Boardman slr 8.9 Dilemma .........

seanorawe

So remember those lengthy debates about carbon or aluminium? Well it just so happens that my next c2w purchase has an offering of both frames for the same price for a boardman slr 8.9.

The carbon bike has tiagra with tektro brakes. I've had a few bikes with tiagra and I loved it . It also comes in red or grey.

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/pro ... arbon.html

The alloy version is 105 and claims to be around the same weight but only comes in white.

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/pro ... alloy.html

Apart from the groupset they are very similar , so am I mad to go with the carbon just because it's carbon ? Or do I upgrade the group and get the alloy at the same weight? I can get either tiagra or 105 brake calipers for cheap on eBay so the brakes don't bother me.

Is there any real difference in comfort from carbon to aluminium? According to GCN there isn't, anyone agree?

Bottom briquettes

seanorawe wrote:

So remember those lengthy debates about carbon or aluminium? Well it just so happens that my next c2w purchase has an offering of both frames for the same price for a boardman slr 8.9.

The carbon bike has tiagra with tektro brakes. I've had a few bikes with tiagra and I loved it . It also comes in red or grey.

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/pro ... arbon.html

The alloy version is 105 and claims to be around the same weight but only comes in white.

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/pro ... alloy.html

Apart from the groupset they are very similar , so am I mad to go with the carbon just because it's carbon ? Or do I upgrade the group and get the alloy at the same weight? I can get either tiagra or 105 brake calipers for cheap on eBay so the brakes don't bother me.

Is there any real difference in comfort from carbon to aluminium? According to GCN there isn't, anyone agree?

I have a selection of both Aluminium alloy and CF bikes. It’s not all about the weight. The CF framed bikes are far nicer, due to their directional stiffness, and damping ability. I’d personally have the CF frame and ‘lesser’ groupset / finishing kit. It’s far easier to upgrade groupsets, and bits and bobs, than outride a gash frame. The Tiagra will be 10 speed, rather than 11 speed, but that’s not a big issue, unless your racing / an actual pro. The Tiagra GS is actually very good.

kingrollo

Based on my experience - I would go carbon.
thats based on 3 alu bikes and 1 carbon ....not a massive sample I know.
a set of 105 calipers can be had for £50.

seanorawe

kingrollo wrote:

Based on my experience - I would go carbon.
thats based on 3 alu bikes and 1 carbon ....not a massive sample I know.
a set of 105 calipers can be had for £50.

Cheers. Then the debate will be grey or red . Then once the bike is purchased I'll be researching what wheels to upgrade to lol

pamplemoose

I've not rode either variant of the SLR 8.9, but I own a Team Carbon which I think the SLR 8.9 has replaced. Boardman know how to make decent budget carbon frames. The Team Carbon is nicer to ride than some bikes I've rented that cost 4x as much.

I'd get the carbon one for sure.

kingrollo

seanorawe wrote:

kingrollo wrote:

Based on my experience - I would go carbon.
thats based on 3 alu bikes and 1 carbon ....not a massive sample I know.
a set of 105 calipers can be had for £50.

Cheers. Then the debate will be grey or red . Then once the bike is purchased I'll be researching what wheels to upgrade to lol

What ? - there is a red option and you're still considering other colours ?

seanorawe

It will match my Ferrari.

helterskelter

+1 for get the carbon and just put some 105 brakes on it.

seanorawe

Cheers. My mind has been made up , going for the red carbon. Ill put better brakes on it with koolstop pads.

akh

You've already decided but I agree with all of the above. My 2015 Team Carbon has a better ride than the Canyon Ultimate AL SLX I used to own. My sample size is tiny, but I'd definitely choose carbon or steel over aluminium.

Shifting on Tiagra 4700 feels the same as 105 5800, I own both. Its a shame you can't upgrade Tiagra to 11 speed though. The standard brakes on my Boardman were terrible, but 105 brakes are very good.

joe_totale-2

seanorawe wrote:

Cheers. My mind has been made up , going for the red carbon. Ill put better brakes on it with koolstop pads.

Shimano pads are great and fancy Koolstop ones aren't much better IMO, I'd save your money.

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Joe Totale wrote:

seanorawe wrote:

Cheers. My mind has been made up , going for the red carbon. Ill put better brakes on it with koolstop pads.

Shimano pads are great and fancy Koolstop ones aren't much better IMO, I'd save your money.

