Clueless on bike specs, need help on deciding which bike to choose here...

[Sleeping_Lionheart]

Have ridden bikes all my life but never really cared, looked after or even built one. I'm completely hopeless, hence why I need all the help I can get for finding out what are the essential differences are between these two bikes I've narrowed my search down to.

These two bikes are the same price, but I have no idea which would be the best to choose as I have no idea what the differences are aside from the colours...

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...goryId=165534&productId=1173752&storeId=10001

And

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...goryId=165534&productId=1173772&storeId=10001

Any enlightenment would be greatly appreciated!

 

[jarlrmai]

The Hybrid comp has a solid fork and a more "aggressive" position and narrower tyres, it's more like a flat bar "racing" road bike it's going to be faster on the road.
The MX sport has front suspension and a more relaxed style and wider wheels, it's designed to be more comfortable and be more like a MTB so you can road ride and do canal paths etc.

I prefer solid forks as there's less to go wrong and cheaper suspension tends to go bad after a while.

 

[MichaelW2]

The MX has suspension fork, the hybrid comp has a non-sus fork.
Non suspension rigid for is generally better for everyday riding, lighter, less to go wrong. (11.2kg vs 13,9Kg)
The hybrid comp has higher gearing and less gear range (compact double vs triple chainring) than the MX which makes MX better for very steep hills and off road use but the hybrid comp has higher gears for speedy riding and pedaling downhill.
The components are SRAM x5 vs Shimano Acera which are hard to tell apart in terms of quality.
Personally I prefer the Hybrid comp as an everyday ride. The 32mm tyres are med width, ideal for commuting.

 

[Serynia]

Personally I ride the MX sport and love it. I guess it all comes down to where you are going to ride it, I went for the sport because I enjoy riding on roads but also enjoying exploring cycleways which are not always suitable for road bike skinny tyres the potholes have potholes round here... If I was commuting or riding only on roads then I would have gone for the comp. Eventually when I get fit again I will upgrade to decent road bike but for now the MX sport is good for leisure cycling, getting fit and just exploring national cycleways.

 

[Sleeping_Lionheart]

Thanks for the speedy and detailed replies. Just to put a bit more info out there on what I'd be using the bike for:

Mainly for to-and-from work which is a short 4 mile trip there and 4 miles back. It's mostly flat with one small hill. There are roads most of the way with some cycle paths too, which I use more than the roads. Quite a few potholes on the way.

From what you guys have said, I'm thinking the MX may be the more suitable choice for me. Any extended thoughts?

 

[NorthernDave]

They're both good bikes.

Basically, the MX Sport is more of a mountain bike, with some concessions to road use in the narrower wheels and tyres.
The Hybrid Comp is nearer a road bike with flat handlebars, but with beefed up wheels and tyres (compared to a road bike) so you can cope with moderate off road stuff (although to be fair you'd probably be surprised what it could cope with).

I've got an MX Sport, (it's last years model) and I love it. Bought it 18 months ago when I returned to cycling as I wanted something that could go anywhere and it's never let me down. That said I bought a proper road bike 6 months later and the MX now only really gets used if I'm going off road. It's not a bad bike on road (I've done many 50km+ rides on it no problem), but the road bike is faster, significantly lighter and specifically designed for road use, so I use that.

To be honest, from what you've said you'll use the bike for the Hybrid Comp sounds the better fit. It will certainly be faster on the road and it's unlikely you'll get any significant benefit from lugging round the extra weight of the suspension on the MX with the riding you've said you'll be doing. That said, it's worth getting down to a store if you can and trying them both for size / fit.

One more thing if you're buying from Halfords - if you join British Cycling (£35), you get 3rd party insurance, legal cover and a load of other benefits, plus 10% off everything at Halfords - so that would be £39.99 off that bike alone.

 

[Sleeping_Lionheart]

@Dave that's an interesting way of looking at things. My first choice was going to be the comp due to it looking faster and I'm certainly wanting the speed benefit since I've been lugging around a really awful bottom-tier mountain bike. I've never had a speedy road bike, but worried it'd be far too susceptible to punctures and damage as soon as I misplaced a pothole.

 

[NorthernDave]

Providing you keep your tyres properly inflated (I run my MX tyres at the stated maximum pressure) you'd need to hit a big pothole seriously hard to have a problem. Obviously avoiding potholes in the first place is preferable!

 

[Truth]

I was faced with the same choice as you late last year and went for the Hybrid Comp. I do a 23 mile round trip commute , all on road but with plenty of potholes, and I am happy I made the right choice.
Obviously you are looking at the newer model of which the Hybrid Comp has slightly bigger tyres now which I would probably prefer.
I am sure you will be happy with either.
I took the British Cycling membership when I bought mine, it's a no brainer.

 

[Sleeping_Lionheart]

Excellent stuff! I think I may have made my mind up then, and I'll look into that membership. £35 a month is pretty great. Thanks!

 

[Truth]

£35 a year mate, not a month ! . You get your money back the moment you buy the bike.
All the best with the new bike

 

[Sleeping_Lionheart]

£35 a year mate, not a month ! . You get your money back the moment you buy the bike.
All the best with the new bike

Sorry yes I knew it was a year so I don't know why I put month while I was typing :')
35 a month would be awful

 

[Pale Rider]

Excellent stuff! I think I may have made my mind up then, and I'll look into that membership. £35 a month is pretty great. Thanks!

Made your mind up after only a dozen posts?

We can't have that, you need to have a look at the Pinnacle bikes from Evans.

Similar price and spec to the Boardmans.

https://www.evanscycles.com/bikes/hybrid-bikes_c/pinnacle-brand

 

[Truth]

Pale Riders out to confuse you now .
He has a good point, plenty of options....

 

[eggman]

Have ridden bikes all my life but never really cared, looked after or even built one. I'm completely hopeless, hence why I need all the help I can get for finding out what are the essential differences are between these two bikes I've narrowed my search down to.

These two bikes are the same price, but I have no idea which would be the best to choose as I have no idea what the differences are aside from the colours...

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...goryId=165534&productId=1173752&storeId=10001

And

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...goryId=165534&productId=1173772&storeId=10001

Any enlightenment would be greatly appreciated!

Have you tried e bay? A quick search may save you £100 off the price of a Hybrid Boardman for a nearly new model.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boardman-...mp-/112068020189?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368