Hello from Cumbria

[croutledge]

Hello to you all from Cumbria. Been looking around the site for the last few days so thought i would register and say hello.

Started doing some biking again last year but on a mountain bike with non road tyres, so not ideal for what i wanted. I'm waiting for my employee to open the Cycle to Work Scheme again (only do it in batch's) so that i can purchase a road bike. I'm looking to spend between £600 and £800 and will need to factor pedals and shoes into that.

I've been looking around and reading various things and i'm looking something like the Specialized Allez Sport Triple 2010 Road Bike.

Specialized Allez Sport Triple 2010 Road Bike

Also read people suggesting the Boardman Road Bike Comp 2010.

Boardman Road Bike Comp 2010

Thinking around the £650 - £700 cause i expect shoes and pedals will cost around £100!!

Guy down the road from me has Specialized Allez Elite Road Bike, 2009 model i think. Very nice bike but probably out of my range.

Looking to visit some shops over the next few weeks to try some out and see what they suggest and what i like.

Any suggestions or information would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry forgot to say i would probably look to use the bike two or three times a week during the evening for about an hour or two and then a good couple hours once a weekend. May even try a trip to work and back (17mile one way). Will mostly stick to roads or good cycle paths. May venture into the lakes as i get stronger.

Cheers

Carl

 

[bauldbairn]

Welcome to the CC Forum and good luck with the road cycling.

I'm looking at the Boardmans myself - but my choice is between the Road Comp and the Hybrid Team(because I want hydraulic disc brakes).

 

[croutledge]

Yeah a few posts i've read in various places say the boardmans for the price usually have better shifters, etc then a similar priced bike from say Trek or Specialized. Not fully sure on all that as haven't had a road bike since they were called racers (very long time ago)

 

[croutledge]

Went to visit my local bike shop yesterday to get the low down and it was shut until the 29th..gutted.

 

[bauldbairn]

Went to visit my local bike shop yesterday to get the low down and it was shut until the 29th..gutted.

......unfortunately your Boardmans are only available from your local Halfords!

 

[croutledge]

......unfortunately your Boardmans are only available from your local Halfords!

Yeah i was then going to have a wonder to the local Halfords when i found the bike shop closed but it was a bit far as i needed to be somewhere. Will perhaps have to have a tour around this weekend coming. Still doing plenty of research but will probably only know for sure what i want/need when i call into a few shops.

Initially i think i would prefer a bike from a shop other than Halfords cause of after care, etc but some people do say the boardmans are pretty good for bang for buck.

 

[mcshroom]

Hi from another Cumbrian. Welcome to CC

 

[croutledge]

You must have edited your post as the e-mail i got had something slightly different. But it made me think so i checked back at some e-mails from last year about the scheme and they didn't have Halfords as a company they deal with. Looks like it probably won't be a Boardman then. Can't see them adding them this year.

 

[croutledge]

Well seeing as my company don't deal with Halfords i just have the Specialized Allez on my list. Can anybody recommend any others i should take a look at that are in my budget.

After reading around the one i linked to above gets good reviews but some say perhaps upgrading the gears, shifters, etc might be a good idea.

Any info greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Carl