Not another which bike post....argh!!

mjth2004

Morning All,

Just before you read any further – from reading many pervious posts here before now I know the P***** X ticks all the boxes I’m after but I just don’t like the look of the bike – sad I know!

I have been riding a Giant SCR3 almost three years now, & am considering upgrading as I’ve started riding out more with the cycling club! My max budget is around the 2k….

So I’m considering three bikes –

1. Boardman Team Carbon – http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_team_carbon.html

Halfords – enough said! But the bike ticks the boxes, the only thing that threw me was the weight of the bike – heavy! Is this because of the standard wheelset, if so I have no problem changing these to a pair of mavic elites!!

2. Boardman Pro Carbon – http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_pro_carbon.html

Have yet to see one – any boardsies out there riding one??

3. Cube Agree GTC Race – http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=35&idproduct=31824

Was in cyclesuperstore doing a spot of tyre kicking & happened upon the Cube! Good grouppo & very light bike but on trying to do some research online regarding the bike I hit a dead end! Any boardsies out there riding one??

So like my Giant SCR3 I will be hoping to get 2 – 3 years out of this new bike! Again I will only be club cycling with this bike, climbing will be a factor!

So if anyone can shed some light on which bike to opt for – I would be grateful!

Cheers!

Lumen

mjth2004 wrote: »

Halfords – enough said! But the bike ticks the boxes, the only thing that threw me was the weight of the bike – heavy! Is this because of the standard wheelset, if so I have no problem changing these to a pair of mavic elites!!

8kg is not heavy.

But according to this:

Front Wheel Weight: 1153 g
Rear Wheel Weight: 1736 g
Rims: Ritchey Pro 20H front, 24H rear

So the wheelset is almost 2.9kg :eek:

In theory, a set of RS80s or whatever would get the overall weight down to sub 6.8kg, although I don't believe those figures. 8kg seems too light for something with a 2.9kg wheelset.

Anyway, the weight isn't that important.

As for whether the Force spec is worth the extra over Rival, I don't know. Force is pretty awesome though.

CheGuedara

Seen one of each on the road over the last 12 months at different events, (I think - the two boardmans are pretty similar).

Just looking between the B'dman Pro Carbon and the Cube you're looking at two very close to equal machines with rival but comparable groupsets, wheelsets by decent manufacturers (if weighty on the B'dman) and decent out of house finishing kit - .

The Boardman comes in @ e1999 if you buy from Halfrauds so if you can get it at the website price you should be able to save a hundred quid or more over CSS pricing (less if you order the Cube from CRC) there making the Cube the more expensive of the two by a good margin.

But then the Cube is better looking, not one of the common brands seen about the place, and if bought in CSC you've a shop (that's not Halfrauds) to bring it back to for servicing...

If you're planning on climbing a lot then it may be more suitable as it has a compact chainset - wont see you competitive in a race situation but would be ideal for sportives etc and you'll be able to get the bike over anything

Either of those two will be a massive step up from the SCR (you won't know yourself if it'll be your first time on a carbon bike) but the Cube gets my vote

ednwireland

http://www.cube-bikes.de/xist4c/web/homepage-cube-uk-english_id_36261_.htm

review on bike radar (from 08 mind)

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/agree-gtc-race-compact-08-29586


buy this instead
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=43053

i know nothing about bikes btw (i ride a focus and a 25 year old steel frame ffs)

mjth2004

Lumen, CheGuedara, & ednwireland - cheers for the replies!

Yeah this my first time on a carbon frame, so don't know what to expect!

The Cube is a very nice, light bike - something I am after plus it has the Shimano group set which I'm leaning towards! No great reasoning towards the leaning, more a case of better what you know than not!

Can't get my head around the Boardman Team Carbon, as compared with the Cube it was very heavy! If anything it felt same weight as the SCR3! Like you said Lumen - '8kg seems too light for something with a 2.9kg wheelset'!!

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

Front Wheel Weight: 1153 g
Rear Wheel Weight: 1736 g
Rims: Ritchey Pro 20H front, 24H rear

So the wheelset is almost 2.9kg :eek:

Including tyres, tubes, skewers and cassette on the back.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

Including tyres, tubes, skewers and cassette on the back.

Ah, that would do it. Is that just lazy journalism or some kind of standard approach? The cassette isn't even listed under the "Wheels" section.

blorg

mjth2004 wrote: »

Can't get my head around the Boardman Team Carbon, as compared with the Cube it was very heavy!

