Any help with bike choice. . .

[Minotier]

Would be appreciated.
I am looking at buying a new bike in a while and am undecided between a Giant Defy 4 or maybe the new Boardman Sport. Both the same price and similar specs.
I would be interested to hear you folks opinions.
Thanks in anticipation.
Pete.

 

[chqshaitan]

what is going to be your main use of it?
also what budget?
What type of surface(s) is it going to be traversing on?

 

[Minotier]

General road cycling, fine weather commuting, longer rides, maybe a sportive or two.
£500ish.
Road 99%

 

[MisterStan]

Would be appreciated.
I am looking at buying a new bike in a while and am undecided between a Giant Defy 4 or maybe the new Boardman Sport. Both the same price and similar specs.
I would be interested to hear you folks opinions.
Thanks in anticipation.
Pete.

Can you go and give both a test ride (difficult with some Halfords I understand)? You may find that one is more comfortable/feels nicer...

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Would be appreciated.
I am looking at buying a new bike in a while and am undecided between a Giant Defy 4 or maybe the new Boardman Sport. Both the same price and similar specs.
I would be interested to hear you folks opinions.
Thanks in anticipation.
Pete.

From one pete to another, If I have learnt anything from my halfords experience it would be to stay the .......... away.

 

[cyberknight]

From one pete to another, If I have learnt anything from my halfords experience it would be to stay the .......... away.

I think it varies from store to store, my local is run by a biker so i get good service, i have a boardman comp and they are cracking bikes although the giant bikes are the current top pick by bike magazines .Go and try them both for size and see what fits best is the best advice i can offer.

 

[Minotier]

Thanks folks.
Yes Halfords always set alarm bells ringing and the Boardman was only released recently. Where the Defy 4 has been getting such good reviews and is also stocked by the LBS I think I will try and get a test run on the Giant and see how that feels first. Will let you know how it goes!
Thanks again.

 

[MisterStan]

Thanks folks.
Yes Halfords always set alarm bells ringing and the Boardman was only released recently. Where the Defy 4 has been getting such good reviews and is also stocked by the LBS I think I will try and get a test run on the Giant and see how that feels first. Will let you know how it goes!
Thanks again.

Have a chat with the LBS, they may have some similarly priced bikes that you haven't looked at too.

 

[cyberknight]

Thanks folks.
Yes Halfords always set alarm bells ringing and the Boardman was only released recently. Where the Defy 4 has been getting such good reviews and is also stocked by the LBS I think I will try and get a test run on the Giant and see how that feels first. Will let you know how it goes!
Thanks again.

Boardmans are very highly rated as well , their bikes are used by a pro usa team and the brownlee brothers won Olympic medals on them, the only thing that can potentially let them down is the halfords service.They do offer very high spec for the price so do not discount them.
Looking at the 2 you have chosen the giant is £100 more expensive on the giant website and you get a carbon fork for the extra.The next model up in the boardman range is the race which is £70 more than the giant but you get sora drivetrain which is 9 speed rather than 8 .
Another option is the btwin triban 5 which is £500, has sora and a carbon fork and seat stays and allows you £100 or so to change the wheels which are basic.You can get a nice set of shimano r501`s which grace bikes up to a grand for under £100 on offer at ribble .