Hardtail MTB - which one of these two?
Discussion
Halfrauds or Evans-frauds... I know, I know.
But which do you lot think presents the best buying prospect out of these two?
Boardman Mountain Bike Team: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Better frame and forks, more expensive.
Pinnacle Iroko One: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/iroko...
Better components (?), better value.
I'd like to be able to ride them back-to-back, but I have not done so yet, so what do you think presents the best spec for the £££?
But which do you lot think presents the best buying prospect out of these two?
Boardman Mountain Bike Team: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Better frame and forks, more expensive.
Pinnacle Iroko One: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/iroko...
Better components (?), better value.
I'd like to be able to ride them back-to-back, but I have not done so yet, so what do you think presents the best spec for the £££?
Interestingly the Boardman has 2x10 SRAM X7 setup, I'm not sure it's the sort of bike to warrant it, I'm sure it will have at least 90% of the range of the Pinnacle, just a bit different for an XC biased HT to have a 2x10. I can honestly say that I only used my big ring on my 3x9 for about 5mins and my granny ring once in a 2hr ride on Saturday, but there are rides I go on that have a good amount of road at the start/end and/or loads of short sharp climbs that warrant the 10% extra range.
Spec wise the Boardman shades it in my opinion, but the price on the Pinnacle (Evans own brand)is very good in today's market.
I'd buy neither and save a few more pennies for something better.
Spec wise the Boardman shades it in my opinion, but the price on the Pinnacle (Evans own brand)is very good in today's market.
I'd buy neither and save a few more pennies for something better.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 11th July 11:39
I prefer the Boardman, slightly longer fork and double ring set up suits my type of riding (mostly trail centres) also a 10sp set-up is more future proof if you intend to keep it a long time as the 9 speed stuff slowly disapears of the shelves, at least the mid /high spec stuff anyway.
P-Jay said:
I prefer the Boardman, slightly longer fork and double ring set up suits my type of riding (mostly trail centres) also a 10sp set-up is more future proof if you intend to keep it a long time as the 9 speed stuff slowly disapears of the shelves, at least the mid /high spec stuff anyway.
Actually, the 2x10 gearing is a big bonus, I didn't realise it had that until you pointed it out. I only need two chainrings on the road bike, and they are so easy to set up. It's the future!OneDs said:
Interestingly the Boardman has 2x10 SRAM X7 setup, I'm not sure it's the sort of bike to warrant it, I'm sure it will have at least 90% of the range of the Pinnacle, just a bit different for an XC biased HT to have a 2x10. I can honestly say that I only used my big ring on my 3x9 for about 5mins and my granny ring once in a 2hr ride on Saturday, but there are rides I go on that have a good amount of road at the start/end and/or loads of short sharp climbs that warrant the 10% extra range.
Spec wise the Boardman shades it in my opinion, but the price on the Pinnacle (Evans own brand)is very good in today's market.
I'd buy neither and save a few more pennies for something better.
It's always temping to spend a few quid more... but I also fancy a new road bike, so I have to draw the line somewhere! My mountain bike needs to present decent value. By that, I don't mean "cheap" I mean a lot for the money!Spec wise the Boardman shades it in my opinion, but the price on the Pinnacle (Evans own brand)is very good in today's market.
I'd buy neither and save a few more pennies for something better.
Mr Gear said:
It's always temping to spend a few quid more... but I also fancy a new road bike, so I have to draw the line somewhere! My mountain bike needs to present decent value. By that, I don't mean "cheap" I mean a lot for the money!
I know exactly what you mean, there's some good value in those two, I'm not sold on the Boardman or Pinnacle frames TBH but you can't argue with specs at that price, and if the 2x10 suits your riding profile then that's a plus.I want to say Boardman but the fact that you can only get them in Halfords I steer clear. They're a nightmare to deal with.
I've got a Bardman Comp and I love the bike, but Halfords put a massive shadow over it. I guess if you just got it sent to you and had it setup else where and forget the warranty and pay for stuff / fix it yourself when it goes wrong then it shouldn't put you off....
2x10 - What do you lose out on this??? Are the 2 rings in-between the normal 3 rings.
I've got a Bardman Comp and I love the bike, but Halfords put a massive shadow over it. I guess if you just got it sent to you and had it setup else where and forget the warranty and pay for stuff / fix it yourself when it goes wrong then it shouldn't put you off....
2x10 - What do you lose out on this??? Are the 2 rings in-between the normal 3 rings.
