Which cyclocross bike under the Cycle2Work scheme?

[Big Worm 1]

Hi

The Cycle2Work scheme is open until the end of this month, so i've decided to get off my arse and get a bike.

I want something that i can do plenty of road miles on, as well as going on paths/bike rides with the kids, etc. Therefore i've decided on a cyclocross.

Unfortunately for me, i know little about bikes (which brands to go for/what kind of spec is good or bad) so i'm hoping you guys can help me out with my decision.

Although there is a £1000 limit, i don't want to spend all that on the bike. I was thinking more along the lines of £600-£700.

I looked at the Boardman CX Comp, but have since read bad things about them on various forums. Is this because of the build quality or because it is put together by Halfords staff?

I have to buy the bike from Halfords, but they can apparently get any bike available in the UK, not just what they normally stock.

Any suggestions will be gratefully received.

Thanks

[Zigster]

I can't help you on the cyclocross bike - not something I know much about - but you can use Halfords vouchers in other places. I used mine at Condor Cycles on Grays Inn Road and I think On Your Bike take them as well.

[m444ttb]

I had similar concerns about the Boardmans and ultimately went for a Cannondale CAAD X. So far that had been nothing but trouble with 4 spoke failures on the rear wheel in 600 miles.

Given the choice again I think id have taken a closer look at the Genesis Coix de Fer or possibly their Tour de Fer bike. I'm still tempted to buy the latter now.

[S10GTA]

I've got the Boardman cx team, which is the one up from the comp. It's alright, as a novice I think I'd really like it but as someone with a few miles under my wheels I can see it's foibles. It's pretty heavy, sram is pretty useless but it is fun.

If you get one, make sure you get a 2nd set of wheels. I've used mine more since I've had a 2nd set as it much easier to make it road or off road oriented. I wouldn't bother with the comp, I'd consider a team if I was in your situation.

[Barchettaman]

That 13 Innate looks pretty good at £499, sensible gearing, obviously it's a bit heavy but give it a couple of months and you'll have lost 3kg!
The daft name seems the worst thing about it!

[Surfr]

Kona jake or jake the snake if you want to pay more. Classic cross bikes. Have been around for years and for good reason.

[jj2908]

A very interesting question. I did just th same some years ago with our,scheme and opted for,a,specialised tricross. In my opinion brilliant. Quick enough comfortable enough. Reliable enough. They were a bit more than your budget back in the day though. You can find them on that well known auction site easily enough

I,like them so much I've had several but I've had the last one laid up for some years for reasons that I shant bore you with
It's probably done less than 1000 miles and looks mint. Im retuning to cycling now and I've. just bought a new specialized road bike on our scheme. If your interested or have questions drop me a line

[longshot]

Another vote for the tricross here.
I have a sport and love it.
It just does everything really well.

[Big Worm 1]

If i was looking to spend the full £1k budget, this has been recommended to me - https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOODDAPEX/on-one-di...

Any good?

Edited by Big Worm 1 on Wednesday 22 April 23:18

[anonymous-user]

Numerous shops take the Halfords vouchers if you'd rather a different brand without the faff.
Just google Halfords Ride To Work Dealers & you'll see
I wanted a Brompton folder, which Halfords cant get, so got from local stockest with the voucher...

Saying that, the Boardman CX is pretty unbeatable if its CX your after...

[snowdude2910]

If you phone the halfords voucher provider they will find you almost any bike I had a specialized allez through the halfords scheme that they foudn for me

[Barchettaman]

Big Worm 1 said:

If i was looking to spend the full £1k budget, this has been recommended to me - https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOODDAPEX/on-one-di...

Any good?

Edited by Big Worm 1 on Wednesday 22 April 23:18

Terrific bike, and/but very much a race-focussed machine. If you're looking for something for commuting duties from that retailer their London Road or Kaffenback makes more sense (to me, anyway):

-rack mounts
-munguard mounts
-not carbon

I believe PX have an admin fee or surcharge for the Bike to Work scheme, others will confirm, this may be a factor in your decision.

[Steve vRS]

Don't get cable pulled disc brakes.

I love my Giant TCX SL2 but hate the cable disc brakes as they take ages to set up, wear a bit and then take more setting up.

Steve

[Big Worm 1]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I think i am going to go with the Boardman CX Team. It looks like a great bike for the money. Unless anyone can give me a reason not to?

I'll just make sure i ride out of Halfords straight to an independent bike shop nearby, and get them to check it's been built properly!

[Big Worm 1]

Sorry for resurrecting this thread.

I've ordered my voucher for £900 and narrowed my choices down to the following:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/b...
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRIV/planet-x-l...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caa...

Knowing nothing about bikes, i don't know if one is better than the other.

What do you reckon guys?

[S10GTA]

If you do get the Boardman, make sure the twunts grease the bb30

[Soop Dogg]

A colleague bought this recently and is very pleased with it.

Well inside budget too.

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/19829/focus-mar...

[SteveSteveson]

Steve vRS said:

Don't get cable pulled disc brakes.

I love my Giant TCX SL2 but hate the cable disc brakes as they take ages to set up, wear a bit and then take more setting up.

Steve

Or budget to replace them with TRP HYRD's. Not cheap, but the closest you can get at the moment to hydro disks on a road bike without the cost of upgrading to Ultegra or better. I think TRP Spyre's are easy enough to setup too. Personally I have HYRD on the front and avid bb5 on the back. BB5's are crap (on a road bike at least) so I replaced the front as it does most of the stopping, but I couldn't afford to do both. I'm thinking I will change to Spyre on the back when I have a few pounds to spare, but at the moment they seem to do the job quite well.

Big Worm 1 said:

Sorry for resurrecting this thread.

I've ordered my voucher for £900 and narrowed my choices down to the following:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/b...
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRIV/planet-x-l...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caa...

Knowing nothing about bikes, i don't know if one is better than the other.

What do you reckon guys?

Forget the Boardman because:

1) The brakes are BB5's, and they are crap. You will need to budget to replace them immediately, or at least the fronts.
2) It's been built by Halfords. Some of them know what they are doing, some are rubbish, and most of the shops don't give a s**t once the bike is out the door. (It may be just me but I have had far to many bad experiences with them on bikes and cars)
3) It's not as good as the planet X for £100 more IMO.

Not sure between the other two, mostly because I don't know anything about the planet X, or about the SRAM drivetrain it is using. Try both, see which you like. I would lean slightly towards the Planet X, but only because it is made in the UK and is a more expensive bike that has been discounted to a lower price.

Edited by SteveSteveson on Friday 1st May 10:20

[anonymous-user]

Halfords cycle2work scheme?
If yes I do not think you can use in Evans or PlanetX. PlanetX have a 'handling' charge on top I believe as well

[L22KMD]

Here you go.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/threshol...