Boardman Hybrid Upgrades

[MY95]

Hi guys

Looking for some advice on upgrades for my hybrid:

Upgraded forks = not sure on weight of current forks but want something lighter! carbon forks are hard to come across in my price range and disc only (under £100) so the kinesis crosslight disc weigh around the 700g mark and are £65 new but are aluminium, worth the upgrade/any good? java carbon chinese forks look good and a few seem to use them so thats another idea? or any other suggestions? boardman hybrid disc ones are very difficult to come accross 2nd hand although would be what id probably prefer (dont come in white which is an issue!)

Wheelset = mavic aksium disc or something similar if anyone has any ideas?

Groupset = tricky part as id like to go full 105 10 speed, but trying to find a 105 10 speed flat bar shifter is very difficult and also stupidly expensive! so thinking of full XT gearing bar a 105 rear cassette 11-28 or 12-27, would this cause any issues using a road cassette with a full mtb XT gearing?

Original weight of the bike is 10.7kg, currently 10.3kg just by upgrading the tyres and looking to get around the mid 9kg mark to match the pro version and be within a kilo of most sub 2k carbon bikes (easily possible with selective upgrades, carbon fork should shed a lot of weight id think, as will the wheelset)

Anyone suggest any other upgrades?

Current spec is:
Frame: Lightweight alloy triple butted, full smooth welding
Fork: Lightweight alloy
Shifters: SRAM X5
Front Derailleur: Microshift
Rear Derailleur: SRAM X5, 9 speed
Brakes: Avid BB5
Chainset: FSA Vero compact 50x34
Cassette: Sram 11-28 9 speed
Chain: KMC Z99
Bottom Bracket: FSA cartridge
Rims: Alex DP17 Disc
Hubs: Formula Disc
Spokes: Stainless, black
Tyres: Vittoria Rubino Pro 3 700x28c
Handlebars: cboardman
Stem: cboardman
Headset: FSA semi integrated
Seatpost: cboardman
Saddle: cboardman
Weight: 23.7lbs

A few have suggested an upgrade to a road bike with carbon frame but I cant afford that and also dont like and cant get used to the road bars or brakes/shifters so staying flat bar!

Looking to do a few sportives on it as well as carrying on with my 20-50 mile rides at the moment.

Cheers guys
Matthew

 

[vickster]

I wouldn't bother changing the fork to save a few grams. I'm a fan of carbon forks, but my disc portobello has alu and is fine

Kinesis just had a big recall of their forks (someone died when the fork snapped), definitely do not buy second hand. I wouldn't buy an unwarranted, untested Chinese fork either

What's wrong with the bike as it is other than being a kilo heavier than you'd like? It'll make very little difference in the real world. Put thinner tyres on perhaps if you want a more road bike experience

If you want a 9kg flat bar, sell that one as it is and get a second hand Whyte Sterling for around £500-600 it'll cost you less in the long run I'd think

Or keep the Boardman and get a roadbike N+1

 

[RMurphy195]

Carry less change around in your pocket when out riding, go on a diet, go to the loo before your ride, that sort of thing. Save lbs and ££££s!

Really, a kg is 2 full 500cc water bottles, maybe 30% of a good security device, the weight of a saddlebag. Save your money and don't stress over it.

 

[MY95]

Thanks both, will give the carbon forks a miss unless i can find some boardman ones, still definately want to upgrade wheels and groupset, what options do I have for upgrading? Want to go full xt bar an 11-28 cassette or as close to full 105 as i can or something along those lines

 

[vickster]

How about something like a Fulcrum disc wheel? Still £260 odd though

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fulcrum-racing-5-lg-disc-brake-wheelset-qr-6-bolt

I personally like SRAM so if you need to, upgrade what you have, get some better brakes?

Planet X do a flat bar carbon roadbike however...Weighs 8.2kg
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPFLAT/planet-x-pro-carbon-flat-bar-road-bike-sram-rival-11speed

 

[MY95]

Budget is max £150 for wheels new or used.
Brakes are bb5 and i love how progressive they are and they stop me quick enough so im happy with them at the moment.
What can i do about gearing?
Thanks

 

[vickster]

Budget is max £150 for wheels new or used.
Brakes are bb5 and i love how progressive they are and they stop me quick enough so im happy with them at the moment.
What can i do about gearing?
Thanks

What's wrong with the gearing?

 

[MY95]

Its Sram X5, its fine, but id just like 105/XT gearing for a smoother shift etc, but unsure on what setup I could use? Microshift at the front is very clunky and not very smooth at all even with a new cable, and X5 isnt very nice shifting in a hurry!

Would an XT rear shifter and rear mech work with a road cassette? Same speeds and would be 11-28, if so thats the next upgrade sorted.

 

[S-Express]

Sounds to me like you bought the wrong bike to start with, as you now want to change practically everything on it.

 

[MY95]

Love how it is at the moment, just wouldnt mind upgrading a few bits, bought it as it was cheap but mint, and knew id be upgrading the wheels and gearset though, but need some advice on gearset options - is it true you can match 9 speed mtb and road shimano parts i.e. XT rear shifter with 105 cassette, chain and rear mech?

 

[vickster]

What are you seeking from the 'upgrades'?

You'll need a nine speed cassette, chain, mech as far as I know

The first change for me on any flatbar is to get shot of the horrid round grips and get some proper ergo ones, ergon GP3 are excellent with build in bar ends
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ergon-gp3-formerly-gr2-handlebar-grips/

 

[MY95]

Thanks Vickster, just looking for a smoother and nicer shift by upgrading the gearset, I ride out on the roads with a few friends with 105 gearing and carbon bikes and would like to have similar or better gearing setup if possible, I find the X5 really out of its comfort zone when trying to quickly click through the gears, just looking to use an XT front shifter with a XT/105 rear mech and Tiagra rear road cassette if this is possible? I have microshift on the front and know mtb shifters cant make use of the 50 chainring up front, so know I will have to either go flatbar shifter or XT shifter and keep the microshift if this is correct?

 

[vickster]

Maybe check with your local bike shop for suggestions?

Have you tried upgrading all the cables on the bike, see if that helps, and checking for chain and cassette wear?

You are trying to compare apples with pears with your Boardman and a carbon roadbike though IMO

 

[S-Express]

I find the X5 really out of its comfort zone when trying to quickly click through the gears,

Probably more to do with the ratios you are running, than anything else. 11-28 in a nine speed format is always going to give you significant jumps and something like 12-25 may give you smoother, faster changes. Switching to XT will not make any practical difference either way. Sounds like you are trying to turn your hybrid into a road bike, when it would be simpler to just get a road bike.

 

[GlenBen]

You could get tiagra flat shifters, chainset and front derailleur for around £120. 10 speed. Then you'd just need a 10 speed casette to match. (And likely a new chain).

Personally, I wouldnt bother, I'd save the money towards a new bike that will suit you better.

For all the upgrades you want, you'd be looking at around £400 I should think, and not really much better off, that would go a long way to something new.