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prawny
Joined: 26 Nov 2008
Posts: 1677
Location: Cannock Chase
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andyrr
Joined: 07 Jul 2007
Posts: 201
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 Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 8:52 am |
The C2W scheme, even if administered through Halfords may well not limit you to the brands that they stock - our company operates this and Halfords are the chosen shop but I phoned our HR dept and was told that other brands, inc Cannondale etc were available.
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velorazzi
Joined: 11 Sep 2006
Posts: 35
Location: Yorkshire
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:32 am |
I think that's correct andy, A friend of mine is buying from Halfords via the cycle to work scheme. He says they can more or less order what he wants - it doesn't have to be a stock bike. Maybe that's just the larger stores though.
I like the Boardmans, but I got a second-hand Pinarello off Ebay* (risky!!) for less than £500 quid. Virtually brand new with mostly new components. It had only had a couple of hundred miles put though it ...Miles better than a Boardman, though, not on cycle to work.
*Yes, I did check out the seller beforehand - very reputable bike shop and a very nice chap also.
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Marin Maniac
Joined: 18 Mar 2009
Posts: 28
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:38 am |
Boardman this, Boardman that. Blah Blah blah. I'd be interested to know if all the people that slate Boardman bikes, have they actually ridden one?
Probably not. If they had, it would be interesting to see what their opinion would be compared to their own, more expensive snob value brand.
With regards to the 'I'm not interested in the Team Carbon because I think the carbon weave is inconsistent' give me a break please.
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porker33
Joined: 06 Sep 2009
Posts: 38
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 10:03 am |
| Marin Maniac wrote: |
With regards to the 'I'm not interested in the Team Carbon because I think the carbon weave is inconsistent' give me a break please. |
The point I made on the carbon weave, was the difference in apparent quality between 2 team carbon bikes both on display at the same time.
I appreciate the bikes are a good spec for the price, obviously costs have to be met,,,,when I asked the 18 year old Halfords bike specialist about the carbon, he didn't seem to know much about them.
As stated, many are happy with their bikes, but for me spending £1000 of my own, non cycle scheme cash, not being an expert on carbon, but having observed the variance in quality and unable to find a suitable response, I decided to look elsewhere.
Is this a service rather than quality isssue?
Having looked at cannondale, Pinarello and the Trek I ended up with, I was happier to purchase a machine with consistent quality and warranty.
I don't really feel I slated Boardmans, as I was keen to go and look into buying one, just because they are recomended on forums and the distribution process implies a tremendous demand, doesn't really work for me,,far happier to carry out due diligence and buy a machine that I feel suits me.
Enjoy your Boradmans and try not to take the views of others too seriously over your own experiences.
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daviesee
Joined: 17 May 2009
Posts: 319
Location: Ecosse
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rake
Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 195
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 3:41 pm |
i ride a team carbon boardman and honestly think its a £1500 bike for £1000. i also seen bikes costing double with similar spec and no lighter. i have no doubts about the frame it handles well and best of all seems nice and stiff including the forks and is also lightweight exactly as many reviews have said. i still like shimano but also think the sram is quality.the rival is said by many to be at least as good as ultegra and lighter. the cost savings come in the form of the outlet, the bare carbon finish (which i think looks beautiful) only in one colour and the 18 month model run instead of yearly. the frame is t700 carbon (dont know what that means) but i have seen treks and others made from t700.it also comes from the same mould as the pro t800 carbon exactly the same shape. i would say the frame is a strong point, oversized head tube and bottom bearing looks nice and makes the forks stiff and a very bulky bottom bracket area and large chainstays hold the crankset put when mashing up hills. i would recommend better bar tape. i put phat tape on mine with gel pads. also if the brakes arent too hot put koolstop dual compound cartridges in set slightly toe in and let them bed in for a week. mine stops quick sharp now. i say unbeatable at £1000.
