Just wondering what people thought of the Boardman range Halfords do. Managed to reserve their last Pro Hybrid 2013 model (Carbon fork, SRAM Rival all round and Avid Elixir 5 brakes) with the various discounts out there for around £600 rather than £1000 and wondering how good a deal that is. Will add mudguards and a rack an probably some Ergon grips if I go for it but it seems like one of the best options for the money at the moment
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
Boardman Bikes
(13 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
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I've had experience of the CX and hardtail MTB bikes, and you get a v high spec for the money - unlikely to be beaten at any given price. The bikes are fundamentally v good quality.
The only potential downside is, how shall we put this, that the skill and attention to detail with which any given bike is assembled by Halfords appears to depend largely on the position of the stars and planets. Some people have had no problems at all. With my MTB I had six return visits and three parts replaced until it was satisfactory. Don't take "that noise is normal" for an answer!I'd still get another Boardman from Halfords, although what ought to be a pleasurable experience instead is like being given homework.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I bought a CX bike at about 40-50% of list price and it's extremely well specced. I insisted they gave me it unopened still in the box so that their mechanics hadn't had their hands on it and built it myself.
Posted 10 years ago # -
As said,its the build quality at the shops that generally let them down. plus a bit of badge snobbery ;)
I have a CX and hybrid.Both a good spec for the money.
I'll try and find my thread on the CX
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11399
lack of grease
There was other stuff. Missing valve cap,poorly adjusted front mech and poorly adjusted rear brake from memoryOn the hybrid it was okay. I had an issue with the rear wheel snapping spokes.
eventually Halfords built a new wheel with a Mavic open pro rim,XT hub and DT spokes. So kudos to Halfords on that.
However I did get stung when the BB went and it was a discontinued splined BB. cheaper(in real terms) to go for a full new Tiagra set upPosted 10 years ago # -
+1 to everything that's been said. I've not ridden a Boardman myself but I've seen them regularly get very good reviews and they seem like excellent value for money. Dependent on how good or bad a job Halfords do in assembling it of course.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Done and worked out for a shade over half price including a Topeak Super Tourer rack. Really looking forward to picking it up later in the week - had a sit on it today and didn't want to give it back.
Any idea what mudguards would fit? There are mounts at the QR for the front but I suspect a full guard might slightly foul on the disc brakes
Posted 10 years ago # -
Disc brake should be fine with any standard full mudguard but it often requires a bit of bodging to sort the stay out. From a look at this photo I think it won't be a fuss - that brake caliper is much lower profile than many cable ones so you might get away with a normal installation. If the stay fouls on the caliper or bolt, you can bend the stay out a bit, or try stacking washers at the bolt so it clears the caliper. Sometimes a P clip can be used further up the fork leg but it's probably not a great idea with a carbon fork.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Bought a HT boardman 6 weeks ago (last years model), excellent piece of kit for the price.
I got the bike deliveried to the house and assembled it myself as I wouldnt trust the bike guys in my local Halfrauds to assemble it properly.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Love the bike but the assembly was indeed poor. Aheadset bolts left loose (only the cap was holding it together), disc brakes rubbing, QRs on the wheels loose and not fully bedded so the wheel was angled at the back, reflector screws loose so fell off on first ride and the pedals not screwed in tight. Oh, and the tyres at 50psi rather than 70-120. They mounted the pannier rack well though!
Posted 10 years ago # -
So, steering, brakes, pedals and handling. Lucky they didn't muck up anything safety-critical, then...!
Posted 10 years ago # -
@tk, you didnt think to recheck their work before going for a first ride?
Whether it was a lbs of Halfords I would still have checked headset, QR and pedals are all secure before going out for the first time.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Only thing I missed before my first ride was the reflector. Had given it a wiggle but the interlocking plastic where the bolt drops through hid the fact the bolt was loose
Posted 10 years ago # -
After the last straw this morning when the front mech cable snapped at the dérailleur screw I went back to the store. Guys there were fantastic both the bike hut staff and the deputy store manager. Everything has been rechecked, replaced where necessary and a rather nice Topeak multitool thrown in as an apology. He's promised some retraining of the staff who built the bike up to ensure nothing leaves the store in that state again.
Posted 10 years ago #
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