Boardman Team Carbon - Size?

too_sleepy

Hi

Having spent a few weeks researching I decided on a Boardman Team Carbon. I went to a local Halfords, must say they were friendly and seemed to know a fair bit about the bike. That said I know next to nothing about cycling so it doesn't take much to impress me.

They had a few bikes coming in this week and recommended the XL size, sounded good to me. I tried a large they had in store and it did feel too small.

Now I've completed the Fit Calculator on www.competitivecyclist.com and it's suggesting a Top tube length of 55.4 - 55.8 , which equates to a large Boardman bike. A few threads on other forums discuss Boardman sizes and many guys my height, 6ft 1", have gone for the large, only guys 6ft 2" have gone for the XL.

Have I ordered the wrong bike size? My inseam is 90cm( if I'm measuring it correctly)

Any advice appreciated.

Lumen

I'm 6ft and ride a Focus Cayo with a 570mm "horizontal equivalent top tube length".

Fit is very personal, but based on what you've posted I'd go with what the Halfords guys recommend (the XL). If it doesn't fit, get them to swap it!

sy

I reckon you will be ok. Worse case scenario is you might have to get a shorter stem but as Lumen said they should change the bike if too big.FWIW Lance always rides a size bigger for comfort! Good luck with the bike and do let us know what its like.

too_sleepy

Thanks guys.

The bike should be in tomorrow(XL). I'll head over and try it out, they've got a large in stock alsi so I can try both out. I've been riding an old commuter bike until now so I might not be able to tell which is better.
Either bike will be just a little small or big, it's not going to be too far off either way.

Thanks

Jawgap

I've had my Boardman a few weeks now and I'm still enjoying it. I don't think I can help on the sizing issue - I'm 5'9" and a medium fits me quite well.

The lad in Halfords were very good when it came to setting it up and I've only had to make a couple of tweaks since getting it.

too_sleepy

Hi
Had a go on both L and XL today. Typical, the L felt a bit small and the XL a tad too big. Decided on the XL, I'll get a proper bike fit next week, hope they think I got the right size.
Thanks

sy

You could ask them to put on a shorter stem. Check the length of stem, probably 110mm (measure centre to centre) If you feel you are overstretching then you can reduce this up to 20mm by replacing it with a 90mm stem. Don't do anything until you have your bike fit and they will advise. Just get out and enjoy what seems to be a great bike. BTW what is the list price here?

too_sleepy

Ye I'm looking forward to getting out on the bike. Should be ready tomorrow.
Price here is 1,249 Euros. I had a 10% discount voucher so it's 1,125.
I plan on cycling it for a few days and then get a proper fit.

Nietzschean

too_sleepy wrote: »

I plan on cycling it for a few days and then get a proper fit.

imo get the fit sooner, don't bother going for 'a few days', can easily turn into weeks.. could just hurt yourself with a poor fit.

MayoRoadRunner

Hey there. Also opted for the Team Carbon XL. First Road bike. I'm a runner so new to cycling also. Really really happy with the bike. Go out and do 32 miles at average of 3 mins a mile at comfortable pace. Would love to think it was me but really feel the bike is the major factor. I'm sure on a race day if i pushed it could hit 2.30 mile pace over 20 miles.
Bike is light as. Very responsive and feel like it can just power over hills.
Halfords were very so so to deal with so be warned.
Have the bike about 2 months now. Have to get a propert fit very soon as feel back is under strain.
Got mine for 912 sterling and at he time that was about 1K euro so feel like the cat who got the cream.
Anyways my 2 cent. If your looking for a bike at 1-1,300 mark you will not go wrong. Represents serious value compared to what is out there.

Nietzschean

@MayRoadRunner, just fyi cyclists generally refer to speeds(km/hr) rather than pace(mins/km) as is done in running .... not entirely sure why they are split like that....?

sy

MayoRoadRunner wrote: »

.... Go out and do 32 miles at average of 3 mins a mile at comfortable pace.....

That just over 51kms at average 32km/hr, not bad. Potential time trial candidate. Enjoy the bike, you may be trading in the spikes for some new sidis

MayoRoadRunner

Thanks for the heads up Nietzschean on the pace. So miles are out and speed in km in.

Cheers for vote off confidence sy. Don't have anything to compare to so always good to hear you are doing ok with it. Planning on a triathlon in few months. Concentrating on the swimming side of things. Trust me I will need all the help I can get from the bike cos i'll have serious time to make up coming out of the water (if i make it out of the water that is )

Just an off the topic comment - ever since i got the bike all i seem to think about is what to add onto it (got the pedals, tri shoes now want aero bars then i'm sure i'll want wheels and a nifty gas pump after which time i'll think about upgrading the pedals i got 2 months previously!) list seems endless but money sure ain't!! two words - All. Consuming.

Jawgap

MayoRoadRunner wrote: »

Just an off the topic comment - ever since i got the bike all i seem to think about is what to add onto it (got the pedals, tri shoes now want aero bars then i'm sure i'll want wheels and a nifty gas pump after which time i'll think about upgrading the pedals i got 2 months previously!) list seems endless but money sure ain't!! two words - All. Consuming.

Start with a bottle cage............:)

Lumen

MayoRoadRunner wrote: »

Just an off the topic comment - ever since i got the bike all i seem to think about is what to add onto it (got the pedals, tri shoes now want aero bars then i'm sure i'll want wheels and a nifty gas pump after which time i'll think about upgrading the pedals i got 2 months previously!) list seems endless but money sure ain't!! two words - All. Consuming.

Tell me about it.

My wife was somewhat confused when I replied to her "what do you want for your birthday?" question with: "A gold pendant on a very long, thin chain bearing some form of religious icon".

sy

Jawgap wrote: »

Start with a bottle cage............:)

Just make sure its of the carbon variety;)

Jawgap

sy wrote: »

Just make sure its of the carbon variety;)

That goes without saying........:)

I like the ones where you can see the weave of the carbon fibre

too_sleepy

Hi MayoRoadRunner
What height are you? If you don't mind me asking what's your inseam measurement?
I'm getting lots of advice to go for the Large, it did feel a tad small for me but I've got nothing to compare it to as I've never had a race bike before.