btwin fit 5 or boardman hybrid race?

The Fit 5 is the better equipped, and lighter - but check with Decathlon about mudguard and rack fittings.

Preference really, larger size can offer more comfort - I know many who use even thinner!

These are the best bikes of their type in this range - the ever fluctuating Halfords prices means that the Race varies a lot, it was £530, so if is less than the Fit 5 at £380 then is a substantial saving.

However the Fit 5 is still some 4.5 lbs lighter, and sports a carbon fork which often offers more comfort. rest of the parts performance wise are similar.

The Shimano gearing on the Fit 5 is smoother and lighter shifting than the SRAM. No doubt in my mind which is the better bike here.

I bought the Forme5 (old model of the Fit5). I've had it for just over 1 year now and guessing the clearance between the tyres/forks is the same, if so I've only found the Crud RoadRacer 2's fit over the standard 23c tyres.

I've commuted on it over the last year, no matter what the weather. I would have prefered to run 25c/28c tyres but the standard tyres have been perfectly fine. I've done close to 2500miles now (only use it on my 2 day shifts) and ride approx 34miles per day.

The only issues I've had in that time are a few spokes coming loose in the rear wheel causing it to go out of shape. This was rectified by Decathlon with no expense .

Other than that I've gone through x2 chains/3 pairs of brake blocks/1 rear derailiur (snapped due to a broken SRAM power link). Thats the joys of cycling in & around the Peak District in terrible weather, it takes its toll on the components no matter what the quality.

Matthew

Looking at the eyelets on my bike (see link in signature) it looks like it should take a rack although I havent tried. The max tyre size with mudguards are 23c. I fitted some 25c Marathon Plus soon after buying the bike as it allowed me to cycle down various Trans Pennine Trails (they aren't tarmac out where I live) but it was physically impossible to fit mudguards with those tyres on.

There are plenty of pics in my Forme5 link in my signature, Hopefully they will give you a little more insight. A picture paints a thousand words.

I would still check the Fit5 as they may have changed the tyre clearance and the eyelets since the Forme5.

Matthew

That is entirely upto you. I'm happy with how the Sora Mech's/Tiagra shifters have performed, although I did have Deore shifters on 1st and they too performed really well.

The way I look at it, if using for commuting its likely to get knocked around/covered in road crap in the bad weather therefore the cheaper the components are to replace the better (if something goes wrong)

Now you've narrowed down your search, forget the specs and go and test ride them. Then pick the one that feels right for you. Thats what I'm in the process of doing now, just waiting for my 2 bikes to come into stock then test ride away