Halfords takeover Boardman bikes

[Crankarm]

£10-15m, if he did trouser this much, is not a small sum. And given he is already a little bit minted makes him even more minted. Think how many really nice bikes you could buy or have made bespoke for you. Or look at it another way CB has just sold an awful lot of bikes. How much would you get for all your bikes?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Any other notable names I have missed?

Cippolini and wasn't Pinarello an ex-racer? Lapierre?

Yep. a significant number of the grand tour and one day classic winners from the 20's to the 60's

 

[tadpole]

I'd never slag off any of the bikes that Halfords sell. It's some of the monkeys that put them together that are really dangerous. Buy a bike and take it to someone who can make em up. Or do it yourself, not hard.

OK, let me get this right, you think a person who has never built a bike is likely to do a better job, than someone who has built 30 bikes in the three months. Even if the build is not up to your standards, it has to be better than some ham-fingered no nothing who wants to do all the assembly with the multitool he got in a M&S Christmas cracker. Right?

 

[markharry66]

My own halfords round here is terrible. Great for innertubes. Would never spend money on s bike with them as they find it difficult enough to process a payment

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Boardman, Hoy, Pendleton, English peeps who've turned (or attached) their names to bikes.

Oh Hoy is English now is he? Must have won something.

 

[midlife]

Anybody remember what happened when Harry Quinn sold out to Ernie Clements................lets not hope history repeats itself

As an aside, a few years back I decided to get a modern new bike and almost bought a Boardman Pro as it seemed pretty well screwed together and lets not deny it......... the price was less than a grand. However, I eventually went for a Basso as I could afford a few hundred extra quid and the bar tape on the Basso was a properly put on!

If I didn't have the extra cash I probably would have the Boardman in my garage.

Shaun

 

[Chris Norton]

OK, let me get this right, you think a person who has never built a bike is likely to do a better job, than someone who has built 30 bikes in the three months. Even if the build is not up to your standards, it has to be better than some ham-fingered no nothing who wants to do all the assembly with the multitool he got in a M&S Christmas cracker. Right?

Wife and I bought bike from Halfords. Front brake fell to pieces on ride back home. I'd take my chances to be honest.

 

[DooDah]

Lemond?

By the way, what's changed?
Before: Halfords have exclusive deal for Boardman brand, except for the Elite line. CB is chairman and design director. (and gets royalties)
After: Halfords have exclusive deal for Boardman brand, except for the Elite line. CB is chairman and design director. And a bit richer. (but doesn't get royalties)


I would imagine that wiggle can no longer sell the boardman bikes. This is who I bought mine from in 2012. So halfords only had exclusivity in the uk before, maybe this is still the case but I would imagine they have worldwide exclusivity now.

 

[Dave W]

Boardman bikes are great, Halfords service is awful.

I recently bought a full sus team and it's been a nightmare. I asked for it boxed because I've had a couple of bikes off them before, all built badly. Despite this it came assembled, again badly. No grease on the seatpost, pedals ridiculously tight with no grease, brakes routed wrong. It then developed a creak on both sides of the bottom bracket under load. I took it back, was told 5 days later it was fixed then went to collect, bike was wheeled out and the creak is still there. Left it again, another 5 days pass went again to collect today, creak still there. I asked if it's actually been looked at, was told they didn't know.

It's like banging your head against the wall. 2 wasted journeys and I'm still in the same position.

Hopefully the takeover won't affect the brand but the bike mechanics and service really need to improve. They replaced the BB on my CX after just 8 months and were going to charge me for the bearings until the debacle with the full sus. Even then I've had to clean up the gallon of grease smeared all over the bottom bracket area.

I don't even blame the staff, the business clearly doesn't give a toss about staff retention and training. They're set up to fail unfortunately.