Can you really beat a Boardman in terms of VFM?

[pincher]

As I *may* be chopping in my hybrid for a proper road bike (albeit at the lower end of the price scale), I started to have a look around at what was available for the kind of money I want to spend (approx £1k) and so far, I'm having a hard time looking past a Boardman Road Team at £900 for value for money. I'm unlikely to set any KOM records (unless I create a segment that is 3 laps of my back garden )so I don't think I need to spend oodles as it would be wasted on me.

I quite like the look of the Planet X though and it seems quite well specced - I'm just a bit worried about buying sight unseen and it not fitting properly (I'm about 6'1" or 6'2" with a 33" inside leg and a shade under 100kgs). The fact that it is a carbon frame makes it quite attractive but I'm unlikely to notice the difference in all probability.

Saw the Orbea in my local Cycle Surgery but haven't tried it for size though.

So, which of these offers the best all-round package?

Boardman

Planet X

Orbea

Happy to consider any other potentials at this price point too.

[S6PNJ]

I'm considering similar (Planet X). Do you know of the Triathlon shop in St.Albans that sells Planet X kit? You could make the (shorter) trek there and see how the sizing goes? I'm probably going to drop by on Friday is I can make my days 'timetable' work, though I'll probably end up going to Sheffield to buy the bike if it suits me as I'll probably go for the Retul fit at the same time.

If you want the Boardman, The 10% discount ends today but if you join British Cycling you can get 10% off as well. My employer also does a 7% discount on gift vouchers so that might be another option available to you to help get the price down.

[Engineer1]

The Decathlon stuff gets good reviews but I don't think it has quite the spread of models the Boardman range does.

[anonymous-user]

Buying a bike unseen is easy, do some research on sizing based on various websites and you should be able to identify what will fit. Magazines like cycling active always have bike fitting features and there is loads on manufacturers/shop websites. Given your size, you should be able to get comfy on most 57 or 58 cm frames with minor repositioning of stem and saddle.

Planet X have a few shops nationwide, BikeScience are a dealer so its worth looking around or giving them a call. Also, given you are looking to spend £1k, is £50 in petrol and a day trip to Rotherham really too much hassle?

Boardman are good bikes, I had one for a few years when they first came out. It was very well designed and far better than anyone would believe.

As for alternatives, this Ridley Brontes is good spec for the money leaving some spare cash for other bits and bobs you might need but....


...I found a Focus Culebro has Shimano Ultegra throughout, 58cm frames are available and is a complete steal at £999. The 105 version is £899 if you wanted to save some cash for shoes etc.

[CaptainSlow]

S6PNJ said:

If you want the Boardman, The 10% discount ends today but if you join British Cycling you can get 10% off as well.

You'll be able to combine the discounts too...so buy at 81% of normal RRP. Look for a London Cyclists discount too for 50% off your British Cycling membership.

You can chose to reserve the bike at 10% off then take your BC discount to the store to get the other discount. I did this on my Virago.

[pincher]

S6PNJ said:

I'm considering similar (Planet X). Do you know of the Triathlon shop in St.Albans that sells Planet X kit? You could make the (shorter) trek there and see how the sizing goes?

I'm so early in the search process that I didn't know that Planet X were available other than online! As it happens, I will be in St. Albans next Saturday visiting some of the wife's relatives, so will try and get a quick visit in.

pablo said:

Buying a bike unseen is easy, do some research on sizing based on various websites and you should be able to identify what will fit. Magazines like cycling active always have bike fitting features and there is loads on manufacturers/shop websites. Given your size, you should be able to get comfy on most 57 or 58 cm frames with minor repositioning of stem and saddle.

Planet X have a few shops nationwide, BikeScience are a dealer so its worth looking around or giving them a call. Also, given you are looking to spend £1k, is £50 in petrol and a day trip to Rotherham really too much hassle?

Boardman are good bikes, I had one for a few years when they first came out. It was very well designed and far better than anyone would believe.

As for alternatives, this Ridley Brontes is good spec for the money leaving some spare cash for other bits and bobs you might need but....


...I found a Focus Culebro has Shimano Ultegra throughout, 58cm frames are available and is a complete steal at £999. The 105 version is £899 if you wanted to save some cash for shoes etc.

