Road Cycling Essentials

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PardonTheWait said:
Pretty happy with that, hopefully nothing will go wrong. If it does I'm clearly not destined to have a new bike.
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It went wrong! The ****ers double sold it and I was the second one!

They had a CAAD10 105 which they would do me for £950 and I won't lie, I was sorely tempted.

However, I'd previously ignored Boardmans because I thought I had to get it from somewhere that did finance, but I spoke to my dad today after I found out the Trek had been double sold and he said no he'd just buy it outright and I'd pay him back the balance, so I could get whatever I wanted, so I decided to go to Halfords and have a proper look at the Boardmans.

Nice, eh? I was honestly impressed with them, so I got the alloy Team one (£999).

Chuffed to bits to be honest, I got it in a box and had a mate of mine build it up, just because I'd rather not risk it with Halfords staff on a £1k bike. I've only ridden it for about a mile round to the cashpoint but it's night and day compared to my previous bike. Fantastic bike, really pleased. Hope the weather's alright tomorrow night so I can put some miles on it, Saturday as well.
 
You turned down a CAAD10 with 105 group for £950 in favour of and alu Boardman for £995?

Is it too late to take it back? The CAAD10 is probably the best alu bike you can get.

Actually, the beat bike is the one you enjoy riding so I take that back. As long as you are happy that's the main thing.
 
Poxage. My bike took a topple yesterday while it was leaning up against the brick pillar in the garage garage. Somehow it managed to grate down the pillar and it's scuffed all the side of my saddle into a right mess. I'm really annoyed because I've really been trying to look after it, but it's one step closer to having to be replaced now :mad:

Not the Brooks by the way, luckily.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;20005654 said:
You turned down a CAAD10 with 105 group for £950 in favour of and alu Boardman for £995?

Is it too late to take it back? The CAAD10 is probably the best alu bike you can get.

Actually, the beat bike is the one you enjoy riding so I take that back. As long as you are happy that's the main thing.
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Don't get me wrong, I was sorely tempted by the CAAD10 at that price having read what a great frame it's supposed to be.

Only thing is that shop had already ****ed me off by double selling the Trek I'd put a deposit down on, and they're just over 100 miles away. They offered that price to say sorry for selling the Trek.

Component spec of the two bikes is very very close - 105 groupset with FSA gossamer BB30 chainset and no 105 brakes (boardman ones on the boardman and tektro on the Cannondale).

Even the wheels - RS10 on the dale and Aksiums on the Boardman. Carbon steerer on the forks on both as well.

However, I'd sat on a CAAD8 in a local shop, and it felt a little bit long for me in the 54... I'm sure it would have been fine but it didn't feel completely right, so I was loath to travel so far to see if I liked the CAAD10 which is even more aggressive and probably would feel longer, regardless of the price.

I thought I'd take a look at the Boardmans and I was really impressed by it, the frame's lovely. Smooth welds and internal cable routing, it's quite handsome.

I'm really happy with it :)
 
[DOD]Asprilla;19983252 said:
Anyone looking for winter boots? I just got some Diadora Chili Extremes from Merlin for £40 and the look and feel the business. The fit three bolt cleats.
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Just wanted to give a quick thanks for the heads up here.
My boots arrived today and as you said, look like they'll do the job nicely!

Ended up costing £38 quid with Quidco + VIP discount. Bargainalicious. :)
 
Kristoph said:
Does anyone here ride in time trial events (10mile/25mile)?
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I'v done a few.
Got a 10 coming up this sunday that i'm looking forward to. It's the flattest course around up here and i got my pb there last year. I'm feeling a lot stronger this year so im aiming for a new pb this weekend.
Got a 2up the weekend after as well, looking forward to that as well. Rode it with a mate from uni last year, we were going really well but i punctured just a couple of miles from the end :( We're going to try again this year :)
 
I'm in Scotland for 7 days from tomorrow MTB'ing and i'll be in Peebles on Sunday when the Tour of Britain starts. Mark Cavendish confirmed he's taking part in the event.

Our accomodation balcony over looks the start road as well, can it get any better :cool:
 
touch said:
I'v done a few.
Got a 10 coming up this sunday that i'm looking forward to. It's the flattest course around up here and i got my pb there last year. I'm feeling a lot stronger this year so im aiming for a new pb this weekend.
Got a 2up the weekend after as well, looking forward to that as well. Rode it with a mate from uni last year, we were going really well but i punctured just a couple of miles from the end :( We're going to try again this year :)
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Nice, what sort of times are you aiming for? I'm looking to get into tt's. Never really been a road bike person (mainly downhill mtb).

My dad is pretty obsessed with his TT's at the moment which is why I fancy getting into it.

He's 49 and riding 10miles in 22 mins, 25miles in 54 mins and took part in the national championships recently and did a 1hr 11mins.
 
