New bike upgrade

SuperOwl86

SuperOwl86

SuperOwl86

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Joined
16 Apr 2012
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464
Been looking at the below bike as a replacement to my 2012 VooDoo HooDoo.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/boardman-mountain-bike-team-ht-650b-2014

I mainly do my cycling on bridal ways and canal towpaths.

Just wondering if the above bike is a good upgrade from my current bike?

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/c...-bikes/product/review-voodoo-hoodoo-12-46194/

I can get the Boardman for around £600.

How much could I expect to get for my VooDoo if I was to sell?

Thanks all.
 
SuperOwl86 said:
Been looking at the below bike as a replacement to my 2012 VooDoo HooDoo.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/boardman-mountain-bike-team-ht-650b-2014

I mainly do my cycling on bridal ways and canal towpaths.

Just wondering if the above bike is a good upgrade from my current bike?

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/c...-bikes/product/review-voodoo-hoodoo-12-46194/

I can get the Boardman for around £600.

How much could I expect to get for my VooDoo if I was to sell?

Thanks all.
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I am not a mountain bike expert
I don't think its any sort of upgrade thats worth it for the riding you suggest. Arguably you'd have more fun on a CX bike for bridleway and towpath riding.
Mountain bikes come into their own over rough ground where you get the benefit of the suspension. If you don't do trail riding or singletrack then suspension isn't really required. Not sure if your Voodoo has a front sus lock out or not.

for a causal bike rider not doing serious off roading I wouldnt spend any more money on the Boardman.
 
Thanks for the info guys really not sure what to do now.

As you say i probably dont need mountain since all I would go up is a hill climb. Although not sure if I could get use to the road bike handle bars.

The reason sticking with Halfords is for the 10% British cycling discount and 10% corporate discount.
 
SuperOwl86 said:
Thanks for the info guys really not sure what to do now.

As you say i probably dont need mountain since all I would go up is a hill climb. Although not sure if I could get use to the road bike handle bars.

The reason sticking with Halfords is for the 10% British cycling discount and 10% corporate discount.
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I'd say go to halfords and have a quick go :) the flexibility of CX bike is awesome and I think it would be perfect for your use.. say if your riding changes in the future you can just drop some 28c slicks on it and bang you've got a proper road bike with relaxed geo.. want to go for some mud/offroad? stick some fat tyres on and that's it!

when I commute on my road bikes I rarely use drops, most of the time i'm on the hoods or the flat bar position which is why I love drop bars - lots of different positions so you can ride how over you prefer.
 
Loads of people worry about drop handlebars at first (I did, coming from a hybrid) but they're easier to get used to than you think and ultimately more comfortable as you hold your hands/arms in a more natural position. I'd never go back to flat now unless I absolutely had to.
 
I was a mountain biker all my life, never touched a 'proper' road bike with dropped bars before.
I eventually bought one to start commuting, I remember being really worried about my first ride, as drop bars and cleats were new to me.
I set out to go a couple of miles to get used to it, I ended up doing a 20 mile ride as it was so easy, and simple to get used to.

In short, don't let that put you off.
 
FrenchTart said:
Loads of people worry about drop handlebars at first (I did, coming from a hybrid) but they're easier to get used to than you think and ultimately more comfortable as you hold your hands/arms in a more natural position. I'd never go back to flat now unless I absolutely had to.
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Yea I was the same coming from a hybrid to drop bars on a CX bike.
was a bit awkward for the first ride or two but feels way more natural.
you can always ride in the first hand position on this pic and it's pretty much the same as straight bars and slowly ease your self in.
84ILRCY.jpg
you actually feel far more at one with the bike in the drops though and steering seems much more controlled and precise


I just use normal crappy pedals, don't want to be clipped in :P

I leisure ride though if I commuted I'd probably do it
 
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True I could always start of in my normal position and ease myself in.

Just had a look on strava and on my 18 mile ride I was averaging 11mph Would i likely see a bit of a performance boost with the Boardman cx team?

Plus I really need to get rid of the Voodoo.
 
SuperOwl86 said:
True I could always start of in my normal position and ease myself in.

Just had a look on strava and on my 18 mile ride I was averaging 11mph Would i likely see a bit of a performance boost with the Boardman cx team?

Plus I really need to get rid of the Voodoo.
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11mph pfffft. anyone with a modicum of aerobic ability can do 15mph on a road bike :)
 
SuperOwl86 said:
True I could always start of in my normal position and ease myself in.

Just had a look on strava and on my 18 mile ride I was averaging 11mph Would i likely see a bit of a performance boost with the Boardman cx team?

Plus I really need to get rid of the Voodoo.
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you'd probably be doing around 14 instead maybe slightly more
narrower tyres, lighter bike, better and more aerodynamic riding position combined make a nice difference
 
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Placing the order today for the Boardman CX. which should work out cheaper than expected.

The main one now is what do you guys think is a reasonable price for my VooDoo?
 
Calpol said:
11mph pfffft. anyone with a modicum of aerobic ability can do 15mph on a road bike :)
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Depends on what the bridle path is like though. The ones round here that I ride occasionally I'd put money on me being faster on my old MTB than any Cyclocross bike because the terrain is very loose and rough.

Also with regards to going to drop bars from flats I wouldn't recommend starting off on the top of the bars for two reasons. Firstly your hands are very close together and a road bike feels quite twitchy compared to a mountain bike as it is, this will amplify that. Also coming from flat bars you'll be used to having the brakes in reach which they won't be on the tops. IMO You'd be better off starting off on the hoods as that is likely to be where you spend the majority of your time anyway.
 
SuperOwl86 said:
haha not the best time to read that making me a bit wary of getting it now.
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If it was my twitchy comment that is making you wary then let me quantify it a bit. The steering on a road bike is much more responsive than on a mountain bike. To start with you will naturally apply your steering inputs as you have for the last however many years, the response from the bike will be more than you are expecting.

After 5 miles I found my brain had started to recalibrate and after about 10 - 20 miles I felt very confident with the bike. My advice to start off on the hoods is that this will give you the best starting position while you accustom yourself to the bike :)

I'm only a couple of weeks into owning my first drop bar bike and I love it. So much so that the plan of keeping my hybrid as a winter hack may have to go out of the window.
 
lordrobs said:
If it was my twitchy comment that is making you wary then let me quantify it a bit. The steering on a road bike is much more responsive than on a mountain bike. To start with you will naturally apply your steering inputs as you have for the last however many years, the response from the bike will be more than you are expecting.

After 5 miles I found my brain had started to recalibrate and after about 10 - 20 miles I felt very confident with the bike. My advice to start off on the hoods is that this will give you the best starting position while you accustom yourself to the bike :)

I'm only a couple of weeks into owning my first drop bar bike and I love it. So much so that the plan of keeping my hybrid as a winter hack may have to go out of the window.
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+1 :) I wouldn't worry about it!

on that note, are you getting CX comp or team?
 
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