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gregster10217
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
Posts: 75
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 8:07 am |
| rake wrote: | | i ride a team carbon boardman and honestly think its a £1500 bike for £1000. i also seen bikes costing double with similar spec and no lighter. i have no doubts about the frame it handles well and best of all seems nice and stiff including the forks and is also lightweight exactly as many reviews have said. i still like shimano but also think the sram is quality.the rival is said by many to be at least as good as ultegra and lighter. the cost savings come in the form of the outlet, the bare carbon finish (which i think looks beautiful) only in one colour and the 18 month model run instead of yearly. the frame is t700 carbon (dont know what that means) but i have seen treks and others made from t700.it also comes from the same mould as the pro t800 carbon exactly the same shape. i would say the frame is a strong point, oversized head tube and bottom bearing looks nice and makes the forks stiff and a very bulky bottom bracket area and large chainstays hold the crankset put when mashing up hills. i would recommend better bar tape. i put phat tape on mine with gel pads. also if the brakes arent too hot put koolstop dual compound cartridges in set slightly toe in and let them bed in for a week. mine stops quick sharp now. i say unbeatable at £1000. |
At last, someone who rides one with a review of the bike the OP was asking about.
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Gav888
Joined: 26 Oct 2008
Posts: 432
Location: Suffolk
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 1:03 pm |
Im in the same sort of boat as you, well nearly.... ive given myself roughly £1500 give or take a few £100 to buy another bike for Spring.
The Boardman Team Carbon is at the top of my list over some nice bikes because at the moment as I can get one for £600 on C2W which makes it a real bargain. The bike has loads of good reviews.
Other new bikes im considering are Giant TCR Advanced, Cannondale Synapse, Specialized Tarmac, Ribble Sportive, Boardman Pro Carbon. The Giant won bike of the year in Bike Radar..... but im still considering the Team Carbon over these despite the price differences.
At the end of the day you can buy alot of bike for £1000 these days and the Boardman is one of the best you can get for the money. It comes down to personal preference.
What I do today gets me closer to where I want to be tomorrow. |
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Yorkshiredoc
Joined: 11 Oct 2009
Posts: 4
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 2:32 pm |
| rake wrote: | | i ride a team carbon boardman and honestly think its a £1500 bike for £1000. i also seen bikes costing double with similar spec and no lighter. i have no doubts about the frame it handles well and best of all seems nice and stiff including the forks and is also lightweight exactly as many reviews have said. i still like shimano but also think the sram is quality.the rival is said by many to be at least as good as ultegra and lighter. the cost savings come in the form of the outlet, the bare carbon finish (which i think looks beautiful) only in one colour and the 18 month model run instead of yearly. the frame is t700 carbon (dont know what that means) but i have seen treks and others made from t700.it also comes from the same mould as the pro t800 carbon exactly the same shape. i would say the frame is a strong point, oversized head tube and bottom bearing looks nice and makes the forks stiff and a very bulky bottom bracket area and large chainstays hold the crankset put when mashing up hills. i would recommend better bar tape. i put phat tape on mine with gel pads. also if the brakes arent too hot put koolstop dual compound cartridges in set slightly toe in and let them bed in for a week. mine stops quick sharp now. i say unbeatable at £1000. |
I have to agree with you rake. I bought a Team Boardman after shortlisting the Focus Cayo, Planet X and the more expensive Kuota Kharma. My local Halfords set up the bike as well as my LBS would have done and it only needed a slight adjustment to the saddle. I like the quality of the finish (including the bar tape). The frame is stiff and responsive and, now I am used to them, love the SRAM gears (I have Shimano 105 on my old bike). I don't think the other bikes on my shortlist would have been better, and at least I could see the Boardman before purchase unlike the Focus and Planet X.
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Gazzaputt
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 714
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 4:13 pm |
| velorazzi wrote: |
I like the Boardmans, but I got a second-hand Pinarello off Ebay* (risky!!) for less than £500 quid. Virtually brand new with mostly new components. It had only had a couple of hundred miles put though it ...Miles better than a Boardman, though, not on cycle to work.
*Yes, I did check out the seller beforehand - very reputable bike shop and a very nice chap also. |
Had you ridden the Boardman to compare? I'd think a Boardman would give a cheaper Pinarello a run for its money.
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Jon8a
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 154
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 4:30 pm |
There are some good deals on at wiggle for the Cayo.
Think that's what I'm going for.
For £999 you get a planet x in a box of bits. Fine if you are happy to build it but if you are happy to build a bike you can give the boardman the once over yourself and get it running properly.
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