Boardman Urban 'team' MTB - Would Ya?
Boardman Urban 'team' MTB - Would Ya?
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V8Wagon

Original Poster:

1,707 posts

189 months

Sunday 10th June 2012
quotequote all
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

I am not after something for heavy duty off roading. I am pretty much gonna stick to the black stuff and want something fast, light and nimble.

What honestly do you reckon to this Boardman? It does get a good write up. I have been looking around for something used and keep coming back to spending 500-600 on a new one, as I can't see anything I like used at a price that's reasonable.

Any opinions, or other suggestions very very much appreciated!!

Ta

Edited by V8Wagon on Sunday 10th June 21:45

gradeA

651 posts

230 months

Sunday 10th June 2012
quotequote all
For that sort of use, and with £250 off - hell yeah!

Gizmoish

18,150 posts

238 months

Sunday 10th June 2012
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Probably not to be honest.

I don't really see the point of rigid MTBs these days: if you're going to be doing 'proper' off-roading (trails and treetrunks, rather than flat bridleways) a hardtail with front suspension is better (and not too much heaveier these days). If you're going to be mostly on-road or on bridleways, a CX bike is lighter and faster; and if you don't want drops there are all shapes and sizes of hybrids, e.g. http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/cube-sl-cross-bike-...


V8Wagon

Original Poster:

1,707 posts

189 months

Sunday 10th June 2012
quotequote all
Gizmoish said:
Probably not to be honest.

I don't really see the point of rigid MTBs these days: if you're going to be doing 'proper' off-roading (trails and treetrunks, rather than flat bridleways) a hardtail with front suspension is better (and not too much heaveier these days). If you're going to be mostly on-road or on bridleways, a CX bike is lighter and faster; and if you don't want drops there are all shapes and sizes of hybrids, e.g. http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/cube-sl-cross-bike-...
Ooof! Cracking looking bike is that! Similar weight to the Boardman......no hydraulic discs which tbh, I quite like!

Very very nice looking machine though....and thanks! Your the first person to actually suggest an alternative. I deffo don't want a suspension MTB.

gradeA

651 posts

230 months

Sunday 10th June 2012
quotequote all
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mount...

Considering BikeRadar/WhatMountainBike gave it 4.5/5 when it was priced at £850 and it's now down to £600...

The spec is far in excess of anything else you'll get for the same money, and won't be half as versatile.

"Still, this is a superb high-speed commuter that can handle more than you might think in off-road environments....A tyre swap is all it takes to turn the Boardman into a thoroughbred. Big tyres and the fat carbon fork take the edge off shocks to a point where with 2.25in treads we only felt the need for a suspension fork when the trails presented a succession of ruts, roots and rocks."

I've found slick-tyred rigid MTBs far better for commuting than hybrids, and with just a swap of tyres you've got a proper off-road bike.

EDIT: The spec on that Cube is rubbish compared to the Boardman tbqfh - the Boardman doesn't even have cheap disc brakes just to have hydraulic discs, it's got Elixir 3s! Mavic rims and an X7 groupset (equivalent to Shimano's SLX) means it's ridiculous value. I'm working out how to get £600 to get one myself now...

Edited by gradeA on Sunday 10th June 22:04

V8Wagon

Original Poster:

1,707 posts

189 months

Sunday 10th June 2012
quotequote all
gradeA said:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mount...

Considering BikeRadar/WhatMountainBike gave it 4.5/5 when it was priced at £850 and it's now down to £600...

The spec is far in excess of anything else you'll get for the same money, and won't be half as versatile.

"Still, this is a superb high-speed commuter that can handle more than you might think in off-road environments....A tyre swap is all it takes to turn the Boardman into a thoroughbred. Big tyres and the fat carbon fork take the edge off shocks to a point where with 2.25in treads we only felt the need for a suspension fork when the trails presented a succession of ruts, roots and rocks."

I've found slick-tyred rigid MTBs far better for commuting than hybrids, and with just a swap of tyres you've got a proper off-road bike.

EDIT: The spec on that Cube is rubbish compared to the Boardman tbqfh - the Boardman doesn't even have cheap disc brakes just to have hydraulic discs, it's got Elixir 3s! Mavic rims and an X7 groupset (equivalent to Shimano's SLX) means it's ridiculous value. I'm working out how to get £600 to get one myself now...

Edited by gradeA on Sunday 10th June 22:04
Thanks mate. The CUBE did momentarily dazzle me as it is a damn fine looking bike!

Anyways..............I've committed and I'm picking up the Boardman tomorrow! lick

996 sps

6,165 posts

245 months

Monday 11th June 2012
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Good decision, cracking bikes wish they were that price last year I'd have had one.

PeteSV

54 posts

192 months

Monday 11th June 2012
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Good decision. A friend's just bought one. Mighty spec for 600! He's doing a few tracks, towpath, parks and a bit of road. Didnt need to be carrying heavy suspension forks. For the spec and weight nothing else came close. It gave him the comfort of the flat bats, decent brakes and with both narrow and wide mtb tyres at his disposal it really is a versatile machine.


gradeA

651 posts

230 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
Good work - post up opinions once you've got it!

Always bear in mind that it's just the Team MTB with carbon forks and slick tyres, so if you wanted to stick a suspension fork on it at a later date all you'd need is a tapered steerer QR-lower fork like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rockshox-Recon-Gold-TK-F...
and some proper offroad tyres and you've got a decent proper hardtail MTB.

V8Wagon

Original Poster:

1,707 posts

189 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
gradeA said:
Good work - post up opinions once you've got it!

Always bear in mind that it's just the Team MTB with carbon forks and slick tyres, so if you wanted to stick a suspension fork on it at a later date all you'd need is a tapered steerer QR-lower fork like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rockshox-Recon-Gold-TK-F...
and some proper offroad tyres and you've got a decent proper hardtail MTB.
Will do! I couldn't get to the store today due to the damn weather. Yeh, I'll keep my eyes open for a decent but cheap fork.