New bikes unveiled at Cycle Show from Boardman

[J1888]

Good lord, that flat bar commuter is gorgeous.

http://road.cc/content/tech-news/229848-boardman-unveil-new-urb-and-asr-commuter-bikes

Didn't even know you could get Di2 Alfine.

I WANT IT NOW.

What do you all think?

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I'm wondering why Di2 Alfine (at all).

...don't tell me. Because Shimano!

 

[J1888]

I wasn't impressed with the Boardman offerings.

I fell in lust with the Van Nicholas Deveron...

View attachment 375607 View attachment 375608

I love that Boardman hybrid (from the internet pictures anyway).

That Van Nicholas looks lovely...but at nearly £6k, you'd want to be a serious bike-trekker to make use of it

 

[uphillstruggler]

as @Dogtrousers, i'm also drawn to the ASR, but my Equilibrium 20 is very similar although I like the idea of the discs on this machine.

 

[Crackle]

I don't like that Boardman at all. Seat stays should join the top tube, square tubing has no place next to round tubes and those forks are far too muscular. Not keen on that deformity at the top of the downtube either. But hey......we all like different things.

 

[BurningLegs]

Has anyone seen Boardman's new URB model for 2018?

I think they look fantastic. They're not perfect for me (flat bars and I'm happy with the bike I have) but would love to see one in the flesh and take it for a spin.

This is the top end model, it comes in at £2k but has electronic hub gears and Shimano hydraulic brakes so pretty well kitted out! The range starts at £699 for a 1x11 SRAM drivetrain and hydraulic brakes which seems like good value to me.

Full details here:
http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/p...leases-range-great-looking-urban-bikes-352159

 

[Cycleops]

Well spotted. I like the new steel frame bikes.

 

[vickster]

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/new-bikes-unveiled-at-cycle-show-from-boardman.224312/

 

[BurningLegs]

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/new-bikes-unveiled-at-cycle-show-from-boardman.224312/

Hmm, that thread didn't appear when I did a search for 'Boardman'. Oh well - interested to hear what people think about the urban/commuting bike in particular.

Does anyone here already commute on hub gears, are they an improvement over a traditional chain/derailleur arrangement? What differences are there in the ride, if any?

 

[vickster]

Rear stays look weird, not for me aesthetically. Like the colour though (although a more metallic copper colour would be perfect )

 

[confusedcyclist]

My brother's 2017 boardman hybrid team bike didn't have eyelets for both pannier rack and guards which I thought was very odd for a frame being angled at commuters, this line looks to have addressed that.

I'm not sure if this replaces the hybrid range, or is an additional line? I agree, it's pleasing on the eye, I like the idea of the low maintenance belt drives and hub gears too. But it's far too expensive for a commuter bike after you factor in the greater cost of replacement parts for the belt drive, not to mention the specialised labour that goes into wheel building to replace hub gear systems.

Someone who does limited, irregular milage with deep pockets might disagree though, would be perfect for them. Ride and forget. For my 4000 miles/ year in all weather, the new drive chain might just be more trouble than it's worth. If money were no object, and the wife wanted a hassle free bicycle for the occasional pootle, I'd point her toward one of these belt drive/hub gear systems. I might experiment with hub gears with my next build a few years down the line.

 

[confusedcyclist]

This looks to be a cracking (cheaper) alternative:
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/urban/commuter/commuter-6.html

Frame not quite as purdy though

 

[mjr]

Does anyone here already commute on hub gears, are they an improvement over a traditional chain/derailleur arrangement? What differences are there in the ride, if any?

I've a couple of 3-speeds and I've ridden various others, although only a very brief go with a Rohloff. Hub gears are a massive improvement for urban use over a traditional chain/derailleur arrangement IMO, with reduced maintenance (although it's different maintenance, too - refilling the hub with lubricant in my case, rather than brushing shoot off exposed cogs), a sturdier chain (and the pictured bike has a belt drive which should be even stronger and need even less maintenance, although more expensive when it does finally need replacement) and that chain/belt being held up further away from road shoot.

The ride differences mainly come from gear range/spacing selection and a slight improvement in efficiency over a typical dirty derailleur in commuter use. There's also near-silence in use when it's set up correctly - there are no jockey wheels chattering away, for example - just some pawls clicking over as they hold certain gears open, which like freehubs varies, from fairly loud ticking in top gear on the famous SA AW 3-speed hubs to pretty quiet on Rohloffs. It can make for a more tranquil and meditative ride IMO, as well as helping you hear small noises like loose-bolt rack rattling that it's good to fix before it becomes a problem.

My brother's 2017 boardman hybrid team bike didn't have eyelets for both pannier rack and guards which I thought was very odd for a frame being angled at commuters, this line looks to have addressed that.

Eyelets? If it's a serious commuter, it should be supplied with them, hub dynamo and lights, but I guess that would add maybe £60 which they would rather shave off the price, so you have to spend £80+ to fix their omission

 

[mjr]

Sorry, I forgot another really big help of hub gears for urban cycling because I almost take it for granted: standing shift. No more remembering to shift when braking for short-notice stops, or getting left in a high gear if you don't - just take the pressure off the pedals (don't backpedal while shifting - most modern hub gears don't react well to that) and shift into the gear you want while not moving.

I have friction levers on most of my derailleur bikes which reduces the problem of stopping in high gear because I can overshift to force the gear change at low cadence with low pressure after starting off by scooting, but it's still a heck of a lot easier not to need to do that at all!

 

[mjr]

[QUOTE 4977020, member: 45"]I'm due for C2W in January. I was looking for a quick, flat-bar commuter with a hub gear. I think that I may have found it in that orange one.[/QUOTE]
Can anyone explain to me what's the attraction of flat bars? Wouldn't North Roads be more comfortable for commuting? But hey, that's not current fashion and whoever lets comfort get in the way of fashion?