Is this based on your direct physical experience of the bikes or quoted weights on the internet? The latter tend to be quite unreliable. I know CSS will weigh a bike for you, they did it for me, I imagine Halfords will do the same (or just bring your own fish scales and do it yourself.) I would be surprised if there were a big difference between the weights of those bikes, especially as the 7.8 on the Cube is a manufacturer weight while the 8 quoted for the Boardman is a review weight (which tend to be a lot more realistic.)

DirkVoodoo

Lumen wrote: »

Ah, that would do it. Is that just lazy journalism or some kind of standard approach? The cassette isn't even listed under the "Wheels" section.

Bikeradar (and so cycling plus?) do this all the time. I don't know why as the wrong tyre/tube/cassette combo can make an otherwise decent wheel look like a porker. I would ignore it and just take the entire bike weight for a stock bike as a means of comparison.

E.g. A "set" of Fulcrum R7s in one review:

Front Wheel Weight:
1190 g
Rear Wheel Weight:
1680 g

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

I imagine Halfords will do the same (or just bring your own fish scales and do it yourself.

Never go into a bike shop without at least one set of digital scales.

I have a few of these scattered around the house. Very handy for weighing luggage on holiday.

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

Ah, that would do it. Is that just lazy journalism or some kind of standard approach? The cassette isn't even listed under the "Wheels" section.

It's standard for Future Publishing (Cycling Plus, Bikeradar, Cyclingnews, etc, they are all the same company and share the content/reviews.) They list the wheels on the Cube at 2,634g.

Bikeradar have actually reviewed all three bikes. They don’t give the size weighed/reviewed on the Boardmans but a look at the geometry suggests they are around the same. So based on their weights, which will be more reliable than the manufacturer, the cheaper Boardman and Cube are exactly the same weight while the Boardman Pro is 600g lighter.

Cube Bikes Agree GTC Race Compact (08) 7.99kg
Boardman Team Carbon (09) 8kg
Boardman Pro Carbon (09) 7.38kg

As to which one I would get, I would rank them (descending) Boardman Pro – Cube – Boardman Team but that is how the pricing goes also so it doesn’t really help. Boardman Team is probably the best value, you could slap some lightweight wheels and tyres on that and take 500g off it easily enough, maybe even a touch more.

Worth noting that while the Cube comes with better (and lighter) wheels and tyres this does mean the rest of the bike is heavier than the entry-level Boardman so you wouldn't get as much benefit putting on lighter wheels there.

mjth2004

Boardman Team Carbon & Cube - I looked at on the same day! Couldn't understand the weight difference at all when I lifted them - Boardman was like the SCR3 while the Cube was like, well what i would of expected weight wise for a carbon bike!

I think from the replies the Boardman Team Carbon, with an immediate wheel & tyre upgrade, is the one to go for!

delynet

Out of interest what wheels are you thinking of upgrading to? I have a team carbon, first proper road bike and just clocked up first 1000k. Really like the bike and found it good value for money

Might consider a wheel upgrade later in the year

blorg

If you are primarily interested in weight these are very light (1,472g) for the money (£250.) They got some very good reviews too.

mjth2004

Popped into Halfords this morning & managed to get another look at the boardman team carbon! Guy working there was sound enough & did allow me to take off the wheels - some difference in the weight, much lighter! So I'm now thinking of going down the team carbon route with a wheel upgrade!

Delynet - wheel upgrade will be mavic elites or like what lumen said a pair of RS80s!

But in saying all the above the cube is a sweet looking bike!

mjth2004

Right just in case i'm missing anything to save myself some sponds!

As Halfords are the only suppliers for the Boardman, will see if a local Halfords will match the UK price - if not it's a trip to the North!

With regards to the wheel upgrades - CRC!

gman2k

mjth2004 wrote: »

Right just in case i'm missing anything to save myself some sponds!

As Halfords are the only suppliers for the Boardman, will see if a local Halfords will match the UK price - if not it's a trip to the North!

With regards to the wheel upgrades - CRC!

Would you not slap yourself on a nice pair of 404s on the Boardman to finish it off?

blorg

mjth2004 wrote: »

Popped into Halfords this morning & managed to get another look at the boardman team carbon! Guy working there was sound enough & did allow me to take off the wheels - some difference in the weight, much lighter!

Yes, taking the wheels off does tend to lighten a bike up all right

If you are primarily looking for weight get the RS80s over the Ksyrium Elites. Bear in mind that weight is not the be all and end all- but I get the impression from your posts that it is most important to you, so RS80s.