Boardman Bikes

[Lozatron]

I've heard a lot of good things about the Boardman bikes - one thing I have a problem with however...how does anyone buy one of these when Halfords has a policy of not allowing you to take them for a test ride? Do some branches bend this policy or are people happy to buy these without trying them out for themselves? I don't want to sound judgmental...just curious...I wouldn't spend £500 on a bike without trying it out...if you have or haven't bought one I'd be really interested to hear why, or why not...

 

[buggi]

my mate has one and he loves it. he has the Boardman Team bike (next one down from the Team Carbon)

great spec for the money

 

[Twanger]

...I wouldn't spend £50 on a bike without trying it out.

 

[Lozatron]

Twanger...that's kind of my point...I can't imagine spending money on a bike without trying it out - yet people are obviously getting them and enjoying them and they get a good write-up (and I'm far from consistent...i've spend a fortune on wine I've never tasted based on trusted reviews...) - so has anyone on here bought one and if so did they try it first and if not...why did they decide to buy the boardman?

PS - really not trying to sound argumentative or judgmental! Just keen to understand how / why people feel comfortable making a decision like that without trying it out for themselves in anger.

 

[HJ]

That is the downside of Bordman Bikes, you have to buy them through Halfrauds...

You could try contacting them and asking why you can't try before you buy.

Personally I wouldn't buy a bike which I hadn't ridden first.

 

[mr_cellophane]

I asked in the Basildon one and they said there was no chance of me taking one out, even if I left my CC as a deposit. At least at Decathlon there is room to do a couple of laps of the store.
I asked about getting a huge good discount on a bike that had been in the store for over a year with flat tyres, broken cable and front gears missing. No luck there either.

 

[Zagek]

My local Halfords store let me have a go on one and were extremely friendly - so I decided to go for a Boardman over whatever my LBS had in (my LBS is run by nasty people! They won't let you have a go on anything and they try and force a sale on you like a car dealer).

I've not had a problem with my Boardman but if they wont let you test it I would walk away.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

My local Halfords store let me have a go on one and were extremely friendly - so I decided to go for a Boardman over whatever my LBS had in (my LBS is run by nasty people! They won't let you have a go on anything and they try and force a sale on you like a car dealer).

I've not had a problem with my Boardman but if they wont let you test it I would walk away.

I bet I know which one you are referring to!

Agreed with other posts. Do not under any circumstances buy a bike you have not ridden. Everyone is different. Just because a mate likes his, does not mean you will like it.

I bought my road bike from a LBS in the centre of a city, but they had no problem letting me test ride it. They never even required a deposit. Go to a good LBS.

 

[wesa]

I got a Boradman through C2W. When I was in the store it was made quite clear to me that a test ride was not an option, it was expected. I could have taken the bike for a day if I had wanted to. The guy in the store advised me on some routes to make the most of the time that I had.

 

[joggingbob]

I tried to get a test ride on a Boardman and the Halfords stores I tried all said no apart from an offer to ride up and down within the store. I did challenge why and it was "company policy". However I did eventually get an offer of a test ride from a Bikehut store, (St Pauls / ludgate), but they did not have my size in stock and said they would phone when they sourced once from another store. Unfortunately they did not phone back and I went and bought a bike elsewhere. To be fair to the Bikehut store they were very helpful in providing advice and also suggested that I should pop along to Condor shop nearby.

 

[HJ]

I got a Boradman through C2W. When I was in the store it was made quite clear to me that a test ride was not an option, it was expected. I could have taken the bike for a day if I had wanted to. The guy in the store advised me on some routes to make the most of the time that I had.

Now that should be company policy...

 

[I am Spartacus]

If you are buying from Ribble e.g., then MOST unlikely to get a test ride.. and it wouldnt worry me either in the slightest....
you hop on a few brands that your mates have.. if its a de rosa you keep on pedallin'............................................................

 

[GrumpyGregry]

loads of people buy bikes they've not ridden, often sight unseen. it's called the interweb. do keep up.

don't see the courier companies making a killing from all the returns so for a lot of people it seems to work.

If you go for a custom build how do you ride it before it is built......?

 

[HJ]

If you go for a custom build how do you ride it before it is built......?

If it is custom build then you can be reasonable certain that it will fit you when it arrives, unlike an off the peg bike...