fast bike to ride to work

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vickster

Squire
Yep, best deals are on the 2012 models at the mo. Apparently, 2013 prices lower but so are the spec

So you could get interest free credit and up the budget...:evil:
 

Norm

Guest
That guess is definitely close... have I already posted about it? Pretty scarily accurate if I haven't, but I'm looking at the disc version of that very bike.
How do those bikes compare against the Boardman because I like the look of it.
That's a very personal thing, Jack. IMO, they are all good bikes and I've got a Sirrus in the garage so I might be a tad biased, but I'd happily get another Sirrus and I'd happily get that Boardman and I've a couple of Giants in the garage already so I'd happily get another of them...

I'm not being much help here, am I? :biggrin:

Get a test ride on a Sirrus and a Giant Rapid if I were you, see what you think of them.
 
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JackzR

Active Member
Jack, have you thought about a drop bar bike? IMO more speed and more fun :smile: The aforementioned Sirrus is a great bike though, I think that or the Rapide would be my choice of a flat bar road bike. I like the disc brakes of the Boardman but its too white for me ;)

No I haven't looked at them really nearly bought a Carrera TDF off gumtree a while ago but it the size was too big.

Haven't ride one before really but they seem to hard to get going at a low gear?
Not sure if my back would like the positioning. I mean i'm open to look. Whats the difference between the road and CX?

what about this?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-qx-s85-2012/
 

vickster

Squire
Lovely looking bike and the disc brakes will be good during the winter if commuting in all weathers - nice spec for the money

How tall are you as they only have smallish sizes (48cm, 52cm), probably too small if over 5'6ish
 
No I haven't looked at them really nearly bought a Carrera TDF off gumtree a while ago but it the size was too big.

Haven't ride one before really but they seem to hard to get going at a low gear?
Not sure if my back would like the positioning. I mean i'm open to look. Whats the difference between the road and CX?

what about this?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-qx-s85-2012/
Yip you are best to get the right size of bike and test before you buy.
Road bikes aren't hard to get going, you might have had an experience of high geared bike and ridden in too high a gear to compound things; thats true of any bike not just road bikes.
You get different geometry road bikes, with longer head tubes, like the Spesh Secteur which are more upright/ more comfortable. A common mistake folk think you have to ride on the drops all the time whereas most folk sit upright and ride the hoods. Maybe try one out :smile:
A cross bike generally has lower gears for pedalling up off road sticky hills and wider tyres to cope with off road muck: they tend to be slower bikes. You can put narrower tyres on though if you like the feel of them and if you spin fast they won't be too much slower ;)
 
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JackzR

Active Member
Lovely looking bike and the disc brakes will be good during the winter if commuting in all weathers - nice spec for the money

How tall are you as they only have smallish sizes (48cm, 52cm), probably too small if over 5'6ish

The Boardman would be faster than that bike though wouldn't it?
 

vickster

Squire
Speed is more or less down to who is riding it, not the bike, when bikes are so similar :smile:

You sound like you want the Boardman, good bike, 10% off with British cycling, job done :bravo:
 
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JackzR

Active Member
Speed is more or less down to who is riding it, not the bike, when bikes are so similar :smile:

You sound like you want the Boardman, good bike, 10% off with British cycling, job done :bravo:

I'm just worried about it getting stolen..Live in a city
 

vickster

Squire
Buy two very good locks, something like an ABUS granit and a Bordo, or a Kryptonite fahgettaboutitand a chain...and get good insurance - no more likely to be stolen than any other bike

Or get some rusty pub bike for £30, which you won't want to ride

Have you started to worry since opening the thread?
 
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JackzR

Active Member
Buy two very good locks, something like an ABUS granit and a Bordo, or a Kryptonite fahgettaboutitand a chain...and get good insurance - no more likely to be stolen than any other bike

Or get some rusty pub bike for £30, which you won't want to ride

Have you started to worry since opening the thread?

Just brought a kryptonite new york fahgettaaboutit for £61

and no I didn't start worrying since the thread just in general Ive had quite a few bikes stolen in the past when I was younger but then to be honest they were cheap locks..

Does anyone know anyone know some good insurance companys?
 
my LBS said that the merida is a better spec than the boardman and said boardman is just a halfords bike with just boardman written on it. That's not true is it?

Rubbish. If they'd have said 'the problem with Boardmans is that Halfords build them' it would have been more accurate!

Boardman are actually made by Merida iirc. They are excellent bikes, great value for money and great specs. The reason a lot of LBS don't like them is that they are exclusive to Halfords (why Chris why) and very difficult to compete with for the money - so Halfords get to 'steal' a lot of custom.

Luckily, as mentioned, Halfords also build them, so the LBS will get some rebate when you take them in to be fixed :smile:
 
my LBS said that the merida is a better spec than the boardman and said boardman is just a halfords bike with just boardman written on it. That's not true is it?

Rubbish. If they'd have said 'the problem with Boardmans is that Halfords build them' it would have been more accurate!

Boardman are actually made by Merida iirc. They are excellent bikes, great cake for money and great specs. The reason a lot of LBS don't like them is that they are exclusive to Halfords (why Chris why) and very difficult to compete with for the money - so Halfords get to 'steal' a lot of custom.

Luckily, as mentioned, Halfords also build them, so the LBS will get some rebate when you take them in to be fixed :smile:
 
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