New Bike

mike12

Hi,
Looking for someone to talk me out of buying a
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_team_carbon.html 1349 euros
Rather than a
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_comp.html 869 euros
have been looking for a while now and cant find anything near the spec or value for either bike. If i dont go for the carbon will i regret it in a couple of months. Anyone have any opinions on the sram as compared to the shamino what would they be the equilvent of the 105? Also is it hard to get used to the double tap for changing gears.
I am getting it on the bikes to work scheme the carbon is 1349 so would be about 850 which i think is good value, not tied to Halfords either so if anyone can come with a compariable bike similar weight and components that can be bought in a Irish bike shop not online please let me know.
Mike

dr ro

sorry i can't help on the bikes, i bought a specialised mtb last year on the bike to work scheme. First bike in 20 years. Was looking at spending 3-400 on half decent bike that i could bring kids on, take xc and actually ride to work. Then i thought, feck it, i'm only paying for half of it and i spent the full 1000! So if i were you, and i was, i'd go for it if it's the one you want.

c montgomery

Go for the carbon.

I have the Boardman team road bike (no longer available) and while its an excellent bike and for the price at the time (1000)it could not be beaten i now wish i had went for the carbon.

Think about it, you'll buy the bike, fall in love with cycling and then you'll want the best gear, you'll want carbon:DSave yourself alot of self doubt and just buy the carbon, you'll love it.

2 of my friends have one by the way and they rave about them:)

paddymacsporran

Think about it - You will keep the bike for, say 5 years?

Thats only €2 a week for the lighter, faster, more responive, bling carbon bike. Well worth the outlay. Half a pint......!!!

Boardman bikes get great reviews, only drawback is its only Halfords that sell them and they are terrible at setting them up and servicing unless you get a rare good experienced bike mechanic.....

pprendeville

paddymacsporran wrote: »

Think about it - You will keep the bike for, say 5 years?

Thats only €2 a week for the lighter, faster, more responive, bling carbon bike. Well worth the outlay. Half a pint......!!!

Boardman bikes get great reviews, only drawback is its only Halfords that sell them and they are terrible at setting them up and servicing unless you get a rare good experienced bike mechanic.....

VEry true. HAVe read a review about a new bike shop in Gorey a few days ago. MIGht be worth a phone call. Aparently peter knows his stuff and is only one of 2 shimano service shops in Ireland so he'd be well up on tech info.

mike12

Hi,
Not really worried about the Mechanic the guy in the swords branch is a really into his bikes. One other question I have is what size to go for there seems to be very little difference between the medium and the large any idea on how to decide.
Mike

paddymacsporran

How tall are you and whats your inside leg?

S'

mike12 wrote: »

Hi,
I am getting it on the bikes to work scheme the carbon is 1349 so would be about 850 which i think is good value, not tied to Halfords either so if anyone can come with a compariable bike similar weight and components that can be bought in a Irish bike shop not online please let me know.
Mike

The new 2011 Boardman range is coming out next month so id wait and see what they bring out.

paddymacsporran

more chance of getting a discount on the current range too, changes won't be massive if they are still using sram and ritchey, not many changes in their ranges for 2011

Oldlegs

"Thats only €2 a week for the lighter, faster, more responive, bling carbon bike. Well worth the outlay. Half a pint......!!!"

That's what I love about the boards.ie cycling forum, if in doubt someone will be able to justify the "investment"

That said, everyone I spoke to, including Graham (who was extremely helpful) in Everest Cycles in Bray told me to hold off/save up and go for the Carbon Frame, as I would end up looking to change in 12-24 months anyway.

{Slightly OT, but sales guy in CycleSuperStore - where I thought I would get some good advice - could not have been less interested in walking me through what I should be looking for in a Carbon Frame bike. Whereas Graham in Everest Cycles (Bray) - LBS - went out of his way to explain various elements even when it was clear I would not be buying that day or soon}

mike12

paddymacsporran wrote: »

How tall are you and whats your inside leg?

5 10.5 and 32 inside leg

mike12

S' wrote: »

The new 2011 Boardman range is coming out next month so id wait and see what they bring out.