SteveS Cup said:
I want to say Boardman but the fact that you can only get them in Halfords I steer clear. They're a nightmare to deal with.
I've got a Bardman Comp and I love the bike, but Halfords put a massive shadow over it. I guess if you just got it sent to you and had it setup else where and forget the warranty and pay for stuff / fix it yourself when it goes wrong then it shouldn't put you off....
2x10 - What do you lose out on this??? Are the 2 rings in-between the normal 3 rings.
There is a dedicated "Bike Hut" near me, which is a cut above the usual Halfords alloy-wheel merchants to be fair.I've got a Bardman Comp and I love the bike, but Halfords put a massive shadow over it. I guess if you just got it sent to you and had it setup else where and forget the warranty and pay for stuff / fix it yourself when it goes wrong then it shouldn't put you off....
2x10 - What do you lose out on this??? Are the 2 rings in-between the normal 3 rings.
With a 2x10, there's no reason why you should lose any gearing range in theory. You have the two chainrings somewhere between the top and bottom rings on a 3-ring setup, and then you have a slightly larger and a slightly smaller sprocket on the cassette.
The cassette does all the work.
Depends on what your used to.
My 3x9 is 11-34 on the back and 22-32-44 on the front giving a 0.64 wheel turns per pedal stroke on the easiest to 4 rotations per pedal stroke on the hardest.
The SRAM 2x10 set up is 42/28 or 39/26 and probably a 11-36 cassette
So you get with the 42/28
42:11 = 3.81
28:36 = 0.77
With the 39/26
39:11 = 3.54
26:36 = 0.72
Like I said I feel I need the extra length on the top & bottom end, however if I mainly did trail centers or lived in flattish area (not that there are any real mountains round here) I would go for a 2x10.
Conversely the Shimano 3x10 set ups 42-32-24 with the 11-36 cassette gives
42:11 = 3.81
24:36 = 0.66
Which is also less range than the standard 3x9 set-up!
I should also mention that gear set-up should not be totally dominated by range either although that is a key piece of information, but also fit in with how you ride (cadence/power)and where you ride. Being in the right gear at the right time is very important and to have the choice of closer ratios in middle of the range and/or not having to change the front ring under heavy load is a definite benefit for nearly 95-99% of your riding.
My 3x9 is 11-34 on the back and 22-32-44 on the front giving a 0.64 wheel turns per pedal stroke on the easiest to 4 rotations per pedal stroke on the hardest.
The SRAM 2x10 set up is 42/28 or 39/26 and probably a 11-36 cassette
So you get with the 42/28
42:11 = 3.81
28:36 = 0.77
With the 39/26
39:11 = 3.54
26:36 = 0.72
Like I said I feel I need the extra length on the top & bottom end, however if I mainly did trail centers or lived in flattish area (not that there are any real mountains round here) I would go for a 2x10.
Conversely the Shimano 3x10 set ups 42-32-24 with the 11-36 cassette gives
42:11 = 3.81
24:36 = 0.66
Which is also less range than the standard 3x9 set-up!
I should also mention that gear set-up should not be totally dominated by range either although that is a key piece of information, but also fit in with how you ride (cadence/power)and where you ride. Being in the right gear at the right time is very important and to have the choice of closer ratios in middle of the range and/or not having to change the front ring under heavy load is a definite benefit for nearly 95-99% of your riding.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 11th July 16:54
I wouldn't touch the Boardman.
I bought one almost 2 years ago. A Comp FS or something. Full sus £899.
The magazine reviews praised it for the price/spec.
I bought it unseen as my local Halfords couldn't get one in for me to look at!
When it arrived I took it for a spin. It jumped out of gear almost causing a plum/top tube interface.
Not just that but, the square toptube itself, was not formed correctly. It was neither square nor diamond in its position. Sort of 30 degrees from horizontal, if that makes sense!?
Anyway I rang and complained and they said "take it for gear adjustment at your local shop". I said "I shouldn't have to take a new bike that's just come off your delivery truck back to the local shop in my car. Especially since said shop couldn't get the bike in for me to view before parting with £900".
I was refunded and they collected bike.
Halfords..... Never again!!
Didn't replace it. Was looking to get back into cycling after a 15 year break, since I was 15 actually.
Ironically, I now do 13 miles a day on a halfords Apollo, that I scrounged off the girlfriend. It's a mans bike though.
I'm hoping by doing loads of miles on it, if I do move up to something decent, I'll appreciate the new bike even more...
Anyway, sorry for the thread hijack but I would say do everything you can to not deal with Halfords.
