Boardman Pro Carbon V Team Carbon

drollab

Any advice about which bike to buy?
I'm just wondering is the Pro Carbon worth the extra €600.
Its lighter 17.6lbs V 16.2lbs and the spec is a better but I'm wondering has anyone ridden or purchased the Pro Carbon?
I'm looking to use it for triathlon?

Thanks
D

sy

Can you post links to the specs

blorg

Depends maybe a bit on your level. The Team Carbon looks like plenty of bike and great value.

I have read that Rival works the same as Force, it is just a bit heavier.

Most triathlons are pretty flat so weight will not be critical. A set of aerobars and a good position would be more important.

For racing specifically a standard double (as on the Pro) would be better although for general use including spins up the mountains a compact is generally better especially for beginners. I am working on the assumption here you will use the bike not _just_ for triathlon.

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_team_carbon.html
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_pro_carbon.html

drollab

Here is a link to the specs on the Pro Carbon

and link to Team Carbon

drollab

Thanks
Yes it would be more than Triathlon
One concern I have is fitting aerobars to the bike - would I have to get Ritchey aerobars to fit the handlebars of same make?

D

shapez

You should consider the Felt S32 if you are starting to use in triathlons.

sy

Do you push a big gear or are you new to the sport? As Blorg mentioned the 53/39 on the higher spec Pro is more suited to racing or in your case Time Trialing (assuming you can push a 53/12 )
If however you plan a few sportives and you are new to the sport then the compact would be a better option. You could put an 11/23 block on the back for your time trials.
Not familiar with the wheels but from what I read the Rival is just as good as the Force (Tiny will fill you in on this)
Personally the cheaper Team Carbon looks better value for money and you could put the 600 euro towards a better set of wheels.

blorg

drollab wrote: »

One concern I have is fitting aerobars to the bike - would I have to get Ritchey aerobars to fit the handlebars of same make?

No, you can get whatever you like as long as it is compatible, and those Ritchey bars look like standard OS (31.8mm) alloy bars. It only gets complicated if you have carbon or shaped bars.

drollab

I've been cycling for about 8 years and have been promising myself a decent bike - currently riding a Lapierre cost be approx €650 four years ago. I would do may hr and half to 2 and half hours spins.
I struggle on the cycles in triathon after a decent swim whicf is frustrating so I thought it might be time to get that new "light" bike......

D

blorg

Although certainly better for the specific application of doing triathlons I would not get a TT bike as your only bike, you cannot use it on group rides, etc.

hynesie

One thing to be aware of is the wheels on the Team Carbon have gotten terrible reviews. The nipples come undone very easily apparently, reports as to why vary from nipples not being tightened correctly by Halfords staff to there being a fundamental problem with the wheels.

blorg

Here's the (very good) review from BikeRadar, there are a lot of references to the wheel issues in the user comments. Halfords almost certainly don't build the wheels themselves but hardly matters who does, if there is a problem with them, you still have the problem. FWIW the Pro Carbon has a similar wheelset, just the next level up Ritchey rims- I would imagine the wheels are actually coming complete from Ritchey rather than built up on Ritchey rims TBH. It does sound like a build issue though so presuming whoever is building the Team wheels is also doing the Pro you could well have the same set of issues if unlucky.

Jawgap

where are you planning to buy?

I've been coveting a Team Carbon for some time now and it's a couple of hundred Euros cheaper in Newry.

I know I've gone on about his but I'm definitely getting it - the paper work on the cycle to work scheme is being processed and once my knee is given the all clear I'll be off to get it!!

On the nipple problem - that seems to have materialised shortly after the 09s were brought to market - hopefully it's just a temporary glitch in build qulaity that's since been rectified.

nortal

Jawgap wrote: »

where are you planning to buy?

I've been coveting a Team Carbon for some time now and it's a couple of hundred Euros cheaper in Newry.

I know I've gone on about his but I'm definitely getting it - the paper work on the cycle to work scheme is being processed and once my knee is given the all clear I'll be off to get it!!

On the nipple problem - that seems to have materialised shortly after the 09s were brought to market - hopefully it's just a temporary glitch in build qulaity that's since been rectified.

Might save you a trip to NI, I pretty sure Halfords have reduced there prices in the ROI to reflect the price differance. Thinking about one of these myself still to make my mind up.

OP if a 54 frame suits you a 2008 pro carbon in halfords carrickmines full dura ace groupset a few weeks back was €1,200 - i would imagne you could get it cheaper.

hynesie

Halfords in Sligo told me that if I paid in sterling they'd give me the sterling price.

mloc123

Was in Halfords in Dundalk last week and they hadn't a single boardman bike in stock.. seemed strange, nobody about to ask tho'

hynesie

mloc123 wrote: »

Was in Halfords in Dundalk last week and they hadn't a single boardman bike in stock.. seemed strange, nobody about to ask tho'

Sligo didn't either, but they said they'd order it in and it'd be there within a week.

