Boardman hybrid pro?

[Fartomatic5000]

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/hybrid/hybrid_pro.htm...

£999 at Halfords.

Is this any good? Flat bars, hydraulic disc brakes, CF front fork, 20 speed, 105 gearset.


Approximate Weight (KG): 9.8kg
Forks: Full Uni-directional Carbon Fibre - Tapered Steerer
Frame Material: Alloy
Front Brake: Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Geometry: Boardman Performance Hybrid
Number of Gears: 20
Rear Brake: Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Suspension: Rigid
Wheel Size: 700c

It also like the option to affix mud guards for the winter and/or pannier rack for a truly all-round bike. What do you think?

[TwistingMyMelon]

Why not go for a proper road bike?

I say this having had a top end road based hybrid, I hated it as it had the drawbacks of a roadie and lack of benefits of a MTB

Ive got a cheaper Kona Dew hybrid for comuteing now, with chunky tyres and that works well, but was cheap

I guess if you have back problems etc its an option, otherwise I don't rate high end hybrids

[TheLemming]

Fartomatic5000 said:

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/hybrid/hybrid_pro.htm...

£999 at Halfords.

Is this any good? Flat bars, hydraulic disc brakes, CF front fork, 20 speed, 105 gearset.


Approximate Weight (KG): 9.8kg
Forks: Full Uni-directional Carbon Fibre - Tapered Steerer
Frame Material: Alloy
Front Brake: Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Geometry: Boardman Performance Hybrid
Number of Gears: 20
Rear Brake: Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Suspension: Rigid
Wheel Size: 700c

It also like the option to affix mud guards for the winter and/or pannier rack for a truly all-round bike. What do you think?

To be honest the true all rounder is a CX bike (the answer to all questions is a CX bike lol)

I cant really see the point in a high end hybrid - it will never be as fast as a lower specced road bike, as versatile as a CX or as go-everywhere as an MTB.
All the drawbacks of a roadie with none of the advantages.

Have you considered the CX team?

[Gizmoish]

That frame actually looks identical to the CX Team's. Even the dropout design, the tapered steerer... it's too close to be coincidence.

So it's that one with hydro discs and flat bar, the CX Team with cable discs and drops... or a proper road bike.

Ask yourself how often you'll go off-road... buy a road bike.

[anonymous-user]

Nice bikes . I had a good look at one but couldn't see the point of highish end disc brakes on a road bike in the end.
So I opted for a proper road bike + a 200 pound Carrera subway hybrid that ticked the boxes ..

[bga]

One of the guys in my office building has one. Very nice piece of kit. Easy to jump on and take a spin on. Nearly as quick as a roadie, upright position better for riding in town (or if you just prefer the position), good brakes.
I had an EBC Courier Race which was brilliant for cycling in town. The Boardman is similar but much better!

[Fartomatic5000]

Thanks for the replies so far. This would be for my wife and she absolutely positively does not want a road bike. She already has a high-end CF CX bike (3k+) which is as light as a feather, but has cantilever brakes which are ste. So bad that it knocks her confidence at speed. I've replaced the pads and done numerous adjustments etc with only a slight improvement. It also has drops bars which she never uses. She also has back problems from time to time.
I have a highish-end CF road bike which I have hardly used as I much prefer using my heavy hybrid. The "go anywhere" leisurely style of riding seems to suit both of us and the paths we travel on (NCN1 in the south east has a real mix of surfaces).
I suppose the main requirements would be ...
1. Good brakes in all weather.
2. Practical. Panniers are a huge plus. Ability to go on all cycle paths is essential.


What's not important...
1. Speed. (I fitted smooth 23C profile tyres on wife's CX bike thinking she would be pleased but she told me to change them back to Racing Ralphs!)

The only thing that's putting me off is the local Halfords, the answers they gave to my simple questions didn't fill me with confidence.

[b19rak]

I just bought the Boardman Hybrid Comp. it's a brilliant bike,

If it helps seal the deal I can tell you how to get 30% off at Halfords. I got my £499 bike for £364.

[TheLemming]

Fartomatic5000 said:

Thanks for the replies so far. This would be for my wife and she absolutely positively does not want a road bike. She already has a high-end CF CX bike (3k+) which is as light as a feather, but has cantilever brakes which are ste. So bad that it knocks her confidence at speed. I've replaced the pads and done numerous adjustments etc with only a slight improvement. It also has drops bars which she never uses. She also has back problems from time to time.
I have a highish-end CF road bike which I have hardly used as I much prefer using my heavy hybrid. The "go anywhere" leisurely style of riding seems to suit both of us and the paths we travel on (NCN1 in the south east has a real mix of surfaces).
I suppose the main requirements would be ...
1. Good brakes in all weather.
2. Practical. Panniers are a huge plus. Ability to go on all cycle paths is essential.