Hi,
Just a bit worried if i wait till the 2011 range that they will be a bit more expensive I hear a lot of the new ranges are cant find and info on the 2011 range at the moment it is reduced by 150 at the moment but was only 1250 when they were relased in 2009 before jumping up to 1499.
Mike

paddymacsporran

mike12 wrote: »

5 10.5 and 32 inside leg

About the same as me. I ride a 53cm Look 586, very similar geometry to the same size boardman with the 55.5cm top tube.

I would suggest medium would be a better length of bike, I would find the top tube on the large too long personally.

Can you try them both at Halfords, do they have - or can they get - demo bikes?

Re the 2011 bikes, there probably wont be a lot of changes, theres a lot of models sold out already on the boardman website. Go for it bud, looks a lot of bike for that money....:)

seanie500

Have the team carbon Mike12 and its cracking bike for price range. did a lot of research before buying between this forum and various bike review websites.

These were EUR1250 up to 2-3 months ago then up to 1500 until recently - even having to pay 800odd with BTW is a good deal.

Don't forget the 15% AXA discount!

S'

seanie500 wrote: »

Don't forget the 15% AXA discount!

Is it possible to get the AXA discount along with the B2W scheme??

Alot of the halford stores won't allow to use both:mad:

Hail 2 Da Thief

I nearly bought the Boardman Team (alum) bike but coughed up the extra cash for the Team Carbon in the end. Glad I did now as I love the bike. Really light, fast etc.
The SRAM double tap is easy to get use to & the gear changing is really smooth & precise.
I'm 5'11 with an inseem of 33. I bought the large frame & it's spot on size wise for me. The medium would be too small for me but I have a pretty flexible back and dont find the low riding position in the drops uncomfortable.

mike12

Hi,
Thanks for the reply went for the team carbon in a large but i suppose i have a couple of weeks to change my mind if i find anything else as i wait for the voucher. Had a spin on a focus cayo this evening very nice but at 1700 a bit out of my price range.
Mike

jeffwode

mike12 wrote: »

Hi,
Thanks for the reply went for the team carbon in a large but i suppose i have a couple of weeks to change my mind if i find anything else as i wait for the voucher. Had a spin on a focus cayo this evening very nice but at 1700 a bit out of my price range.
Mike

Have you looked at these? http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPR/sl-pro-carbon-sram-red

I've just bought one and am waiting for delivery. I should have it the week after next. It's €100 cheaper than the Boardman and you get SRAM Red instead of Rival. What I like best about Planet X is that you can customise elements of the build at no extra charge. You can specify bar width, stem length, crank length etc. A huge bonus if you're a non-standard size. I've spoken to 2 people with Planet X bikes (one of them really knows his stuff) and they both LOVE them. Reviews are great too. I'm really looking forward to taking delivery of mine. It came in around €1350 inc €30 postage.

ednwireland

mike12 wrote: »

Hi,
Thanks for the reply went for the team carbon in a large but i suppose i have a couple of weeks to change my mind if i find anything else as i wait for the voucher. Had a spin on a focus cayo this evening very nice but at 1700 a bit out of my price range.
Mike

last years focus cayo €1204
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Cayo_105_2010_Ltd_Edition/5360045298/

did you try this years or last years ? they were booth the same price recently but now there are only 5 of the above left in a 56

love my cayo (2009 model)

spyderski

This bike is great value, I have one myself with Dura Ace. BUT, I have heard many people talking about this particular SRAM "Red" offer, thinking its got full SRAM Red. Its got Planet X's own brand brakes (which I have on my TT bike, and are only OK), a so-so FSA chainset, and a SRAM rival cassette & chain. Nothing in particular wrong with it, but people shouldn't be comparing it to other SRAM red equipped bikes & thinking its that massively cheaper.

DirkVoodoo

A gossamer chainset isn't awful and I don't really rate the cassette and chain as parts that anyone can tell the difference between.

It's still a very good deal and you get the "important" parts in SRAM Red.

But you are right to point it out.

mike12

Hi,
Can only buy from Ireland as i will be getting a one for all voucher see on another thread the Planet X may be available in Ireland.
Mike