The Shimano pads seem to have gotten expensive of late though. They are good, but I’ve got some SwissStop pads, and got 2 sets in the pack for the same price as one set of Shimano pads.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clarks-Replace ... B005PVLSG4

These have proved to be good as well, in poor conditions, and cost even less.

seanorawe

So now for my next pain in the @ss. I have been chatting with another owner of these bikes for advice as I am in between sizes. My current bike is a medium and the sizes with the boardman is a medium comes with 110mm stem and 44cm bars. I currently use a 100mm stem with 42 bars and I know for a fact that I need 42 bars so I would have to replace them if i want large. I'm around a 32 to 33 inseam but I'm assuming I've short arms as it doesn't take much for me to feel stretched. I was advised to go for the large with the 110 stem but I'm not too sure

kingrollo

seanorawe wrote:

So now for my next pain in the @ss. I have been chatting with another owner of these bikes for advice as I am in between sizes. My current bike is a medium and the sizes with the boardman is a medium comes with 110mm stem and 44cm bars. I currently use a 100mm stem with 42 bars and I know for a fact that I need 42 bars so I would have to replace them if i want large. I'm around a 32 to 33 inseam but I'm assuming I've short arms as it doesn't take much for me to feel stretched. I was advised to go for the large with the 110 stem but I'm not too sure

look at the geometrey for your current bike...in particular tt length , stack and reach...see which measurements on the new bike are closest to your old.

seanorawe

kingrollo wrote:

seanorawe wrote:

So now for my next pain in the @ss. I have been chatting with another owner of these bikes for advice as I am in between sizes. My current bike is a medium and the sizes with the boardman is a medium comes with 110mm stem and 44cm bars. I currently use a 100mm stem with 42 bars and I know for a fact that I need 42 bars so I would have to replace them if i want large. I'm around a 32 to 33 inseam but I'm assuming I've short arms as it doesn't take much for me to feel stretched. I was advised to go for the large with the 110 stem but I'm not too sure

look at the geometrey for your current bike...in particular tt length , stack and reach...see which measurements on the new bike are closest to your old.

Doh. Maybe should have thought about that myself

seanorawe

Those numbers are interesting

My current bike a giant contend sl2
Tt 545
Stack 567
Reach 377
Dividing the stack by the reach gives a relaxing 1.50 ratio

The medium boardman
Tt 555
Stack 560
Reach 389
Ratio of 1.44

Boardman large
Tt 570
Stack 582
Reach 392
Ratio of 1.48

However the large you have to factor in a stem that's 1cm longer than my current stem, and although my giant is relaxed I feel anymore than a 10cm stem on this bike would be too much.

cooldad

Go and at least sit on one.

kingrollo

seanorawe wrote:

Those numbers are interesting

My current bike a giant contend sl2
Tt 545
Stack 567
Reach 377
Dividing the stack by the reach gives a relaxing 1.50 ratio

The medium boardman
Tt 555
Stack 560
Reach 389
Ratio of 1.44

Boardman large
Tt 570
Stack 582
Reach 392
Ratio of 1.48

However the large you have to factor in a stem that's 1cm longer than my current stem, and although my giant is relaxed I feel anymore than a 10cm stem on this bike would be too much.

If you can sit on one that thats worth doing - but that meduim looks the better fit going on stats alone.

redvision

kingrollo wrote:

If you can sit on one that thats worth doing - but that meduim looks the better fit going on stats alone.

This.
And don't forget, it's generally easier to get a frame slightly too small to fit than a frame too large.

svetty

Don't forget crank length.....

Bottom briquettes

If you find yourself in between sizes, generally speaking, both sizes will work, but the smaller frame, will lead to a more responsive feeling ride, and the larger one, a more relaxed / lazy feeling ride. The degree to which each holds true, can be tweaked with varying sized key components. I would go and ask to ride both, then choose, if I were you.

seanorawe

Thanks for all the responses. Ive managed to agree with the local Halfords to let me take the bike out to the car park at the weekend. Of course I have just saw my friends Specialized Allez sport and I cant believe how light it is compared to older allez. Its aluminium but its also £800 and Im sure it will drop further come mid October. I might have to convince my wife I need both.

seanorawe

After all that faffing about I got the bike, I'm just waiting on the right setting to take some pics of it. Interestingly I did go for the Large, and I love the tall head tube, but I felt a little too stretched. So last night I decided to fit an 80mm stem I had in the garage, and I fitted thinking there is no way this will work, because changing from a 110mm to a 80mm stem would normally sound like your bike is too big. Its on now and seems to working great! There is no toe overlap at all, the bike doesn't feel twitchy, I am more comfortable and the front hub is still under the handlebar when I look down, albeit I moved the saddle back a touch. I'm going to go on a longer spin just to make sure I don't feel cramped but so far it seems great.