Good idea on the magazines, thanks.

My Sirrus Sport is an XL (58cm), so I'm reasonably confident that a similar sized road bike should be ok but it's always good to try before you buy.

That Focus is nice - will take a closer look at that one.

CaptainSlow said:

You'll be able to combine the discounts too...so buy at 81% of normal RRP. Look for a London Cyclists discount too for 50% off your British Cycling membership.

You can chose to reserve the bike at 10% off then take your BC discount to the store to get the other discount. I did this on my Virago.

Good advice - thanks

[skahigh]

I have a Boardman Hybrid Team and it is absolutely brilliant, really light and fast.

I came from a no name brand hardtail MTB though so I have no basis of reference.

I can't offer anything more useful than that, sorry.

[S6PNJ]

CaptainSlow said:

Look for a London Cyclists discount too for 50% off your British Cycling membership.

That's a good shout, thanks! I can only find a TFL discount which takes the £28 membership to £23.33 (£4.67 discount). Is there another one at 50% somewhere that I haven't yet found?

[aspender]

pincher said:

S6PNJ said:

I'm considering similar (Planet X). Do you know of the Triathlon shop in St.Albans that sells Planet X kit? You could make the (shorter) trek there and see how the sizing goes?

I'm so early in the search process that I didn't know that Planet X were available other than online! As it happens, I will be in St. Albans next Saturday visiting some of the wife's relatives, so will try and get a quick visit in.

Don't get too excited. They only have a few representative models on display, no real stock. All they do is size you up (they do have a bike fitting jig) and then effectively order off the website. It is primarily a tri shop so most of the display bikes are TT frames, with one or two road frames (XS size when I was last in there a few weeks ago)

That being said, the guy that runs the shop is a nice bloke and you do get to see a few bikes in the flesh. Just don't expect to have one your size, spec and be able to ride it.

[MadeinWigan]

I'm in the same position as you OP, i'll throw this one into the mix from Merlin as it caught my eye.

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-b...

[CaptainSlow]

S6PNJ said:

That's a good shout, thanks! I can only find a TFL discount which takes the £28 membership to £23.33 (£4.67 discount). Is there another one at 50% somewhere that I haven't yet found?

OK apologies, maybe there were too many people taking advantage. I got last year's membership for £12 (from £24).

[nammynake]

VERY good frame, decent wheels, excellent groupset and pretty light (7.7kg) for £1200:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=30...

[TheGreatSoprendo]

nammynake said:

VERY good frame, decent wheels, excellent groupset and pretty light (7.7kg) for £1200:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=30...

Or a little more in budget:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=30...

[pincher]

MadeinWigan said:

I'm in the same position as you OP, i'll throw this one into the mix from Merlin as it caught my eye.

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-b...

Looks good but only goes up to a 56cm frame which I suspect made be just a tad too small.

nammynake said:

VERY good frame, decent wheels, excellent groupset and pretty light (7.7kg) for £1200:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=30...

Looks fantastic - can you wangle me 20% off?

Edited by pincher on Tuesday 28th May 20:37

[HurryUpAndWait]

nammynake said:

VERY good frame, decent wheels, excellent groupset and pretty light (7.7kg) for £1200:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=30...

Epic VFM.

[aberdeeneuan]

I have an orbea onix, 2010 spec. It's my first proper road bike but since added a trek 7.5 fx for commuting.

Had no issues with the orbea at all, fast, comfortable, looks great. It also unusual (at least in this country) which appealed a bit as well.

In saying all that, I'm looking at that canyon with man maths going on in my head!

[Clio200pat]

Ribble, I've just bought one with an Ultegra groupset and I'm really impressed.

[GTO-3R]

I was in the same position last year and searched for some time. I was about to pull the trigger on a Boardman when I went in to my LBS. He sells Cube's mainly and I ended up haggling him down to £1k for an Agree GTC Pro, which was a saving of about £500. Don't be afraid to ask for a good deal!!!

[Jayfish]

Throwing a left field option at you, Moda Echo, hi-modus carbon and a £300 American Classic Victory Wheelset, hung with Microshift gearing rather than big three and in house Barelli brakes, stem and bars.

The focus on high quality frame and wheels is imo great at this price.

[PHmember]

Have a look at Cube stuff.