Boardman hybrid PRO 2011/2012

[Rob Carr]

Hi,
Im a complete novice when it comes to bikes. Im looking to buy a bike to commute on roads and also do a little off road at the weekends etc.
Has anyone got experience of the boardman hybrid pro 2011/2012, the only article i have read leads me to believe the gearing is not setup great for hills?? Can anyone confirm this or maybe suggest any other Hybrid?

Thanks
Rob.

 

[Cubist]

Hi Robb

The Boardman performance hybrids are great bikes, but as you have heard, a compact 50/34 mated with an 11-28 cassette will be a wee bit high geared for some riders, especially those in really hilly areas. If you are prepared to work on your fitness, many riders would consider that to be a very low gearing to start with, and you will soon develop the legs to get up most of the steep stuff. If you live in the alps and have spent the last decade on the sofa, you're gonna be pushing a bit for the first month or so. Personally I'de get it and use it as an incentive!

However, I also note you fancy a bit of off-road stuff at weekends. The Boardman are basically a flat-barred road bike, which with fat knobbly tyres on could double as a Cyclo-Cross type, great for forestry roads and most bridleways, in fact would be absolutely on top of the game on that sort of territory, but if you're after a mountain-bike style trail slayer, you may need to look elsewhere.

 

[Rob Carr]

Thanks for the fast response Cubist.
I really like the look of the Boardman and that is what drew me towards it. To be honest Bridleways are all I would be considering off road wise, so this bike can handle them? Is it best to have two sets of wheels/tyres?
As for the Gearing - what is a standard gear ratio on most bikes. My commute does have a couple of tough hills!! On the other hand I havent been on the sofa for the last 10 years so should be fine as im a regular gym goer.

 

[Garz]

As Cubist has mentioned those hybrids are road bikes with flat bars and MTB type gears. One piece of advise is I also thought I would end up 'doing the odd off road trail' but in fact rarely did so progressed to a road bike after a few months. Your best deciding on a full on road bike if you spend most of the time on tarmac, or a MTB if your the flip side of this. One luxury you could get away with is some fantastic cyclocross bikes out there now (like the boardman one) that could be flexible enough to cover many terrain types and give you clearance for mudguards/panniers.

Being on the Pennines the compact gears were a great start, however I grew up in Bedford and looking back is nowhere near as hilly so a standard aggressive gear setup wont be too harsh to progress on.

For a beginner status to a road bike I would recommend the compact with a 25-13 cassette block depending on if it's 9spd etc. For Bedfordshire you shouldn't need the lower ranges and just work on your fitness.