I bought one almost 2 years ago. A Comp FS or something. Full sus £899.
The magazine reviews praised it for the price/spec.
I bought it unseen as my local Halfords couldn't get one in for me to look at!
When it arrived I took it for a spin. It jumped out of gear almost causing a plum/top tube interface.
Not just that but, the square toptube itself, was not formed correctly. It was neither square nor diamond in its position. Sort of 30 degrees from horizontal, if that makes sense!?
Anyway I rang and complained and they said "take it for gear adjustment at your local shop". I said "I shouldn't have to take a new bike that's just come off your delivery truck back to the local shop in my car. Especially since said shop couldn't get the bike in for me to view before parting with £900".
I was refunded and they collected bike.
Halfords..... Never again!!
Didn't replace it. Was looking to get back into cycling after a 15 year break, since I was 15 actually.
Ironically, I now do 13 miles a day on a halfords Apollo, that I scrounged off the girlfriend. It's a mans bike though.
I'm hoping by doing loads of miles on it, if I do move up to something decent, I'll appreciate the new bike even more...
Anyway, sorry for the thread hijack but I would say do everything you can to not deal with Halfords.
i always think its fair to add my experience of halfords and my boardman to these arguments, bought it boxed online, got it delivered to the store, boxed, took it home, put the bars on the stem, greased and tightened the bolts, rode it without an issue for 1000+ miles. minimum halfords conntact, great product. putting a bike together is not hard, 95% of it is done for you, normally you just have to but the pedals and bars on which are removed for ease of transport.
no bike will ever have perfectly set up gears (unless we're talking di2) the day you buy it due to cables stretching. i'm surprised the frame as you describe it made it past QC, these are not welded together in the slums of shanghai but the same factory as some other big name brands.
anyway, i would get a genesis core or a charge duster instead.
no bike will ever have perfectly set up gears (unless we're talking di2) the day you buy it due to cables stretching. i'm surprised the frame as you describe it made it past QC, these are not welded together in the slums of shanghai but the same factory as some other big name brands.
anyway, i would get a genesis core or a charge duster instead.
I'm pleased you've had a good experience with yours Pablo. That's exactly what I'd hoped for when ordering mine.
I was probably a bit hasty rejecting it for the gears. An avid cyclist mate of mine said exactly what you've just said about all gears needing tweaking. I rang him before I rang Halfords to return it and he was prepared to come straight round and sort the gears but, that toptube issue was just shoddy.
I'd love to know where that bike is now and if anyone ever accepted it!
I may have been expecting too much, having been out of biking since high school. I just thought that since I was paying more for a bike than I have for some cars, that I would be bowled over by the Boardman but, it was just underwhelming.
I do agree though that the weak link isn't the product (usually) as the bikes receive rave reviews in all the cycling press. It's the people you have to deal with to get one. I'm not that handy and remember completely stuffing my deraileur (can't spell it!) up when I was younger whilst trying to fine tune it, so I think I'll stick to my LBS in future until I'm upto speed with cycle maintenance.
I was probably a bit hasty rejecting it for the gears. An avid cyclist mate of mine said exactly what you've just said about all gears needing tweaking. I rang him before I rang Halfords to return it and he was prepared to come straight round and sort the gears but, that toptube issue was just shoddy.
I'd love to know where that bike is now and if anyone ever accepted it!
I may have been expecting too much, having been out of biking since high school. I just thought that since I was paying more for a bike than I have for some cars, that I would be bowled over by the Boardman but, it was just underwhelming.
I do agree though that the weak link isn't the product (usually) as the bikes receive rave reviews in all the cycling press. It's the people you have to deal with to get one. I'm not that handy and remember completely stuffing my deraileur (can't spell it!) up when I was younger whilst trying to fine tune it, so I think I'll stick to my LBS in future until I'm upto speed with cycle maintenance.
I would take a look at Canyon, e.g.
http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/series/yel...
or
http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?...
http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/series/yel...
or
http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?...
pablo said:
there are loads of bike maintenance books out there, i just found one with big colour pictures, not only will you save yourself the money but its worth knowing the basics should anything happen when you are out on the road and a few miles from home...
Last time I needed to index gears after wrecking and then changing a rear mech, I found a great video tutorial online. Beats books in my opinion. And I have never, and will never take a bike to Halfords for repair. 99% of stuff I can do myself, and 1% of stuff that I can't fix myself, I have a willing and capable local shop who work to the highest standards. They can't sell me the sort of bike I want, but they will willingly repair it for me whatever make or model.
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