Boardman vs specialised

slimjim1987

Hey guys,

I can get a boardman road comp 2010 model or a specialised allez 16 for the same price of 720 euros. I know the boardman has better components but which one would ye guys go for? are boardman a reputable make? the specialised looks very sexy. need to decide by monday. heres links to the spec of both

boardman - http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_502003_langId_-1_categoryId_212536

specialised - http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/allez-16-2011-road-bike-ec025025

Thanks!!

goldencleric

Boardman going by the spec ... the Spesh does look very sexy though

Hail 2 Da Thief

slimjim1987 wrote: »

boardman has better components[URL="http://"][/URL]

slimjim1987 wrote: »

specialised looks very sexy[URL="http://"][/URL]

Which is more important to you?

Ricky91t

Halfords set up(if you're letting them do it) can be shocking.

slimjim1987

How do you mean by set up? Well this is going to be my first racing bike so i will not be an expert judge on the differences between the bikes, but at the same time i want to get the best bike for the money.

Aka Ishur

Used my boardman as a commuter for last 2 years. Couldn't be happier with it. Does 20km 5 days a week no problem. Its also done a 650km 4 day trek of munster, plus 1600km trip through europe. Just be sure to check brakes, gears, spokes when buying because seriously some of those halfords lads are just clueless.

Things to look for: brake alignment (correctly to the brakeing surface) spokes (basically that they are not loose, and check them regularly), gears is a fell thing that you'll have to look up about online. for example when i first got the boardman the gears couldnt hit the top ring.)

Ricky91t

slimjim1987 wrote: »

How do you mean by set up? Well this is going to be my first racing bike so i will not be an expert judge on the differences between the bikes, but at the same time i want to get the best bike for the money.

When they put together the bikes in store and set up of gears, breaks etc can be either good or very bad. Just a warning really.

chubb22

what would you rather,a nice looking bike(specialized) or a good groupset(boardman). shimano 2300 gears are the very basic of gears whereas tiagra and 105 are good gearsets.id go for boardman even though i hate the look of it but it has much better components.

C3PO

chubb22 wrote: »

what would you rather,a nice looking bike(specialized) or a good groupset(boardman). shimano 2300 gears are the very basic of gears whereas tiagra and 105 are good gearsets.id go for boardman even though i hate the look of it but it has much better components.

Personally I'd buy the Specialized ..... but to he honest you're going to get a good bike either way!

Thargor

WTF Slimjim1987 you and I could be twins, I made this thread 2 days ago:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056200185

I had a test ride of a Boardman Comp 2010 around Halfords in Coolock today, it was awesome, way more comfortable than other roadbikes Ive sat on with really fast acceleration, its super light aswell but feels really solid, and it does look great, way nicer in the flesh. Head out to Halfords in Coolock, they seem to know their **** and they're really sound about letting you ride the whole range, the codes to the locks on the bikestands didn't work so he just hacksawed them off.

BostonB

Thargor wrote: »

..., they seem to know their **** and they're really sound about letting you ride the whole range, the codes to the locks on the bikestands didn't work so he just hacksawed them off.

Perhaps that wasn't the staff and you've just helped them nick a few bikes?

slimjim1987

Thargor, thats cool, did you cycle a specialised allez before? So your Verdict is the boardman? did u buy that or the specialised??

Thargor

No never tried the Specialised, tbh the hour I spent with the Boardman in Halfords today was nearly the longest Ive ever spent on a roadbike so dont take my expert opinion as gospel. The Boardman is 1-1.5 Kg lighter, people here say it has better components and Im in love with it and I have to make my mind up this week before the place I work for stops doing the CtW scheme so Im going for it, the 2011 Boardmans are 1-1.5 Kg heavier aswell btw.

Pat Kavanagh

Thargor wrote: »

I had a test ride of a Boardman Comp 2010 around Halfords in Coolock today, it was awesome,

Any chance we could ban 'awesome' for cycling board??

Thargor wrote: »

...really fast acceleration ..

it accellerates 'really fast' compared to other bikes??

Thargor

it accellerates 'really fast' compared to other bikes??

Compared to the hybrids and MTBs Id been riding up to now I noticed significantly higher acceleration, yes. It was awesome.

Thanks for your input.

Pat Kavanagh

Thargor wrote: »

Compared to the hybrids and MTBs Id been riding up to now I noticed significantly higher acceleration, yes. It was awesome.

Thanks for your input.

Oh, I thought you were comparing it to a similar type of bike.

Of course any racing-type bike will accelerate better than a hybrid or MTB.

So, as long as that's clear to the poster in helping him with his choice.

shamrock55

op what about one of these both good spec and good looking too;)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/12-triple-2010-road-bike-ec019677

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/felt/z100-2011-road-bike-ec024149?query=felt

http://www.cyclex.co.uk/product/bikes/giant_bikes/giant_road_bikes/Giant_Defy4_Compact_2011.html

http://www.cyclex.co.uk/product/bikes/giant_bikes/giant_road_bikes/Giant_Defy3_2011.html

ok spec on giants not wonderfull but both good and nice looking bikes for th price

the felt would be my fav here for the money

slimjim1987

That trek 1.2 is nice, but im getting the bike on the bike to work scheme so i have to buy in a bike shop. Anybody know if there is a bike shop that still has stock of the trek 1.2 2010 model? I cant stretch to the 2011 model really due to the price, want to keep the price under 800. anybody any ideas?

Sacred_git

evans can't/don't ship spec bikes outside uk!!

Tenzor07

Just pop into Cycleways or Stagg cycles and pick up a Specialized Allez, I bought one there 10 months ago and has been giving me hassle free cycling since, not even the slightest issue and is perfect for getting into a bit of road cycling and even racing...

blorg

Boardman is much more bike for the money.

Tau

I had a similar dilemma to the OP. Then I went and looked at both bikes in the flesh and realised I think the boarman looks far better. I really don't like the curved toptube on the specialised. And it's chunky near the headtube. Ewww. It just doesn't look nice. The boardman is black and shiny. And the toptube is straight and has a sort of cool diamond cross section. I'm thinking of putting yellow tyres on mine, think it would look fantastic. (not sure about this yet).

I'm very happy with the boardman performance wise too (once I spent an hour re-setting it up after the halfords "service").

Plastik

I bought the Specialized Allez 16 in Jan 2010 and have had no issues with it to date, about 3,000km. Nothing has broken nor needed replacing outside of the odd cable every now and again.

Thargor

What did you go for in the end OP? I couldn't be happier with the Boardman, probably the best thing I've ever bought, cant stay off it, I just moved to Wicklow aswell so its nice having all new routes with spectacular scenery and being able to go long range at good speeds exploring, the roads and cycle paths down here are twice as nice as Galway aswell.