Thoughts?

[black'n'yellow]

I think the clue was in my first sentence...

so, just to be clear - you were picking out random parts to criticise, without having any specific knowledge of them..? That's useful..

 

[Mike5537]

I'm with you now black and yellow, thought it was a random dig which took me back a bit, damn forums unable to convey tone!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Ethan]

Does this bike come in black at all?
I know its a silly little thing, but I'm really not a fan of the white and yellow!

 

[lejogger]

Does this bike come in black at all?
I know its a silly little thing, but I'm really not a fan of the white and yellow!

Only if you go up to the carbon model... the Team is grey.
Prices have all come down. I know someone who got the carbon for £1k instead of £1.3k. Seeing as he's a consultant and got it on the C2W scheme, all in all it will cost him £580.

FWIW, I quite like the white.

 

[black'n'yellow]

Does this bike come in black at all?
I know its a silly little thing, but I'm really not a fan of the white and yellow!

white is faster than black...

 

[Ethan]

white is faster than black...

Ahh! So that's why its white!
But my current bike is red, so white or black - It's going to be a bit of a slow down

Only if you go up to the carbon model... the Team is grey.
Prices have all come down. I know someone who got the carbon for £1k instead of £1.3k. Seeing as he's a consultant and got it on the C2W scheme, all in all it will cost him £580.

FWIW, I quite like the white.

Thats dirt cheap! Lucky man!
I almost got a second hand team carbon in great condition for £700, doesn't seem like the deal I thought it was comparing it to that

 

[cyberknight]

got it on the C2W scheme, all in all it will cost him £580.

Mine cost that for the white comp but i`m a poor basic tax payer ....
Some people might be knocking the bike but for the price we are talking about your not going to get a much better deal, if someone knows a better bike for the price please let us know so that we can know what to look for next time rather than just saying "its crap ".

I just did a search and seems there have been a few problems with bb30 fsa cranksets so its lucky that the comp uses the non bb30 version, not had any problems with mine in a years worth of riding and after using the chain for 9 months it was still under.75 wear when i changed the cassette + chain for a closer ratio block.

 

[400bhp]

I think the clue was in my first sentence...

So, playing devil's advocate to you means arguing with no substance?

 

[lejogger]

I just did a search and seems there have been a few problems with bb30 fsa cranksets so its lucky that the comp uses the non bb30 version, not had any problems with mine in a years worth of riding and after using the chain for 9 months it was still under.75 wear when i changed the cassette + chain for a closer ratio block.

Yes, there was an issue. My bottom bracket needed regreasing after 1,500 miles or so. Halfords did it without quibble and it's been fine since.

 

[HLaB]

I think Sram is better than shimano (at least their cassettes), for me their cassettes seems to last better; my last SRAM cassette got circa 4000 winter miles and when I replaced the chain, no skip, it still going; and they seem to do better ratios too, I replaced my 105 12-25 with a Sram 11-26 marginally faster at the top end and marginally easier at the low end. From the peer reviews I've heard on overall SRAM groupsets I'd have no qualms with it. The Boardman bikes are supposed to be quality too, put together by muppets usually but quality bikes.

 

[cyberknight]

The Boardman bikes are supposed to be quality too, put together by muppets usually but quality bikes.

From what i read ,probably here at some point they only let the qualified muppets and not the muppets who might sell you a spark plug touch them, if thats any consolation

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Am I being a bit thick, but aren't all calipers essentially doing the same job? I.e. applying pressure from a cable dependant upon the amount of force that the user applies to the lever? Doesn't the difference come down to the pads used?

There is a difference, I have tektro on my fixed and rival on my geared bike, the rival is noticeably a better stopper than the tektro, the rival always feels like its biting harder, both bikes are fitted with Koolstop Salmons and both brakes are capable of having the back of the bike in the air during an emergency stop.

 

[Mike Alexander]

I'm also looking at a Boardman Comp, but a couple of LBSs I've spoken to have had nothing but bad things to say about SRAM kit. They both suggested that Shimano is better, but in this price range (c. £600) you'll get 2300 or Sora if you're lucky. Anyone have any real experience with Sora versus Apex (I have 2300 on my current bike)?

For me, I like the Boarman Comp because:

1. The 50/34 and 11-32 gear ratio range, particularly the 34:32 lowest gear (I'm carrying a lot of "bodily ballast", so I struggle on some climbs with my current 36:25 lowest gear).
2. The frame looks good, particularly the smooth welds. Not sure white will make me any faster though...
3. The price! Currently "on sale" for £630 (Halfords almost always have a sale!), but also an extra £40 off if you buy online until the end of Wednesday this week (18 July 2012).

My main hesitation at the moment is that I'd save even more if I purchased it through a cycle to work scheme. The problem is that my employer is currently signed up to Cyclescheme, which doesn't allow bikes to be purchased from Halfords (presumably because Halfords operate their own scheme). In looking at compatible bikes at Cyclescheme LBSs, I can't find anything the a spec like the Boardman Comp for around the same price. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[lejogger]

....I can't find anything with a spec like the Boardman Comp for around the same price....

This seems to be a common problem.

I have Apex on my Boardman CX. It's a really good groupset. Admittedly it doesn't shift as smoothly as the Rival on my Team carbon but it's still very good. A large reason why it feels more clunky is probably due to the 11-32 cassette - it's obviously not going to shift as smoothly as a through block.
If you're struggling on hills it will really help. I can get up anything even with full touring kit on. The double tap will take a little getting used to if you're coming from Shimano, but it will soon become second nature.
The reviews I read when reading up on Apex seemed to think that it's a better quality gruppo than entry level Shimano and that it shouldn't really be considered SRAM's entry level version of a standard group set. Rather it's in a class of it's own as a feasible alternative to a triple chain ring.

It might be worth joining British Cycling. If you go to the Garmin Edge 200 thread in here from a couple of weeks ago there's a code to get it for a tenner, and as well as the benefits that brings I believe you also get 10% off at Halfords with your membership number. I presume this is applicable to all goods in store - it's worth asking the question for potentially another £50 off.

 

[Mike Alexander]

Thanks @lejogger. I couldn't find the thread you mentioned with British Cycling membership for £10; maybe I used the wrong search terms. It does appear that membership will get you 10% off at Halfords, so definitely worth considering.