PardonTheWait said:
However, I'd sat on a CAAD8 in a local shop, and it felt a little bit long for me in the 54... I'm sure it would have been fine but it didn't feel completely right, so I was loath to travel so far to see if I liked the CAAD10 which is even more aggressive and probably would feel longer, regardless of the price.

I thought I'd take a look at the Boardmans and I was really impressed by it, the frame's lovely. Smooth welds and internal cable routing, it's quite handsome.

I'm really happy with it :)
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Good to see you're happy with your choice. A Boardman wasn't even on my shortlist when looking for a new bike but after trying out lots of different bikes at various shops in the London area, it became clear that having very short legs I probably wouldn't find a geometry that I would be completely comfortable with and I was even considering a custom frame. A little while later I popped into Halfords for a car manual and whilst there I had a look at the Boardman bikes, liked the looks and spec so I asked to take one for a test ride. Half an hour later I knew it was the bike for me so I placed an order for a Hybrid Pro which is essentially a road bike with flat bars. Every other bike I had tried just didn't feel right but I felt instantly at home with the Boardman.

You've chosen a bike you feel comfortable on and for me the fit, most importantly top tube length, has to be as close to perfect as you can get from the off; only so much you can do with altering the stem, saddle etc without affecting the ride. You also like the looks. Enjoy riding it!! :) I know I do mine. Also good call on not letting them build your bike!!
 
Kristoph said:
Nice, what sort of times are you aiming for? I'm looking to get into tt's. Never really been a road bike person (mainly downhill mtb).

My dad is pretty obsessed with his TT's at the moment which is why I fancy getting into it.

He's 49 and riding 10miles in 22 mins, 25miles in 54 mins and took part in the national championships recently and did a 1hr 11mins.
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Im aiming for ~23mins this weekend.

TT is great fun, after you do your first it becomes very addictive. Go for it - you'll enjoy it.
 
Hamster said:
Good to see you're happy with your choice. A Boardman wasn't even on my shortlist when looking for a new bike but after trying out lots of different bikes at various shops in the London area, it became clear that having very short legs I probably wouldn't find a geometry that I would be completely comfortable with and I was even considering a custom frame. A little while later I popped into Halfords for a car manual and whilst there I had a look at the Boardman bikes, liked the looks and spec so I asked to take one for a test ride. Half an hour later I knew it was the bike for me so I placed an order for a Hybrid Pro which is essentially a road bike with flat bars. Every other bike I had tried just didn't feel right but I felt instantly at home with the Boardman.

You've chosen a bike you feel comfortable on and for me the fit, most importantly top tube length, has to be as close to perfect as you can get from the off; only so much you can do with altering the stem, saddle etc without affecting the ride. You also like the looks. Enjoy riding it!! :) I know I do mine. Also good call on not letting them build your bike!!
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My mate wouldn't have let me have them build it if I'd wanted to!

Apparently one of the Halfords quite local to here actually has a really good bike team, but I went to one closer.

It's been completely chucking down with rain all bloody day which has really annoyed me, I bet it'll rain for a month straight and I'll never get to ride the thing!

Might have to get some Crud mudguards.
 
PardonTheWait said:
My mate wouldn't have let me have them build it if I'd wanted to!

Apparently one of the Halfords quite local to here actually has a really good bike team, but I went to one closer.
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It's very hit and miss with Halfords 'mechanics.' although it doesn't take a great deal of skill to fit together the few parts that need fitting out of the box, they are supposed to be assembled by staff who are 'Boardman trained.' When waiting for my bike I got chatting to a young lad who was putting one of their MTBs together and asked him what the 'Boardman training' was like. It turned out that he had only been with Halfords for two weeks, had no experience in the bike industry, had no training whatsoever and said he just learned by watching one of his workmates. Doesn't necessarily mean he will do a bad job but doesn't inspire confidence. Although I have spoke to some very skilled staff on the odd occasion, I could go on for a long time with stories of lack of knowledge and incompetence but it would be like preaching to the converted here!
 
PardonTheWait said:
Don't get me wrong, I was sorely tempted by the CAAD10 at that price having read what a great frame it's supposed to be.

Only thing is that shop had already ****ed me off by double selling the Trek I'd put a deposit down on, and they're just over 100 miles away. They offered that price to say sorry for selling the Trek.

Component spec of the two bikes is very very close - 105 groupset with FSA gossamer BB30 chainset and no 105 brakes (boardman ones on the boardman and tektro on the Cannondale).

Even the wheels - RS10 on the dale and Aksiums on the Boardman. Carbon steerer on the forks on both as well.

However, I'd sat on a CAAD8 in a local shop, and it felt a little bit long for me in the 54... I'm sure it would have been fine but it didn't feel completely right, so I was loath to travel so far to see if I liked the CAAD10 which is even more aggressive and probably would feel longer, regardless of the price.

I thought I'd take a look at the Boardmans and I was really impressed by it, the frame's lovely. Smooth welds and internal cable routing, it's quite handsome.

I'm really happy with it :)
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Given that palaver then you did right. The most important thing about a bike is that it's comfortable.
 
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