Jawgap

nortal wrote: »

Might save you a trip to NI, I pretty sure Halfords have reduced there prices in the ROI to reflect the price differance. Thinking about one of these myself still to make my mind up.

OP if a 54 frame suits you a 2008 pro carbon in halfords carrickmines full dura ace groupset a few weeks back was €1,200 - i would imagne you could get it cheaper.

I must have a nose in Coolock and see if they might do the same thing re sterling. At the current exchange rate a Team Carbon costs 1100 Euros.

Might be even nicer if they had an old (2008) pro carbon lying around!!!

Btw - just hasd

Jawgap

nortal wrote: »

Might save you a trip to NI, I pretty sure Halfords have reduced there prices in the ROI to reflect the price differance. Thinking about one of these myself still to make my mind up.

OP if a 54 frame suits you a 2008 pro carbon in halfords carrickmines full dura ace groupset a few weeks back was €1,200 - i would imagne you could get it cheaper.

I must have a nose in Coolock and see if they might do the same thing re sterling. At the current exchange rate a Team Carbon costs 1100 Euros.

Might be even nicer if they had an old (2008) pro carbon lying around!!!

Btw - just

Jawgap

nortal wrote: »

Might save you a trip to NI, I pretty sure Halfords have reduced there prices in the ROI to reflect the price differance. Thinking about one of these myself still to make my mind up.

OP if a 54 frame suits you a 2008 pro carbon in halfords carrickmines full dura ace groupset a few weeks back was €1,200 - i would imagne you could get it cheaper.

I must have a nose in Coolock and see if they might do the same thing re sterling.

Jawgap

nortal wrote: »

Might save you a trip to NI, I pretty sure Halfords have reduced there prices in the ROI to reflect the price differance. Thinking about one of these myself still to make my mind up.

OP if a 54 frame suits you a 2008 pro carbon in halfords carrickmines full dura ace groupset a few weeks back was €1,200 - i would imagne you could get it cheaper.

I must have a nose in Coolock and see if they might do the same thing re sterling. At the current exchange rate a Team Carbon costs 1100 Euros.

Might be even nicer if they had an old (2008) pro carbon lying around!!!

Btw - just had a nosey on halfords.ie to check prices and saw that Halfords started a bike shop. I wonder what happened along the way......

Jawgap

nortal wrote: »

Might save you a trip to NI, I pretty sure Halfords have reduced there prices in the ROI to reflect the price differance. Thinking about one of these myself still to make my mind up.

OP if a 54 frame suits you a 2008 pro carbon in halfords carrickmines full dura ace groupset a few weeks back was €1,200 - i would imagne you could get it cheaper.

I must have a nose in Coolock and see if they might do the same thing re sterling.

MayoRoadRunner

Best of luck to anyone ordering a Boardman bike from Halfords as i ordered one last week to be told it will be May before anything is in. Checked Halfords website and basically have zero Boardman stock in both ROI and UK. Looks like supply chain issues. Have a sneaky feeling that May will become June which will become July ...

nortal

MayoRoadRunner wrote: »

Best of luck to anyone ordering a Boardman bike from Halfords as i ordered one last week to be told it will be May before anything is in. Checked Halfords website and basically have zero Boardman stock in both ROI and UK. Looks like supply chain issues. Have a sneaky feeling that May will become June which will become July ...

Cash is king - if you can wait - i'd use that to my advantage and get a discount or some free gear

MayoRoadRunner

Just got a call from Halfords today to say they could get me a team carbon XL despite there being no stock on website. Guy said he had to make about 100 phone calls to track one down. Will have it in 7 days!:D
Have read Halfords set up is beyond useless. Anyone know an LBS in sligo or mayo that would'nt be offended if i brought a Boardman in to be set up properly?
Will post review of bike up here when i get it. If its half as good as some of the reviews i have read i will be one happy camper!!:)

montersurmonami

did you splash the cash on the carbon XL. I would be interested in any feedback on how it handles and if you got value for money. any problems with it. no regrets

I'm thinking of investing in a pro carbon
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_pro_carbon.html

all reviews rave about the bike.

MayoRoadRunner

Hey Monster, Yes went for the team carbon XL. Sorry I hav'nt posted anything on it. More of a lurker on this site tbh.
Ok well have the bike about 8 months now and would highly recommend it. As a previous poster said - save yourself the 600 euro and go for the team carbon and invest in a decent set of wheels! Nows the time to be looking for cheap Zipps i'm told!
Bike feels very light and it powers up hills. I did'nt cycle at all before I got the bike and completed a 100 mile in under 5 hours on it in wet and windy conditions a few months back. Bike was a big factor in doing that.
I have had no issue with the wheels. Only gripe I would have with the bike is the brake pads which are pretty poor and I have been meaning to replace them! Might also invest in new saddle next summer. Sram rival works really well.
Anyways thats my tuppance worth on the bike. I got it through Halfords Sligo for about 900 Sterling when they had that deal going on. Mate of mine got a Focus Cayo 105 around the same time. Nice bike but happy I went went the Boardman in the end.
Good luck with whatever you decide on