Just about to order this is it good for road use

markhewitt1978 wrote:

Yes it is very much so, but, are you going to take it off road? If no, then get a road bike. But for a CX bike that kicks ass and will be better than most road bikes too (if slicks are fitted)

Yes this---^ If its only for road use get a road bike. But CX bikes are great if you want to dabble in a bit off the rough stuff too (says he whose just bought a Boardman CX Pro for a bit off off road rough stuff). CX bikes are also stronger, decent for commuting with mudguards and a rack.

activeuk wrote:

Hi wanted a bike with a bit more relaxed setup would the gearing be the same as on a road bike

You can get road bikes with this "more relaxed" setup, its all in the geometry. Audax or Sportive bikes typically have a more relaxed frame - shallower seat tube angles around 73-73.5 degrees, and higher/longer head tubes for a more upright position (less drop from saddle to bars).

The gearing on this bike - 50/34 chainring and 11-28 cassette is easily available on a road bike too. A decent bike shop should be able to advise (I don't count Halfords as a decent bike shop).

activeuk wrote:

What would be the advantage of a road bike over this if the cx hard road tyres

Would not have thought there would be much in it with that one.

Road bike equivalent should be a bit lighter and stiffer. Rims may be a bit narrower if you wanted 23mm tyres.

My CX bike is a pig compared to my road bike but mine is pretty heavy aluminium and the Boardman looks as though it could be light.

My road bike is 7.25kg and my CX is 10kg. Not that weight is everything though.

I do not think I will ever buy another aluminium bike again and cannot help think that I needed to get something like the Boardman to get what I want from it, which is mainly winter road bike with better commuting and CenterParqsability.

For £3,250 I would be tempted to buy two bikes. A carbon 105 winter road and an aluminium hydraulic CX commuter.

The Boardman does look nice though :P

I like my Genesis Day One Single Speed'. I'm not a carbon fan.
Great on and off road, not had a problem with hills or distance

I'm more than happy with my Boardman CX Team (2014) on the road, I've just fitted 25mm gatorskins and I'm at least 3mph faster than the 35c Rapid Robs that it came with.

Would still love a full carbon road bike though.

apreading wrote:

OP might be wanting disc brakes too - lots of people hate the rim brakes on road bikes and there are limited options with discs.

That's true, however quite often you read about people 'needing' disc brakes, when they don't. Sure disc brakes are very nice but for road, it shouldn't be a deal breaker.

Great bike, but there are similar for a lot less. I really like CX bikes, great fun, bomb proof, comfy....but I wouldn't buy one and then ask if it's good for the road....because as many have said, road bikes kind of fit that bill rather well.

But your cash, your choice.

activeuk wrote:

What about this one
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/sls94_Di2.html

That's a very, very nice road bike, just as the CX bike in your first post is a very, very nice CX bike that would also be pretty good on the road when fitted with road tyres. A CX bike is great if you are going to ride CX, or maybe use as an all-weather multi-purpose bike (discs) and yet they can be almost as good as a pure road bike on tarmac. However, if you are going to stay on the road, get a road bike. I started with a sort-of-CX bike and realised very quickly I would never take it off road and so ended up relegating it to bad-weather hack and buying a pure road bike instead.

For the sort of money you are planning to spend you can get some seriously nice kit, but I do echo what others have said here and suggest you make really sure it's what you want. A test ride should be a must to avoid buying something that really doesn't match what you want to do. Buyer's remorse can be a terrible thing .

My first road bike was a full on Pinarello and a dream machine it is too. However, having splashed the hard earned on it and being unable to afford an N+1 for at least another 18 months I found that I had to ride it all winter long. I loved it, but winters do knock hell out of a bike. I accepted this and just changed parts as they wore (quickly over a winter).

I have just completed my second winter on my Felt alloy Xer with disc brakes. In my opinion a cross bike with discs, full mudguards and mud flaps and 28mm Four Seasons tyres is the perfect tool for winter riding. Just had a new BB fitted, big chainring needed replacing and new chain and cassette. The rear wheel has been rebuilt with a Hope hub which will outlast the rest of the bike now!

Why am I saying all this? Well, that Boardman Crosser looks lovely, but very pricey. Mine was £1100 new. However, I would recommend the OP buying a cross bike first which can be his summer and winter ride until such time as he wants a bling summer dream machine. If he buys the cross bike first he will not have to put his summer pride and joy through the ravages of a winter or two. Given my time again that's what I would do. I would however probably buy a carbon framed cross bike rather than the alloy one that I have.

PP

SecretSam wrote:

The OP has managed to finally achieve what so many have failed in doing - finding a Boardman that isn't cracking value

Seriously - £3k?? for that you could get a decent road Boardman (£2k) AND a CX/MTB for a bit of dirty fun.

n+1

That's good advice! Once you get beyond about £2k diminishing returns start to seriously kick in, so you are quite correct that you'd get a lot more by spending that next £1k on another bike. For sure a £2k and £1k bike will get you much more than a single £3k bike would - for most people of course.