Boardmans & Halfords - where to buy?

[daddy cool]

I have a GT mountain bike and a Cube hybrid, but i want to replace the latter with a racer. My budget was £1000, though im prepared to bump it up to £1170 for the carbon fibre Boardman (RRP £1300 less 10% British Cycling discount). Not done a vast amount of research, but for the price, it seems pretty good, not only for the carbon, but also for the shimano 105 components and the good saddle. Basically it gets the thumbs up from my hardcore racer pal.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Whenever i google Boardman, i hear people saying that the bikes are great, but just make sure you get it from a "good" Halfords/bike-hut. Question is, are there any considered particularly good near me - Bracknell, Berkshire? (Woking and Farnborough both have BikeHuts)

Went into Bracknell today just to have a sit-on. At 5'10/5'11 i wonder if im straddling the medium and large sizes. The assistant admitted he knew little about the bikes but said that if previously arranged, and if i left some bank cards with them, i'd be allowed to go out for a test ride on both sizes, which seemed reasonable.
But, im also concerned by horror stories saying that carbon bikes are particularly sensitive to torque settings and halfords mechanics often arent qualified to set them up. I have a bike stand, torque wrench and various other tools, so can check things myself, but i'd like it perfect out the box if spending that sort of money.

Any Berkshire/Surrey Boardman owners in the house?

[Jimbo.]

Meh. Buy it from whatever Halfords has it in stock, then upon getting it home, tear it down and build it back up yourself 'tis what I do with ANY bike, regardless of where I buy if from.

[McFsC]

Not going to be too much help but my first road bike was a Boardman and I have no complaints what so ever, I've thrashed it about and it's been great.

Good bikes and many people comment on how good they review.

[anonymous-user]

Most Halfords horror stories are made up. I have used the Bracknell branch & their service was better than other shops local to that area!. Boardman bikes go to store pretty well built in the factory. Minimal assembley is required in-store . Put on the wheels/ saddle/ connect brake cables. Cranks etc already fitted, gears indexed in the factory. I know this as I took one home in the box to use later (Christmas sale).. Maybe give it a once over when you get it home (like I did with my Lbs bike, handlebar clamp nuts barely finger tight!!, could have been nasty)

[TVR MAN]

You can request to buy it boxed and then build it yourself.

That's what I did with my Boardman (Road Comp) after reading about Halfords on the internet.

[GuinnessMK]

I'm a former bike mechanic. When I bought my lad a new bike, we got it over the internet in a box from Halfords.

Took about 30 mins to get it set up right. Needed the front wheel popping in, the handlebars / stem joining and adjusting and the brakes bled.

The gears were pretty much spot on out of the box, with just a bit of fine tuning on the stops and cable tension.

It's taken another half hour or so to fit all his accessories, lights, guards, bottle holders etc etc.

[daddy cool]

Cheers for the replies. I think you're right - i'll just get one, and give it a thorough check-over at home before hitting the roads.
Just need to see if i could get it through the cycle to work scheme, which might save more than the 10% British Cycling discount.

I've been watching the halfords website for a couple of months to see if the Boardmans are ever discounted, but not seen it yet. I guess they think they can always sell at full price anyway. Its just frustrating knowing that wiggle sells the same bike for £1100, but wont ship to the UK! FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[Furry Exocet]

Bought my Boardman from the Farnborough branch, no complaints with the bike, but not impressed with the store, they managed to mess up my gears on the free 6 week service and then tried to fob me off that it was normal.
Ended up paying my local bike store to adjust them for me.
I've got a free 12 month bike maintenance plan with them, which will now never be used.

[SixtySpeedTwin]

My wife got a Pashley from Halfords.
Whilst not a Boardman they managed to send her off down the road without tightening the stem properly & she just about stayed upright when they twisted on her.
Utter tossers, shes got the maintenance contract & said shes taking it to our LBS from now on.
I should have learned when my GT i-drive got given to me with the front mech so badly adjusted it didn't work........

Get it in a box and do it your self I wouldn't trust them to torque anything up on a carbon frame, its REALLY easy to over-tighten and spread the fibres.

[anonymous-user]

I've had a couple of Boardmans through CTW schemes and both have been assembled and set up fine.

[XG332]

Ive had nothing but problems with Halfords bikehut, the bikes themselves have been great though.