What bike ? - Boardman CX Team or CX Comp PLUS road bike?
What bike ? - Boardman CX Team or CX Comp PLUS road bike?
Author
Discussion

mie1972

Original Poster:

192 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th March 2014
quotequote all
Going to order a Boardman CX. But can't decide either the CX Comp or CX Team. I know a few people here have one or the other so please help me decide.

I have BC membership plus a deal through work for vouchers so Halfords CX prices are attractive -(CX Comp can be had for £440, CX Team for £660) instead of £599 and £899 RRP

Leaning towards the Comp which means the money I save could go towards something like a cheap Felt F95 for dry summer days... http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f95-sora-wiggle-exclu...

Difference in the 2 Boardman CXs is Comp has alloy fork, Sora drivetrain, Tektro Lyra brakes, Team has carbon fork, SRAM Apex, Avid BB5 discs on team. Frame and wheels identical. Just over 1KG difference in weight (10.3 vs 11.5KG). Is alloy fork on the Comp really an issue ?

i've read the posts on disc brakes being a bit rubbish on both bikes so figure I'll use and upgrade as needed. I tend to keep bikes quite a while.

My current road bike is an old steel frame job from 1990 so either bike is a significant upgrade. So in my mind I could use a new summer bike anyway...

Which would you buy - the CX Team, or the CX Comp AND something like a Felt F95 (or similar) ?

Edited by mie1972 on Wednesday 26th March 10:20

bakerstreet

5,043 posts

194 months

Wednesday 26th March 2014
quotequote all
This topic has been covered alot on here and on other forums

I'd go for the Boardman Team. The SRAM Apex is far better in looks and general shifting compared to the Sora.

If you are planning to use the CX for road work, you may want to look at a slightly less knobbly tyres. Something like the Continental Cyclocross Speedking. Its a good compromise. The Schawale Marathon is also a good tyre for tracks and road. Excellent puncture protection too.



MonkeyHanger

9,267 posts

271 months

Wednesday 26th March 2014
quotequote all
As someone pointed out the other day, the CX Comp seems to have disappeared from the Halfords website...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I've been resisting the temptation to treat myself to a CX Team for a while, mainly because I keep looking at the PlanetX website....

Gizmoish

18,150 posts

238 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
quotequote all
I have the CX Team.

And I'd have the CX Team.

Make sure whoever builds it builds it properly though. Gears and brakes should be set up correctly, brakes should not bind.

Fork is a bit flexy side to side, don't bother with the chicken levers.

AND buy a road bike. wink

daddy cool

4,107 posts

258 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
quotequote all
Gizmoish said:
I have the CX Team.

And I'd have the CX Team.

Make sure whoever builds it builds it properly though. Gears and brakes should be set up correctly, brakes should not bind.

Fork is a bit flexy side to side, don't bother with the chicken levers.

AND buy a road bike. wink
Have you got the current model - the blingtastic paintjob one?
I had a sit on it the other day, as i toying with getting one as a commuter/winter bike to join my two other Boardmans (MTB & Road bike).
Still umm'ing and ahh'ing about it. By chicken levers, you mean the extra brake levers on the handlebars? I thought that was quite clever if you needed to brake in a hurry when your hands werent on the hoods - you just think they are a gimmick or what?
Im used to shimano gears so those SRAM toubletap ones would take a bit of getting used to

bakerstreet

5,043 posts

194 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
quotequote all
MonkeyHanger said:
As someone pointed out the other day, the CX Comp seems to have disappeared from the Halfords website...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I've been resisting the temptation to treat myself to a CX Team for a while, mainly because I keep looking at the PlanetX website....
I bought the Planet X CX bike recently. It's a fantastic bit of kit and IMO worth the extra over the Boardman. I've done just over 200 miles on mine now. I'm planning on doing a 500 mile review thread on it. PM me if you want more details.

The Kinesis CrossLioght Pro6 is also a great bit of kit, but they appear to be out of stock at the moment, so you'd have to build one from a frameset and when ever I've done the maths on that, it never appears to be good value compared to a complete build.

mie1972

Original Poster:

192 posts

182 months

Thursday 27th March 2014
quotequote all
Hmm, Ridley Xbow can be had for similar money too
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ridley-x-bow-1317a-105-201...

Mini V-brakes tho instead of discs? more reliable than discs?


Gizmoish

18,150 posts

238 months

Friday 28th March 2014
quotequote all
daddy cool said:
Gizmoish said:
I have the CX Team.

And I'd have the CX Team.

Make sure whoever builds it builds it properly though. Gears and brakes should be set up correctly, brakes should not bind.

Fork is a bit flexy side to side, don't bother with the chicken levers.

AND buy a road bike. wink
Have you got the current model - the blingtastic paintjob one?
I had a sit on it the other day, as i toying with getting one as a commuter/winter bike to join my two other Boardmans (MTB & Road bike).
Still umm'ing and ahh'ing about it. By chicken levers, you mean the extra brake levers on the handlebars? I thought that was quite clever if you needed to brake in a hurry when your hands werent on the hoods - you just think they are a gimmick or what?
Im used to shimano gears so those SRAM toubletap ones would take a bit of getting used to
Bling?



Yes, chicken levers are the extra ones on the tops. I never use them. You only use the tops when climbing and I ride in the hoods almost all of the time: I can operate the Apex levers from the hoods. SRAM takes a bit of getting used to, and it's more mechanical feeling than Tiagra, but works well.

Just ask yourself where you'll be riding. On the road: buy a road bike. Off road all the time, steep hills: buy an MTB. CX is brilliant on the flat, paths, road, tracks... But no good for real steep hills.

Barchettaman

7,260 posts

161 months

Friday 28th March 2014
quotequote all
Mini V brakes are bloody wonderful things, dead easy to set up and maintain. I have them on my Quantec CX build: Tektro RX3, they cost €25 inc. shipping and stop the bike on a dime. I love them.

Miles easier to set up than standard cantis and yes I do know how to set them up too.

The only caveat is that you need an inline barrel adjuster for wheel changes, like this:

http://tinyurl.com/p7wfnz4