C2W - £1000 - Trek Madone 2.1 vs Boardman Road Team

[Nocode]

Hi All

Some bike choice advice much appreciated please

I've been commuting to work 2-3 times a week for a couple of months now. The commute is around 15 miles each way (all road) and I've been doing it on my aging MTB w/ slicks. My company does the C2W scheme and I'm in the market for a road bike not only for the commute, but for the odd sportive and triathlon etc. My budget is £1000 as that's the max on the C2W scheme.

My company does the C2W scheme through Halfords, but apparently if Halfords C2W don't stock the bike I want they can source it through their nationwide supplier network and even LBS. Not sure how that works, but that's what they tell me!

I've been in to my LBS and have been highly recommended the Trek Madone 2.1. However, the other option directly stocked by Halfords is the Boardman Road Team. Does anyone have any experience/preference on these?

The LBS shop couldn't speak more highly of the Trek frames, their life-time warrantys they offer and mentioned their customer service was excellent. In fact, I went in wanting a Cube Peloton Race (they're also a Cube stockist) and was talked around in favour of the Treks!

I know nothing about Boardman bikes except that they get good reviews, but I'm wary about going for a bike stocked directly by Halfords as they will do the fitting etc and I think my LBS is probably best for this. The only other factor with the Boardman is that if I choose a bike stocked directly by Halfords I get £100 to spend on accessories etc - but I'm thinking that I shouldn't let something like that sway my judgement and I should invest in the bike, and probably more importantly the frame.

Any views/assistance/help much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Nocode]

*bump*

Any views on either of these 2 bikes vs one another, or whether I should be considering another circa-£1000 bike over these?

 

[Zakalwe]

There's been a fair few threads asking for 1000 quid recommendations so they might be good to read through. Reall though, £1000 is such a competitive area that you really won't be able to buy a "bad" bike. Be wary of any shop that talks you round to buying a particular bike, especially one you haven't ridden yourself, I wouldn't be surprised if there's some sort of bonus for hitting sales targets.

Test riding is key, any bike you choose will be good - it just depends on if it's a good fit for you.

 

[Nocode]

There's been a fair few threads asking for 1000 quid recommendations so they might be good to read through. Reall though, £1000 is such a competitive area that you really won't be able to buy a "bad" bike. Be wary of any shop that talks you round to buying a particular bike, especially one you haven't ridden yourself, I wouldn't be surprised if there's some sort of bonus for hitting sales targets.

Test riding is key, any bike you choose will be good - it just depends on if it's a good fit for you.

Yes, very true re: potential sales targets and I hear what you're saying about not really being able to buy a "bad" bike for £1000. It's just you hear recommendations to buy the best frame you can get for your money, with components being secondary (as I guess they wear-out) - but I'd have no idea whether it's a good frame or not. It wasn't until the guy in the LBS starting saying that the Trek had a better frame and better warranty/customer service that I started to consider it over the Cube I had thought I'd previously wanted.

Re: test riding, I've never done this before as my only other bike is a 10yr old MTB. Is there anything I need to look-out for when doing this? Should it be a case that the bike just feels right? Forgive my ignore, I'm new to all of this stuff.

 

[Lee_M]

if you like the madone, try the trek domane too, in the same price bracket but I found it much more comfortable than the madone, may be better as a commuting bike as the concept was built for the roubaix cobbles

I'm planning to get a 5.x for the weekends and a 2.x for the C2W next year

 

[Zakalwe]

I don't know how the lbs guy claims a Trek frame is "better" than the rest, better in what way? The materials will be on a par with any other frame, otherwise they'd be charging more for it. Better geometry? That's entirely subjective to the rider. Warranties are nice but I certainly wouldn't buy a bike for only that reason.

Ride as many bikes as you can, it's the only way you'll get a feel for what suits you and take advice from sales reps, not instruction.

 

[jrk]

Did you get anywhere with this conundrum? I now have the same issue ie LBS says Madone which they sell. Reviews say Boardman or maybe Giant Defy 1. What did you go for in the end?

 

[Nocode]

I went for the Trek Madone 2.1 in the end. I did briefly consider the Domane 2.0 as well but as there was quite a waiting a list (and I was being impatient) I went for the Madone. I'm very happy with my choice. Had the Madone for 2-3 weeks now.

The decision to go for the Trek over the Boardman was more a decision of LBS vs Halfords tbh. My LBS had been very good, I was in there speaking to them every weekend etc and therefore I felt they should have my custom - even though I'm sure they don't make much money from the Halfords C2W scheme.