Boardman Road Team Carbon Bike - Help please!

[Enis Baysal]

I am looking at buying my 1st good road bike, I have a hybrid FCR3 but after a 45 mile round trip yesterday, compared to a friend riding with me.. I really struggled. The extra couple of KG im sure made a big difference, especially on those hill climbs!


As my milage is slowly improving, naturally I want to have a better bike for my commutes and pleasure rides.

I have seen 2 boardman bikes which look pretty identical but im really not sure what to go for. The specs and weight are minimul difference so any help on which one to choose would be really appreciated.

Thanks

Thanks guys

 

[uphillstruggler]

Hello Enis

Most people on here would say that you would need to try them both first, I haven't looked at the spec but I would imagine that they are pretty similar.

are you tied to the boardmans because at that price point and because of the cycle to work scheme, there are lots of options open to you.

I would think that there will be others offering up opinions on loads of different bikes at this cost so don't spend your money just yet

good luck

 

[vickster]

The Fi model is the female specific one, so assuming you are not a woman, you'd be better off with the first

Join British cycling, £32 ride membership, 10% off everything at halfords and other absolutely (in my experience) indispensable benefits

Or, given your location, it might be worth visiting Ash and looking at some of their deals on Giant bikes, e.g. The defy 1 for £815

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/index.php?main_page=contact_us

 

[John the Canuck]

my nephew just bought this Felt Carbon..dont know price - he's in Paris but over the moon

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f75-2014/

 

[BSRU]

I am looking at buying my 1st good road bike, I have a hybrid FCR3 but after a 45 mile round trip yesterday, compared to a friend riding with me.. I really struggled. The extra couple of KG im sure made a big difference, especially on those hill climbs!


As my milage is slowly improving, naturally I want to have a better bike for my commutes and pleasure rides.

It's more likely that a hybrid flat handle bar makes you less aerodynamic meaning you have to work harder into the wind or above a certain speed.
Also a road bike gives you more hand positions which can help prevent you getting tired over longer distances.
As an example when I go for long rides on my road bike I will be carrying 2 or 3 kgs extra weight, food and drink, but it does not make me any slower.

Personally, if you only have one bike then a CX bike is the best bet, basically a road bike that can take bigger tyres and mudguards(many take a pannier rack as well).

 

[tudor_77]

The Boardman seems like a really good bike for the money, although mostly Tiagra groupset. Boardman are generally brilliant bikes and very nice to ride, I used to love mine.

Do you have your heart set on a full carbon bike? If not the Giant Defy 1 is £999 also and has aluminium frame but with full 105 groupset. Just putting that out there

 

[Enis Baysal]

The Boardman seems like a really good bike for the money, although mostly Tiagra groupset. Boardman are generally brilliant bikes and very nice to ride, I used to love mine.

Do you have your heart set on a full carbon bike? If not the Giant Defy 1 is £999 also and has aluminium frame but with full 105 groupset. Just putting that out there

I had my heart set on carbon mainly because of the weight and reviews on response from going at some speed. Its got 5 stars across the board although I will look at the giant
Thanks for the responses!

 

[vickster]

Or cheaper depending on size required

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-defy-1-2013-white

A serious question to the OP, do you have somewhere secure at work, and indeed home, to leave a £1000 bike?

 

[Enis Baysal]

Or cheaper depending on size required

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-defy-1-2013-white

A serious question to the OP, do you have somewhere secure at work, and indeed home, to leave a £1000 bike?

Indeed, I have a locked garage and the bike would stay upstairs in a secure store room

 

[vickster]

Make sure you have a good ground anchor and D lock in the garage, bike theft from garages and sheds is sadly common

Best advice, go ride a few bikes around your budget, don't just rely on reviews. Evans have free test rides and a big range for example, but they don't sell Giant, nor boardman

 

[Cookie56]

my nephew just bought this Felt Carbon..dont know price - he's in Paris but over the moon

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f75-2014/

That's aluminium - the carbons are single digit , f5, f4 etc. I have a Z5 , it's carbon and great

 

[Cyclist33]

I am looking at buying my 1st good road bike, I have a hybrid FCR3 but after a 45 mile round trip yesterday, compared to a friend riding with me.. I really struggled. The extra couple of KG im sure made a big difference, especially on those hill climbs!


As my milage is slowly improving, naturally I want to have a better bike for my commutes and pleasure rides.

I have seen 2 boardman bikes which look pretty identical but im really not sure what to go for. The specs and weight are minimul difference so any help on which one to choose would be really appreciated.

Thanks View attachment 48459 View attachment 48459 Thanks guys

Pedal harder and get fitter!

 

[Brava210]

Buy the Boardman, mine got an unexpected hammering yesterday, across ground fit for a Mountain bike and it came out fine.
On the road it flies and I am moderately fit
I think they are very good value, and no problem taking it back if you dont like it.....
I have the Pro Carbon by the way

 

[Enis Baysal]

Pedal harder and get fitter!

Thats already going in progress! My time to work has gone from a 23 minute commute and increased to 16:30 in 2 months