a debate on which frame to get, but overall im not too bothered about the groupset. My only gripe on the tiagra is it seems to not have tiagra brakes and instead uses cheaper, inferior brakes. I also like a relaxed geometry so I am keen to hear your thoughts on that too.

bendertherobot

Very nicely. It's a really nice bike. Wheels are a tad heavy and, as stated, 10 speed only. The brakes aren't great but, having changed the pads, they aren't really all that bad. Even today in the rain they were absolutely fine. I'm not sure about the geometry, I'm fairly used to race bikes rather than more relaxed ones. It's clearly a lot more relaxed than my Supersix. I've dropped the bars almost all the way to being slammed now.

One of the things I particularly like about it is that there's zero rattle from any part of it over rough surfaces. It's just really nicely planted.

I like it a lot. It's actually not a bad thing that I can't use mudguards etc on it, keeps it for good days.

seanorawe

I'm tempted to try the aluminium , I read a comment that the Alu is only 3 grams heavier than the carbon. And it's equipped with 105. I'm presuming this bike is more stiff than another bike i have put on the list which is the planet x pro carbon. Also refferd to as a planet flex . Ill also be getting a bike fit and some custom built wheels from velo cafe so the geo and wheels are maybe not an issue .

bendertherobot

It was only the colour of the Alu that put me off

seanorawe

bendertherobot wrote:

It was only the colour of the Alu that put me off

What size is the frame in your pic?

bendertherobot

It's a medium

seanorawe

bendertherobot wrote:

It's a medium

What height are you? I'm 5ft 10.5 and ordered a large but halfords let you swap for another size within 28 days

bendertherobot

seanorawe wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

It's a medium

What height are you? I'm 5ft 10.5 and ordered a large but halfords let you swap for another size within 28 days

5ft 9. It's just about right for me, I reckon large should be ok for you.

bendertherobot

Will take pics, but made a few changes.

Stock wheels are dire. Swapped in Fulcrum Racing 5 C17.

Changed the blocks to swiss stop.

Stuck my nicer saddle and carbon post on.

It's really really really good now. Properly good.

bendertherobot

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5Pm9QK9AAHaRsztv5

craigus89

That's pretty tidy. That headtube though, massive!

bendertherobot

It is! Pretty stiff though, now it has some proper wheels.

apreading

Thats a very nice looking bike. I see the See.Sense light has a neat looking place - but is the light from it not blocked by the rear wheel? Looks too low from a practical perspective.

bendertherobot

apreading wrote:

Thats a very nice looking bike. I see the See.Sense light has a neat looking place - but is the light from it not blocked by the rear wheel? Looks too low from a practical perspective.

It is, a bit. But it does glow through. It's only there as I also run a Lezyne Laser on the seatpost which needs to be higher for the laser to work.

bendertherobot

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rZTvy542e7W72QyF8

A few tweaks. Mostly ultegra now