What's not important...
1. Speed. (I fitted smooth 23C profile tyres on wife's CX bike thinking she would be pleased but she told me to change them back to Racing Ralphs!)

The only thing that's putting me off is the local Halfords, the answers they gave to my simple questions didn't fill me with confidence.

You've answered the "is a hybrid appropriate" so it's "is that hybrid appropriate".
It's pretty decent, the spec is great and it can be had (as mentioned earlier) for 30% off easily.
Might be possible to do 35% if you have access to someone with a scouts discount (apparently they get 15% off while british cycling is 10% - or so I've heard).

That makes it a £700 bike - suddenly a lot more appealing and untouchable on spec at the price.

[Fartomatic5000]

I'd love to hear more about the discounts! OK, 10% through British Cycling?
Do I need to find a scoutmaster or someone similar for the scout discount?
Thanks again.

[TheLemming]

Fartomatic5000 said:

I'd love to hear more about the discounts! OK, 10% through British Cycling?
Do I need to find a scoutmaster or someone similar for the scout discount?
Thanks again.

10% British Cycling (I've been led to believe the scouts get 15% - I know nothing more about that one)

10% off offer (they run about monthly, either a 10% off weekend or an online "spend £100 get £10 off - which is close enough)

10% off buying with discounted vouchers (Halfords vouchers can be bought at 10% off face value legitimately, use google on that one)

Total 30% (35% if the scouts discount is correct)

[K1909]

I have one of the early boardman hybrids and have loved every ride. Very comfortable and capable and you can pick up quite a bit of speed when required

[Fartomatic5000]

TheLemming said:

10% British Cycling (I've been led to believe the scouts get 15% - I know nothing more about that one)

10% off offer (they run about monthly, either a 10% off weekend or an online "spend £100 get £10 off - which is close enough)

10% off buying with discounted vouchers (Halfords vouchers can be bought at 10% off face value legitimately, use google on that one)

Total 30% (35% if the scouts discount is correct)

Nice one, thanks everyone!

[oyster]

TheLemming said:

Fartomatic5000 said:

I'd love to hear more about the discounts! OK, 10% through British Cycling?
Do I need to find a scoutmaster or someone similar for the scout discount?
Thanks again.

10% British Cycling (I've been led to believe the scouts get 15% - I know nothing more about that one)

10% off offer (they run about monthly, either a 10% off weekend or an online "spend £100 get £10 off - which is close enough)

10% off buying with discounted vouchers (Halfords vouchers can be bought at 10% off face value legitimately, use google on that one)

Total 30% (35% if the scouts discount is correct)

Just to be pedantic on the maths.

£999 bikes minus 10% for the monthly offer equals £899.
Minus 10% for British Cycling equals £809.
Then you'll need to buy £810 worth of vouchers with 10% off those which equals £729.

27% discount in the end.



Oh and £10 off a £100 spend will only be allowed once so that's not going to be worth 10% on anything other than items worth exactly £100.

[TheLemming]

oyster said:

Just to be pedantic on the maths.

£999 bikes minus 10% for the monthly offer equals £899.
Minus 10% for British Cycling equals £809.
Then you'll need to buy £810 worth of vouchers with 10% off those which equals £729.

27% discount in the end.



Oh and £10 off a £100 spend will only be allowed once so that's not going to be worth 10% on anything other than items worth exactly £100.

Your pedantry is correct apart from the last bit - that offer is normally £10 per hundred spend, so £200 is £20 off. Not quite as good as 10% off but not that much in it.

[AC43]

Fartomatic5000 said:

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/hybrid/hybrid_pro.htm...

£999 at Halfords.

Is this any good? Flat bars, hydraulic disc brakes, CF front fork, 20 speed, 105 gearset.


Approximate Weight (KG): 9.8kg
Forks: Full Uni-directional Carbon Fibre - Tapered Steerer
Frame Material: Alloy
Front Brake: Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Geometry: Boardman Performance Hybrid
Number of Gears: 20
Rear Brake: Shimano Deore Hydraulic Disc Brake - 160mm Rotor
Suspension: Rigid
Wheel Size: 700c

It also like the option to affix mud guards for the winter and/or pannier rack for a truly all-round bike. What do you think?

My BIL has one and loves it. He's just back from a few hundred miles in Germany on it.

[Zaim]

Had one for about 4 years now and it's brilliant for the money. OK the spec is newer but the geometry and gearing is very similar. Bought it because I didn't get on with drops and wanted something relatively quick. It's everything I expected and quick enough plus cheap for the spec. Only thing was the tyres were crap. Now after 4 years (possibly 5) it's been kept to the same spec but with newer parts and the paint is starting to flake on the dropouts but I've been very happy with it.

As for Halfords buy with your eyes open and if you know not about bike maintenance maybe get the LBS to take a look.